SEA Chowhound has one night in CHI

[choweater]

Last second trip has us in Chicago with nowhere to go for dinner on Wednesday night. Wifey and I are hardcore hounds from Seattle and she's in Chicago regularly, so she's been to a lot of top spots already (Avec, Trotters, OneSixty, Green Zebra and others). She's also been to Publican and I haven't, but she'd go back again.

So, the question is: where to eat dinner? Here's my particulars:
- I have a car and want to eat in Chicago or North of downtown (driving from Evanston area)
- We probably won't be drinking (much)
- No dress code (trip was very last minute)
- We eat everything at any budget

BTW (irrevelant to this thread) - I went to fRedhots & Fries (in Glenview) and it doesn't hold a candle to Hot Doug's, my #1 encased meat emporium.

Thanks CHI Chowhounds in advance.

[ms. chow]

Since you guys are hardcore hounds and have a car, have you been to Lula Cafe? It's my #1 favorite place in the city. Creative food using local ingredients. Whole other side of the menu with excellent cafe fare. Great staff. Fanciful cocktails and moderately priced wines. Funky Logan Square location.

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Lula Cafe
2537 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647

[choweater]

Oh gosh, I hate this kind of decision. We still have hours to go (latish dinner), but we have it narrowed down to three: Publican, Lula Cafe and The Bristol.

As good as Lula and Bristol menus look, we are leaning towards Publican because it has more vegetable side dish options. Not to say the other menus don't look great, but our indecisiveness may lead us to the larger menu. And I love all things porcine.

Are we making a wise decision? Like I said, we've got a whole day ahead of us before dinner, so we'll still listen to our continued superb suggestions from the Chi-hounds.

[leek]

Funny, I'd think of the Publican for more meat options than veggie long before the other two :)

[viafaenza37]

yes. lula is great~ but again, you have to beat the crowd...

[chicgail]

Does Lula's have that big a crowd on Wednesday night?

[choweater]

I looks like we'll get downtown around 8:30 or so. I'm not concerned about Wed night crowds anywhere. Or should I be?

[viafaenza37]

downtown? probably... oh~ just came to mind... J Bar at the James Hotel downtown is doing Wii night on Wednesdays offering free app before 8pm, very cheap price afterwards plus certain drinks for $5 all night... i was there two weeks ago. totally empty before 8... we had the whole bar and food to us for like an hour! lol~

[chicgail]

Just entertained a Seattle relative here in Chicago. We took him to The Bristol, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Other easy-dress, but excellent food options, all in neighborhoods north of downtown include::
Sweets and Savories
Sola
Perennial
Bistro Campagne
Tallulah
Campagnola (in Evanston)

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Sweets & Savories
1534 W Fullerton, Chicago, IL 60614

Bistro Campagne
4518 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Tallulah
4539 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60640

The Bristol
2152 N Damen Avenue, chicago

Perennial Virant
1800 N Lincoln, Chicago, IL 60614

Sola Restaurant
3868 N Lincoln, Chicago, IL 60613

Campagnola
815 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60202

[viafaenza37]

Kan Zaman - good Mediterranean food with belly dance performers on Fri & Sat nights.
Terragusto - well hidden excellent Italian restaurant, reserve the chef's table, try the chef's tasting menu.
Tango Sur - great Argentine restaurant. be there early, they don't take reservation, and it's always crowded.

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Tango Sur
3763 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

Kan Zaman
617 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

Terragusto Lincoln Park
340 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614