625811 Sun Jun 07 06:04:16 -0700 2009 21 7 Chicago Area 0 4749755 I have been active on the Jersey board for years now and have always relied on the hounds here for all my trips. For our anniversary this year we are heading to chicago for a long weekend. For the big night we booked Moto and are doing the 10 course with wine. We went back and forth between Moto and Alinea quite a bit before we finally decided. Also, we are looking to have a drink in the place on top of the John Hancock building - I heard that the food is nothing special, but the view is magnificent. But, with the economy the way it is we are going to do all our other meals on the down low. A visit to Hot Doug's or maybe Superdawgs, some quality deep dish pizza, maybe a sandwich from Al's. We get plenty of good Thai, Italian, Chinese and Japanese food by us so those are definately out. We would like cheap, tasty and authentic. I hear there is a foodie festival over the July 4th weekend too, but the little buzz I heard is to avoid it. Btw - I have already searched this board and gotten a lot of great ideas from previous posts. Tyvm to all those whose posts I read. So, I throw myself on the mercy/kindness of the Chicago locals and humbly ask for help as we tour what looks like a lovely city. Sun Jun 07 06:04:16 -0700 2009 16028 seal 1 4751121 Bargain meals in Chicago that aren't Asian: You might like Tango Sur, gargantuan meals of Argentine meat + meat + meat and BYOB with no corkage fee (stop by Trader Joe's for your wine). It's not downtown but the bus is convenient. Are you driving? If not, the Chicago CTA websites will tell you how to get wherever. Pick up a bus pass at any Jewel or Dominicks supermarket, much cheaper than paying cash fares. BTW google "restaurant menus chicago" for a couple of thousand menus, showing prices. Re Taste of Chicago, it's a madhouse. If you do go, go around noon on a weekday. Totally forget the 4th of July weekend. Of course, in Chicago there's always a Polish smorgasbord; downtown bus takes you to very door of The Red Apple, all the homecooked Polish food you can stuff for about $10, quite possibly the best bargain in town. One more: Fogo de Chao (downtown) is a bargain at lunch M-F, half the price of evening dinner, see their lovely website. Sun Jun 07 16:46:20 -0700 2009 4749755 15521 Querencia 2 4774377 Tyvm for the reply Querencia. I checked out the website at Fogo and it does look good. Any thoughts on whether the Taste of chicago festival is worth checking out? Btw - we changed over from Moto to Alinea and I am really looking forward to it. Mon Jun 15 10:40:39 -0700 2009 4751121 16028 seal 3 4774476 "Any thoughts on whether the Taste of chicago festival is worth checking out?" Far from a foodie festival, it's an odd hodge-podge of local restaurants, some of which are pretty good. However, even their best selections don't translate well to mass production. Suppose, for example, that you and or your spouse were famous among your friends for a particular dish. Now suppose you had to replicate it for 1,000, to be served within a minute of the order being placed? That's the problem with Taste giving you any real sense of the featured restaurants. Mon Jun 15 11:07:12 -0700 2009 4774377 202198 ferret 4 4774495 I am a huge fan of the Taste. I can't lie. Saying that, I'd skip it for the 4th of July weekend. The fireworks are on the 3rd and you'll be surrounded by a million of your closest friends. And the 4th is always packed. If you do go, I'd go on the 5th or 6th and go early! Otherwise, skip it. I go during the week right around when it starts - I also work a block away - and it is usually is calm then. Mon Jun 15 11:13:13 -0700 2009 4774476 14209 lbs 3 4775212 The meal at Alinea will be one you'll remember for a long, long time. Good choice. Really good choice. Taste of Chicago -- I know there are people who would disagree with me and love The Taste, but ... no. To me it's always a sweaty, crowded haven for tourists, suburbanites, kids and people who are trying to drink too much beer. No place to sit. Overpriced. Mostly kaka food-wise. Maybe some good options, but go ahead and try to find them. Ferret's response makes a lot of sense. Mon Jun 15 14:40:38 -0700 2009 4774377 24468 chicgail 1 4779603 Taste of Chicago - Whether it is worth attending depends first upon whether you like crowds. It will be very crowded . . . sometimes so crowded that you cannot move (weekends, July 3 and 4). Moreover, it's not really for "foodies." There's a lot of pizza (some good pizza, but not as good as you'd get at a restaurant), hot dogs, fried this and fried that, mediocre bbq, some ethnic foods, but most of the offerings are not really remarkable. Here is a list of participating restaurants and items offered: http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/supporting_narrative/events___special_events/events/mose/taste_of_chicago_restaurants.html Here's a link to some people's reviews of items offered last year: http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=20027 And of the restaurants listed, some of my choices would include the following: Adobo Grill - cochinita pibil, BJ's Market - mustard fried catfish, gelato at Canady, Costa's - Loukaniko or gyros, Kasia's - pierogi, Las Tablas - empanadas or skirt steak, Lou Malnati's - pizza, Manny's - potato pancake, Ricobene's - breaded steak sandwich, Vermilion - chicken kabob and chicken wings. Note that as has been mentioned, some restaurant items don't translate well to this food festival so pay attention to what's being served and see if it looks appealing. I'll note that I love Manny's potato pancakes, but I'm not at all sure how good they'll be at the Taste. Hot Doug's is a great idea. Superdawg may be a bit out of the way, but it's good. Wiener's Circle is closer to downtown and not real far from Lincoln Park and the Lincoln Park Zoo. If you're renting a car, stop off at Gene & Judes or Paradise Pup on your way from O'Hare to downtown (depending upon the time of day you arrive). You don't list Mexican food as an option, but Chicago has some great Mexican food . . . some pricey, some inexpensive. Same goes for bbq. If you get to Al's on Taylor St. (the only Al's worth visiting), then dessert at Mario's (across from Al's) is a must (lemonade or great Italian ice). Anything else you seek out? Tue Jun 16 18:06:55 -0700 2009 4749755 12590 BRB 2 4780331 Tyvm for the replies - looks like the Taste is off our list. We are staying near the Hancock bldg so it looks like Hot Dougs is not a bad walk from there and I found a Lou Malnati's nearby, but Taylor St (I'm guessing near the University?) may not be convenient for us so we may have to either skip the Italian beef sandwich altogether or find a decent alternative. The Al's #1 Italian Beef at 169 W Ontario St isn't any good? Is there anything worthwhile in the holy trinity of hot dogs/pizza/italian beef near the Navy Pier? We are booked on a combination architecture/fireworks cruise around 7:30 on Friday and we were thinking of eating an early dinner somewhere near there. Of course, we could always eat not far from an El stop and then just have drinks near the pier before we go. As for Mexican food, we are leaving late on Sunday so I was thinking about the Maxwell Street Market. Of course, I have also found a lot of nice and interesting brunch options for Sunday as well so that is still up in the air. And then there is the lure of Topo ... Any thoughts on Mexican food are very welcome and appreciated. I have to say I am really looking forward to this trip and I am very grateful to have so many good options to choose from. Wed Jun 17 04:01:19 -0700 2009 4779603 16028 seal 3 4780475 I don't know what you think of as a "bad walk," but Hot Dougs is about a 2-hour walk from the Hancock Building. At least as far as Taylor Street, but in a different direction. I would recommend public transportation (probably 2 buses) or a taxi. The problem would be finding a taxi in that neighborhood that would get you back to your hotel. This website will help you plan your trip on the CTA: http://goroo.com/goroo/index.htm. Afficiandos don't love Al's on Ontario, but you might try Portillos, which is probably not the best Italian beef in the city, but is darn decent. Order it "wet" with sweet and hot peppers. I happen to like the combo which includes an Italian sausage. Enjoy your stay. Wed Jun 17 05:46:37 -0700 2009 4780331 24468 chicgail 3 4780618 Answer to your Sunday morning question: There are some great brunches to be had in Chicago but also in other cities. There's only one Maxwell Street. Long walk from the Hancock, but the Red Line (and several buses, #3 e.g.) will take you south to Roosevelt. From there, it's about a half mile west. And here's a thought. If you're on Maxwell, you won't be far from Al's #1. You're not likely to be hungry after Maxwell, but how about an Italian beef wrapped very well to take home with you? it'll be soggy by the time you eat it, but they heat up well. (I'm not certain if they're open on Sunday, but here's their website, good luck finding their hours.) http://www.alsbeef.com/ Wed Jun 17 06:43:09 -0700 2009 4780331 10261 jbw 3 4781013 In response to your question about finding a place to eat near Navy Pier on Friday, July 3 before you depart for your cruise at 7:30: Bear in mind that July 3 is the big fireworks festival downtown. Other than the Obama rally on Election Night, July 3rd is consistently the most crowded night downtown. The further away from Navy Pier that you eat that evening, the better. If you are trying to eat within the "holy trinity of hot dogs/ pizza/ Italian beef" that evening thenthe Portillos on Clark St. is not far from the Hancock Tower, and sufficiently far from Navy Pier that it may be a good choice. Whatever you do, I'd recommend that you eat closer to the Hancock, than to Navy Pier that evening. Wed Jun 17 08:36:48 -0700 2009 4780331 25595 masha 3 4781832 There's a place on google maps marked as the "Chicago Hancock Building" very close to Hot Doug's, but it's probably an error. It's definitely NOT the John Hancock Center which is off the Magnificent Mile. The John Hancock Center is about 5.5 miles by foot to Hot Doug's. Wed Jun 17 12:44:28 -0700 2009 4780331 57415 rubinow 1 4780921 hi seal, look like we'll be in chicago the same weekend and in the same boat...we're not looking for anything fancy - authentic, tasty, and cheap! FWIW, here is our dining list: - giordano's for stuffed pizza - bongo room for breakfast (the day we're going to the shedd) - fox and obel for breakfast and possibly lunch picnic supplies - frontera grill (called in may and got reservations for two) - pastoral for lunch (and a state street shopping break) - portillo's for italian beef (possibly before catching the show @ blue chicago) - garrett's for popcorn - supposedly good - chicago style hot dogs either @ wrigley or somewhere nearby -- we're going to wing that one unfortunately, we're flying home first thing on sunday morning so we'll miss the maxwell street market. after reviewing my list, i think i'd better buy some V8 or veggie supplement ... looks awfully meat/carb heavy! :) have a great time! Wed Jun 17 08:05:40 -0700 2009 4749755 79997 lilaki 2 4781037 Looks like a good plan. You can get your veggie fix at Fox and Obel, Frontera and Pastoral. And hey, doesn't popcorn count? Be sure to try the mixed corn and caramel. It may sound weird, but it's that sweet/salty thing. Wed Jun 17 08:45:10 -0700 2009 4780921 24468 chicgail 2 4781087 I'd be happy with all of the places on your list . . . except for Giordano's . . . sorry, but with Lou Malnati's, Pizano's, Uno's & Due's and Gino's, I think you can do much better. Wed Jun 17 08:57:13 -0700 2009 4780921 12590 BRB 3 4781556 I agree that the pizza places you name are way better than Giordanos, but lilaki wanted stuffed pizza, not deep dish. I'm not a big fan of stuffed, but Giordanos is as good as any if that's what you want. Wed Jun 17 11:20:54 -0700 2009 4781087 24468 chicgail 4 4783697 hi chicgail, thanks for picking up on that! :) yes, you're right ... i definitely want stuffed pizza. we've had deep dish before (at uno's about 10 years ago) but want to try the stuffed version this time around. and yeah, i've got the mixed corn and caramel on my list for garretts! tks. Thu Jun 18 05:30:38 -0700 2009 4781556 79997 lilaki 5 4783728 For stuffed pizza, I would recommend Art of Pizza and Edwardo's above Giordano's. Art of Pizza would require a trip up north to the Wrigleyville/Roscoe Village area. Edwardo's has locations closer to downtown. http://featuredfoods.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/a-store/c-EdwardoAns.shtml?E+scstore+edwardo Then again, while I'm no fan of Giordano's, it's not that I think their product is bad . . . .just inconsistent and not using as good quality ingredients as other places. Thu Jun 18 05:52:23 -0700 2009 4783697 12590 BRB 6 4783908 hi brb, thanks for the recos. i'll look into them! right now, giordano's (or pizza in general) is tentative b/c it's planned for the night we arrive and we generally play that one by ear...so you never know where we'll end up. tks!! Thu Jun 18 07:13:14 -0700 2009 4783728 79997 lilaki 7 4789504 Hi Lilaki, Hope your trip is great as well. Many thanks to all the hounds who replied here - your time and input is much appreciated. Lol - as usual I have a few more questions: I got a cetificate for Hugo's Frog Bar and am thinking of using it when we arrive Thursday night. do they have the same steaks as Gibson's? Looks like Maxwell St. Market is on our list for Sunday morning. I've read a few differing reports about which stands are the best. Keeping in mind that we prefer carne asada and pork al pastor to eyeballs and squid - any favorites? I do love cheese pupusas too - how are they there? Sat Jun 20 02:04:50 -0700 2009 4783908 16028 seal 8 4789882 Yes, Hugo's has the same steaks as Gibson's. You probably already know they're next door to one another. So I wouldn't worry at all about dining at Hugo's, and I'm sure you're not given the gift certificate. As for Maxwell St. Market, here are some suggestions for very good eats: Rubi's (tacos al pastor), Tamal Oaxaca (tamales), Rico's Huaraches (huaraches), Manolo's (tacos al pastor and pork in red or green mole) and Lencho's tacos. Enjoy - the food is excellent. Sat Jun 20 07:47:15 -0700 2009 4789504 12590 BRB 8 4790012 The last time I was there, some months ago, there were some wonderful pupusas at, I believe, a Salvadoran booth. Worth looking for. Also look for the churros truck, freshly made, and the best I've had in Chicago. Look for the booths where the tortillas are being hand-made. Rubi's I believe is one Sat Jun 20 08:49:53 -0700 2009 4789504 10261 jbw