Tourists need advice

[Ingrid P O]

Hi

I will be travelling from Norway to Chicago for a week in May with my eight year old daughter who never been to the US before. She is not a picky eater.

We will live on the Mag Mile, and will go for a mothers day matinee of Mary Poppins on sunday and to Wrigley Field for a ball game on thursday. Have tried to do some research to find authentic eats for us, but so far I have only booked friday lunch at the Signature Room. We travel alot in Europe % Asia , so not really interested in eating ethnic.

Could you locals please help me out with good suggestions for

- breakfast close to N Michigan Ave / The river that opens early (we will be on CET..) I have found Fox & Obel and Food For Thought - are they ok? Other suggestions?

- will meet up with friends on day and they have agreed to take us out to Hot Dougs by car. Will Portillos be another good choice for the true US Diners experience? Are there places close by that does singing waiters or anything up the same street? I Know it sounds corny, but my daughter would love it...

- best Italian beef sandwich close by? I have found the Pizzerias doing true deep pan pizza, but am confused about the fillings and what to choose. How do these things work?

- best steakhouse? And is Joes or Shaws worth the money?
- lunch place close to Wrigley Field worth going to?

- Suggestions for mothers day brunch on our way to the Caddilac Palace to watch Mary Poppins? Perfect would be so we could walk there, and then walk down to the theater.

Would greatly appreciate some input!

[lbs]

>> have found the Pizzerias doing true deep pan pizza, but am confused about the fillings and what to choose. How do these things work? <<,

My advice for either pan or stuffed pizza is to go simple on the ingredients. I normally get stuffed spinach if I get the stuffed pizza. I find the spinach is a nice counter act to the richnss and the density of the pizza. For pan, I like just sausage or just plain cheese. It will be different for you and I think that when people pile on the extra ingredients it just overwhelms the crust and the overall integrity of the pizza.

[nsxtasy]

I agree; that's good advice. (I generally prefer only onion, only pepperoni, or just those two additions, no more.)

Note that if there's an added ingredient that you like but your daughter doesn't (or vice versa), they can make a pizza with that ingredient on only half of the pizza, and not on the other half.

[Ingrid P O]

Thanks again for all the good input, you certainly will make our trip to Chicago all the more enjoyable.

The details for Eleven City are printed, as is a map to Mannys.

Will do some research via CH on BBQ places as well.I have had excellent BBQ on my previous visit to the US; One week spent at a convention center outside Cinncinati where the food was bland as expected. But we went on a road trip to the Appalachian mountans, and in a small mining town there we founds a BBQ place that served us a wonderful meal. The ribs were soo tasty, and served with sauce on the side. Pulled meat was also delicious and a lovely homemade coleslaw that was perfectly fresh and not bland at all.

If I understand things correctly there are two kinds of Chicago pizzas:
stuffed pizza and pan pizza. I guess the stuffed pizza is more like a pia with dough also over the filling?
I can see from the Giordanos many that they do the stuffed pizza, who does a really good pan pizza in the lower parts of the Mag Mile?

[nsxtasy]

>> If I understand things correctly there are two kinds of Chicago pizzas:
stuffed pizza and pan pizza. I guess the stuffed pizza is more like a pia with dough also over the filling?

Not exactly. The individual crusts on a stuffed pizza are somewhat thin, thinner than the single crust on a "pan pizza". The cheese and any "toppings" are between the two crusts, but that layer is not as thick as the word "pie" would imply. And the tomato sauce is on top of the upper crust. The photos on the Giordano's website gives a good idea of a stuffed pizza.

>> I can see from the Giordanos many that they do the stuffed pizza, who does a really good pan pizza in the lower parts of the Mag Mile?

The original locations of Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due ( www.unos.com ) still do a really good pan pizza, and they are at Ohio and Wabash, two short blocks from the Mag Mile. A few blocks north is Pizano's ( www.pizanoschicago.com ) on State just north of Chicago Avenue. If I had to choose my favorite of all the pan pizzas, it would be Lou Malnati's ( www.loumalnatis.com ), but their nearest location is on Wells Street, seven blocks west of the south end of the Mag Mile, so it's not as convenient. Note that these chains are related by family; both Lou Malnati's and Pizano's were founded by sons of Rudy Malnati Sr., who played a lead role at Uno and Due in their early decades.

If you've never had deep-dish pizza in Chicago before, pan pizza may be a better choice because it started the whole deep-dish thing and is more widely imitated, and Uno or Due is a good place to get it.

[Pete Oldtown]

The advice here has been excellent. If you want something that is a very, very authentic Chicago experience, consider Troha's Fish and Shrimp House.

They don't even have indoor tables. The food is phenomenal and cheap. You will need a car to get there, though. The lack of a car is the only thing that keeps me from going there every week.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&...

[rubinow]

Have you considered a BBQ (barbecue) restaurant? You're not going to get anything like it in Europe or Asia. It is quintessential American food (or at least it's evolved as such). Chicago is not considered a capital of BBQ, but that's not to say that there are some good examples. See this thread for a lengthy discussion: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/453036 [Fat Willie's might be a good one with kids].

[masha]

One other thought in view of your questions about a restaurant that offers the experience of an "American Diner" and for food near the Field Museum: you might consider Eleven City Diner, which is on Wabash between 11th St. and Roosevelt Rd., a few blocks north of the Field Museum. Note that Eleven City has something of a split personality -- being both a diner-type restaurant, and also featuring American Jewish type foods, like pastrami sandwiches, matzoh ball soup, etc. Consensus (or at lease my view) is that it is not particularly succesfull in the latter but does offer decent diner type food.

Also, in case no one else has mentioned this: Mother's Day (along with Easter) are the 2 most popular days of the year for brunch. Most places will be mobbed. You should make a reservation now. And, if you are trying to catch a theater curtain, either give yourself plenty of time, or select a place that offers a buffet, so that you will not be late.

[nsxtasy]

Good advice on both counts.

If you DO want to try a good Jewish deli while you're here, you'll find recommendations at http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/307862

[nsxtasy]

>> Have tried to do some research to find authentic eats for us, but so far I have only booked friday lunch at the Signature Room. We travel alot in Europe % Asia , so not really interested in eating ethnic.

Some of our ethnic cuisines are not widely found in Europe and Asia, particularly our creative provincial Mexican restaurants such as Frontera Grill and Topolobampo ( www.rickbayless.com/restaurants ) and our Latin fusion restaurants such as Nacional 27 ( www.nacional27.net ). But of course, go to the kinds of restaurants you think you would enjoy the most!

I assume you are aware that the Signature Room is known primarily for its view, rather than its food.

>> - breakfast close to N Michigan Ave / The river that opens early (we will be on CET..) I have found Fox & Obel and Food For Thought - are they ok? Other suggestions?

It depends on where along the "Mag Mile" you'll be located. Near the north end (at Oak Street), the Original Pancake House on East Bellevue ( www.originalpancakehouse.com ) is a good choice. I recommend the big puffed-up cinnamony apple pancake. The omelets are excellent too. Another option close by, open 24 hours, is Tempo Cafe ( www.tempocafechicago.com ).

Near the south end of the Mag Mile at the river, Fox & Obel opens at 6 a.m. Fox & Obel is not a traditional restaurant; it's an upscale gourmet grocery store, with the finest of meats, fresh fish, prepared foods, etc. In the rear is a cafe where they make food to order and you can get anything from a cup of coffee to omelets and pancakes for breakfast. You stand in line to place your order and pay, and they bring you your food. It has a basic coffeehouse atmosphere; the food is consistently excellent. www.fox-obel.com

Also near Michigan Avenue and the river are: South Water Kitchen ( www.southwaterkitchen.com ), which opens at 7 for breakfast; and two other places a few blocks in towards the Loop, Heaven on Seven ( www.heavenonseven.com ) for Cajun food which opens at 9 for breakfast, and Atwood Cafe ( www.atwoodcafe.com ) for contemporary American food which opens at 7 weekdays and 8 weekends for breakfast.

For a lighter "continental breakfast" (bread/pastry and coffee), there are coffee shops throughout the area.

>> - will meet up with friends on day and they have agreed to take us out to Hot Dougs by car. Will Portillos be another good choice for the true US Diners experience? Are there places close by that does singing waiters or anything up the same street? I Know it sounds corny, but my daughter would love it...

Hot Doug's ( www.hotdougs.com ) specializes in sausages; you can read more about it in the recent discussion at http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/611755 . Portillo's ( www.portillos.com ) is not a "U.S. diner experience"; it is a "U.S. fast food experience". Portillo's offers Chicago-style hot dogs (for that, is a better bet than Hot Doug's) as well as another Chicago specialty, Italian beef sandwiches. You stand in line, place your order, pick it up at the far end of the food line, and walk to your table. If you are looking for Chicago-style hot dogs or Italian beef, it is a good choice.

If you are looking for a quintessential "U.S. diner experience", I recommend Ed Debevic's ( www.eddebevics.com ) on Wells Street, a seven-block walk from the Mag Mile. It is intended as a satire of U.S. diners and is the kind of place you're looking for, where waiters make jokes, etc. (Tempo Cafe, mentioned above, is a more accurate "straight" representation of a U.S. diner, i.e. without the humor/satire.)

>> - best Italian beef sandwich close by? I have found the Pizzerias doing true deep pan pizza, but am confused about the fillings and what to choose. How do these things work?

Portillo's on Ontario is a good choice. The Italian beef sandwich is served with juice/gravy either over the sandwich or on the side for dipping. You can read more about it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_beef

>> - best steakhouse? And is Joes or Shaws worth the money?

There is a diversity of opinion about which is our best steakhouse. You can read lots of opinions, and find links to their websites, in the discussion at http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/359377 Personally, I like David Burke's Primehouse for the steaks and the non-steak menu options, and Gibson's for the "power broker scene", but lots of folks prefer Saloon, Morton's, Gene and Georgetti, Joe's, etc. All of our better steakhouses are somewhat expensive, so if one is "worth the money", so are the others. I'm not saying there aren't price differences - some are a bit more than others, and even within the same restaurant, you can get different steaks for anywhere from $28 to $69, as you can see from the David Burke's dinner menu at www.jameshotels.com/Chicago-Hotel.aspx?name=The-James-Chicago&page=Primehouse-Menus

Shaw's Crab House specializes in seafood, although you can also get steaks there (just as you can also get seafood at any steakhouse). Although we have some excellent seafood restaurants, I don't think I would choose one if I were visiting from Norway, since fresh seafood is so plentiful at home.

>> - lunch place close to Wrigley Field worth going to?

My recommendation is to go to the Giordano's ( www.giordanos.com ) location at 1040 W. Belmont, half a mile south of the ballpark, for "stuffed" (double crust) deep-dish pizza. You can call ahead with your pizza order to avoid waiting 30-45 minutes while seated for the pizza to bake.

For more suggestions in the vicinity of Wrigley Field, see http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/373516

>> - Suggestions for mothers day brunch on our way to the Caddilac Palace to watch Mary Poppins? Perfect would be so we could walk there, and then walk down to the theater.

As noted above for breakfast, Atwood Cafe offers contemporary American food. It's in the Hotel Burnham, and is the kind of restaurant you expect in a luxury hotel, with a high level of service, overstuffed seats, etc. They offer Mother's Day brunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $23 including a glass of champagne for adults. You can see the menu on their website (go to www.atwoodcafe.com/atweven/index.html and click on "Mother's Day Brunch Menu"). It's only one block from the theater.

You can make reservations for most of our nicer restaurants for free on the Opentable.com website.

Feel free to ask more questions, and enjoy your visit!

[Ingrid P O]

Thanks alot!!

Being a hobby sausage maker myself the trip to Hot Dougs is for inspiration. Since we will be a group going, we reconed we could order many different sausages, and then divide them into smaller portions so we could sample all.

The friday lunch at the signature room was a recomendation here on chowhound because of the value & views. For us country bumpkins eating on the 95th floor is a novelty!

I wondered about doing the dim sum brunch at David Burke`s before our show, but it only opens at 11am and our show is at 1pm. I hate being rushed for a meal - would we have enough time to do both if we caught a cab from the James to the theatre?

The Nacional 27 sounds wonderful, and I will book us a table there. Just a pity we cannot stay up late for the salsa..The Frontera likewise. I have some of Bayless`s cookbooks, and assumes that the menu wasnt too child friendly. But I went to the website and there seems to be plenty of good options for her as well.

We live by the sea so we are spoilt for fresh seafood. But there are US dishes like crabcakes, fried oysters, blackened fish etc we dont do here. But it seems like Heaven on Seven is a good alternative for that, and we will pass that one going to several tourist attractions throughout our week. Thanks again for good advice!

One last question; We will be going to the Natural Science museum one day, and from what I can see it is south of the area we have been discussing now. Is China Town walking distance from the museum( ie less than 30 min of safe walking midday)? And are there any restaurants down that way you would recomend? Authentic chinese food is always good, and I have found the names of a few good ones there. But am open to suggestions for food from the Americas.

[nsxtasy]

>> I wondered about doing the dim sum brunch at David Burke`s before our show, but it only opens at 11am and our show is at 1pm. I hate being rushed for a meal - would we have enough time to do both if we caught a cab from the James to the theatre?

When I ate at their American dim sum brunch a few months back, it took me exactly two hours from start to finish, and I didn't have seconds on any of the courses or dishes. The pace for my brunch was, if anything, fairly quick - not rushed, but there weren't big delays between courses. And I was also dining solo, which tends to result in a slightly faster pace than a group.

The cab isn't the problem; there are plenty of cabs in the area, and the trip to the theater should take under five minutes (or ten minutes if you're walking). But to do the brunch in significantly under two hours, enough to leave comfortably for the theater, you would probably feel at least somewhat rushed.

>> The Nacional 27 sounds wonderful, and I will book us a table there. Just a pity we cannot stay up late for the salsa..The Frontera likewise. I have some of Bayless`s cookbooks, and assumes that the menu wasnt too child friendly. But I went to the website and there seems to be plenty of good options for her as well.

Note that Frontera Grill takes only a limited number of reservations in advance, and leaves most of the (somewhat small) dining room available for walk-in traffic. And it does get busy. Locals who want to go there without waiting to be seated know to arrive about 15 minutes before they open the doors. Topolobampo, next door, takes reservations for the entire restaurant, and is somewhat more expensive (although the prices at lunchtime are surprisingly similar to each other).

>> We live by the sea so we are spoilt for fresh seafood. But there are US dishes like crabcakes, fried oysters, blackened fish etc we dont do here. But it seems like Heaven on Seven is a good alternative for that, and we will pass that one going to several tourist attractions throughout our week. Thanks again for good advice!

Sure. In that case, though, for our traditional seafood preparations, Shaw's Crab House would be a good choice too.

>> One last question; We will be going to the Natural Science museum one day, and from what I can see it is south of the area we have been discussing now. Is China Town walking distance from the museum( ie less than 30 min of safe walking midday)? And are there any restaurants down that way you would recomend?

Just to clarify - are you referring to the Museum of Science and Industry, or the Field Museum of Natural History? The Museum of Science and Industry is on 57th Street in the Hyde Park neighborhood, just east of the University of Chicago. Chinatown is at Cermak Street, which is 22nd Street. In Chicago, every 8 streets (every 800 difference in house numbers) is one mile, so Hyde Park is about four miles (6 km) south of Chinatown. Obviously that is not walkable in half an hour. You can do a search on this board for topics about Hyde Park (such as http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/119212 ). Basically, it is somewhat sparse for interesting food (especially considering the presence of the university), and the food it has tends to be west of the train tracks, which is a bit of a walk from the Museum. If you are taking public transportation to the Museum of Science and Industry, note that there is a Metra line ( www.metrarail.com ) that goes there from downtown Chicago, and is more direct than the CTA "el" service ( www.transitchicago.com ).

If you mean the Field Museum of Natural History, that is part of the "museum campus" close to downtown Chicago, and is around Roosevelt Road (12th Street). You could walk from there to Chinatown but it would probably take you 45-60 minutes.

If you go to the Field Museum, there is a nearby restaurant that is great for breakfast, and children in particular love it. Bongo Room is at Roosevelt and Wabash. They offer all the breakfast specialties, including unusual and delicious pancakes. My recent favorites have included blueberry pancakes topped with almond panna cotta cream, and pretzel pancakes topped with white chocolate sauce. Their standard order size is HUGE, three enormous pancakes; for smaller appetites or to try more than one dish, you can order a one-third or two-thirds portion size at reduced cost. Waiting times to be seated can be lengthy on Sundays, are not a problem on weekdays.

>> But am open to suggestions for food from the Americas.

For Mexican food, Frontera Grill and Topolobampo are very good and conveniently located in River North. They are also the best known; Chef Bayless has been the most influential chef in the United States in promoting the spread of provincial Mexican cooking here. There are many more interesting Mexican restaurants in Chicago, summarized in the discussion at http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/463572

We have more good Latin fusion restaurants (combining multiple cuisines from Latin America) in addition to Nacional 27 in River North; these include Carnivale ( www.carnivalechicago.com ) in the West Loop's "restaurant row" along Randolph and Fulton Streets, and Cuatro ( www.cuatro-chicago.com ) in the South Loop (walkable from the Field Museum; it's in a regentrifying formerly industrial area, safe to walk during the day, but still somewhat industrial/gritty).

HTH

[nsxtasy]

P.S. I just realized that the Sunday brunch and show is on Mother's Day, May 10. Burke's will not be doing their standard American dim sum brunch that day, but instead will be doing a special brunch for Mother's Day, for $48/adult and $20/child (according to Opentable.com). They don't show the Mother's Day brunch menu on their website yet, but their website still has the Easter brunch menu posted and it's the same price, so I'm guessing the Mother's Day brunch will be similar. That menu says that it is served family style (i.e. big servings for the entire table). So it's quite possible that the Mother's Day brunch may take slightly less time than their normal dim sum Sunday brunch. You may want to check with the restaurant to ask whether you could be done by 12:30-12:40 without rushing. (I recommend a cab; walking would probably take a good 20 minutes, rather than the ten I previously stated.)

I am not sure whether Burke's starts their Mother's Day brunch earlier than 11:00. (They normally open at 7 a.m. for breakfast, but the brunch normally starts at 11:00.) You may want to double-check with them over the phone or by e-mail. Also if you want to go there, I suggest making a reservation as soon as possible, as right now Opentable.com doesn't show openings between 10:00 and 11:30 (although sometimes they have openings over the phone when Opentable doesn't show availability).

[nsxtasy]

I previously posted: >> "I just realized that the Sunday brunch and show is on Mother's Day, May 10. Burke's will not be doing their standard American dim sum brunch that day, but instead will be doing a special brunch for Mother's Day, for $48/adult and $20/child (according to Opentable.com). They don't show the Mother's Day brunch menu on their website yet, but their website still has the Easter brunch menu posted and it's the same price, so I'm guessing the Mother's Day brunch will be similar."

I have confirmed with David Burke's Primehouse that the $48 menu they will be serving for brunch on Mother's Day is identical to the Easter brunch menu still posted on their website at www.jameshotels.com/downloads/menu/pr...

[jbw]

"But there are US dishes like crabcakes, fried oysters, blackened fish etc we dont do here. But it seems like Heaven on Seven is a good alternative for that."

The dishes you mention here are really not Chicago specialties, and are not at their best at HonS. However, HonS is certainly worth a visit as long as you go to the original--the 7th floor of the Garland Bldng on N. Wabash here:

http://www.heavenonseven.com/wabash.html

The Rush street location IMO is not worth a special trip.

I like HonS particularly for breakfast, and I recommend their cheese grits, bananas or french toast foster, and (for lunch) gumbo and poorboys--all special American dishes that I think they do well

[nsxtasy]

Just to amplify on jbw's comments...

I had mentioned Heaven on Seven as a possibility for breakfast if your hotel is near the river (south end of the Mag Mile). I was referring specifically to the Wabash location, as the one on Rush Street is not open for breakfast. The Wabash location is also good for lunch; it is not open for dinner (except the third Friday of every month). I have not been to the Rush Street location, which is open for lunch and dinner.

Maryland (including the Baltimore and Washington DC areas) is well known for its crab cakes, but they have become popular throughout the United States. Fried oysters and blackened fish are regional specialties in Louisiana and the South, the area whose cuisine is served at Heaven on Seven. While they are not specialties that originated in Chicago, Shaw's is a good choice for crab cakes, and Heaven on Seven is a good choice for the Cajun dishes.

[Ingrid P O]

Thanks again for your input! I think we will try dinner at DBs later in the week - I am very curious about the matured steaks they have to offer, especially since we raise beef cattle ourselves.

I realize that there are great regional variations in North American cuisine, as well as all the ethnic cuisines from the rest of the world.
But if it is possible to eat excellent Thai/Italian/Polish etc food in Chicago, then I hope it is also possible to experience some of the regional US foods there as well?

My challenge is travelling with a child, and I do not want to spend time & money on restaurants that will not give her( and myself) some real "American food memories" from our trip.
If we can do
- hot dogs (Hot Dougs & Portillos)
- pizza(Giordanos)
- pancakes galore(Bongo Room)
- mexican(Frontera)
- crabs/ cajun (Shaws & HoS)
- hamburgers with the lot(??Portillos?)
- steak(DBs Steakhouse)
- popcorn(isnt there a place called Garrets?)
- ice cream(open to suggestions)
- cookies(open to suggestions)
have we got some of it covered?

[nsxtasy]

>> I realize that there are great regional variations in North American cuisine, as well as all the ethnic cuisines from the rest of the world.
But if it is possible to eat excellent Thai/Italian/Polish etc food in Chicago, then I hope it is also possible to experience some of the regional US foods there as well?

Yes, absolutely!

>> My challenge is travelling with a child, and I do not want to spend time & money on restaurants that will not give her( and myself) some real "American food memories" from our trip.

Your plan sounds fine!

One type of American food that isn't represented in your plan is barbecue. But heck, you can't cover everything in a week! :) Naming the best barbecue in Chicago has been very controversial here on Chowhound, but you can read opinions at http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/360674

>> - hamburgers with the lot(??Portillos?)

You can get hamburgers at Portillo's. I haven't tried theirs, but my guess is that they are okay, especially since they are cooked to order, but probably not the best in town. Some of our very best burgers are at our steakhouses and at restaurants that specialize in burgers and similar fare (e.g. Boston Blackie's). You can find burger recommendations at http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/382781

>> - popcorn(isnt there a place called Garrets?)

Yes, there is, and it's excellent. They have several locations in the Loop. See www.garrettpopcorn.com

>> - ice cream(open to suggestions)

I'll leave this for others to recommend, other than noting that there is no single ice cream in Chicago with a consensus that it is THE BEST in the city. I don't think there has been a recent, comprehensive discussion of ice cream in Chicago here on Chowhound.

>> - cookies(open to suggestions)

Cookies are one type of food that is frequently made at home, often with better results than store-bought products. There's a place in Evanston whose cookies I love, but that's too far (15 miles from the Loop) to travel for cookies unless you are in that area anyway. In the downtown Chicago area, I recommend the ones at Fox & Obel. They are usually available individually-wrapped in cellophane, in small baskets on the top of the pastry counter.

>> have we got some of it covered?

Yes - but feel free to keep asking more questions!

[AnneInMpls]

For popcorn, Garrett's is the place to go. It's wonderful! I recommend the caramel-coated popcorn or the cheese popcorn, which is coated with a bright orange cheese "dust" and is delicious. You can even get a mix of caramel and cheese popcorn in the same bag. (I think that sounds awful, but it's very popular.)

Garrett's Popcorn has several locations around Chicago, so you'll probably be close to one of them during your stay.

http://www.garrettpopcorn.com/service...

Anne