655823 Tue Sep 29 12:59:05 -0700 2009 14 7 Chicago Area 0 5067497 I’ve visited your lovely city several times, but never as a Chicago Marathon participant. That being said, I have a few questions. But first, to get it out of the way, we are a group of adult women in our late 20’s and early 30’s who don’t drink alcohol. We are staying at the Hotel Raffaello. On Friday, I’m looking for a “casual/upscale” dinner for less than $50 a person, including tax and tip. I’d prefer it to be in the area, or easily accessible via public transportation. (Feel free to mention something that requires a cab ride, but 15-20 minute cab ride tops.) Right now I’m considering Brasserie Jo, but not sure if that’s only good for the area or actually good. We don’t care about the French Bistro part, we care about the small independent restaurant part. On Saturday, I need a pasta dinner. I’ve done my board research and come up with all the usual suspects (Café Spiagga, Coco Pazzo, Rosebud’s, Carmine’s, etc), but I’m hoping for something much more pared down. We all tend to eat a simple pasta meal like spaghetti and meatballs the night before race. Is there something café or deli style nearby? Go to the counter and order, easy in and out type of place? If not, which of the restaurants in the area has the simplest pasta menu? On Sunday, I need a post marathon meal. I’m thinking one of the several pizza places mentioned all over the boards, but I want to make sure they’re all open Sunday before deciding. It would be late afternoon. Thanks in advance for your help! Tue Sep 29 12:59:05 -0700 2009 138167 debbie421 1 5068728 Re Brasserie Jo as small independent restaurant. It is part of Lettuce Entertainment You, which is a fairly large chain owned by one of the biggest local restauranteur. That said, Brasserie Jo is good, very traditional. Chef Joho is from Alsace, so food leans a bit towards that direction. For the pasta dinner, try Adesso at Tutto Pronto. It is an offshoot of a Lakeview restaurant (Adesso) inside a deli (Tutto Pronto). The food is ok, and might work for the simple dinner you are thinking of. It is walking distance from your hotel at McClurg/Ontario. Check their hours though, they probably close by 7 or 8. Wed Sep 30 04:09:19 -0700 2009 5067497 276975 ms. chow 2 5068741 Thanks Ms. Chow! Good call with Adesso! We also found someplace called Quartino. Not a deli, but seems pretty simple. Any other suggestions for our Friday night dinner then? Not too excited about the chain. Also, one of the runners has suggested Thai for our after race meal. We'll only have time to go somewhere within walking distance from our hotel, so it needs to be in the area. Wed Sep 30 04:28:31 -0700 2009 5068728 138167 debbie421 3 5068794 No really great Thai within walking distance, I am afraid. There is excellent and authentic Thai in Chicago neighborhoods, but it would require the use of public transportation. If your heart is set on Thai and you need to stay in the area I have two suggestions: one is Panang on Clark and Chicago Aves. It's clean, quick and cheap. Alternately there is Thai Spoon on Rush and Superior. It is related to one of the best Thai places in town (Spoon), but not as authentic or as good, but you will have a decent Thai meal. Wed Sep 30 05:21:47 -0700 2009 5068741 24468 chicgail 4 5074807 Silver Spoon is owned by the same family as Spoon Thai and is on Rush near Superior (next door to Thai consulate). Thai Spoon has the address on Wabash at the foot of chicgail's post but the comments apply to Silver Spoon. Fri Oct 02 10:53:32 -0700 2009 5068794 11364 Eldon Kreider 5 5074931 I think what is ironic about Silver Spoon is that it does share an alley with the Thai consulate. In that case, you would think it ought to have knock out Thai food. But sadly, it is decent at best. Also, since they moved from the first floor to the basement, it always gives me pause walking those few flights of stairs down. Fri Oct 02 11:52:00 -0700 2009 5074807 276975 ms. chow 3 5068924 Quartino is excellent value/quality for the area BUT it's more small-plate Italian than traditional Italian-American. Their pastas are fine, but it may not be the best place for a carbo-dump. Their pizzas (traditional, thin-crust) are good, too, along with the antipasti, so it might be a better choice for an after race/fun meal. Wed Sep 30 06:26:56 -0700 2009 5068741 10261 jbw 3 5069012 Quartino is what jbw has described. If you are up for venturing out, a short 10 min cab ride to Lincoln Park, there is Pasta Palazzo. Very basic, no frills place. For Thai, i wouldn't go to Panang. Very disappointing for the kind of quick, basic Thai place that it is. The Panang curry has a few protein and veggies swimming in a bowl of curry. Thai Spoon is ok. Another option is Dao. As for Friday, it wasn't clear whether you need to carbo-load that night or not. How about tapas? It will definitely work well within your budget. There is Cafe Iberico, a local, traditional favorite, but very packed and loud. There is also 1492, a quieter and nicer alternative to Iberico. Wed Sep 30 07:01:21 -0700 2009 5068741 276975 ms. chow 4 5069179 We do not need to carbo load on Friday. Just looking for a knock your socks off experience in our price range. And unfortunately the only meal we can cab to will be Friday. Saturday and Sunday both need to be in walking distance, preferable less than 15 minutes. But I'm loving these suggestions! Wed Sep 30 07:49:52 -0700 2009 5069012 138167 debbie421 4 5070530 We have a great tapas restaurant (Solera) where I live in Minneapolis, any other suggestions? Wed Sep 30 15:18:04 -0700 2009 5069012 138167 debbie421 3 5069019 Link to Pasta Palazzo Wed Sep 30 07:02:35 -0700 2009 5068741 276975 ms. chow 1 5070529 Ooops, forgot to say I'd like somewhere that accepts reservations for Friday night. Wed Sep 30 15:16:58 -0700 2009 5067497 138167 debbie421 2 5070968 You can go on opentable.com and see what's open on a Friday night. You can sort by location, so that gives you an idea of what's close to you. Wed Sep 30 18:41:25 -0700 2009 5070529 276975 ms. chow 1 5072301 An overlooked Italian place is Volare on Grand and St. Clair. It would be a walk or short cab ride from your hotel. They have large entrees and pasta dishes of great quality. I recommend their freshly-made pastas. It's a boisterous, family atmosphere, but still classy. Thu Oct 01 09:51:02 -0700 2009 5067497 126040 foodhuntress 1 5160805 Almost forgot to report back! We did the Publican on Friday night and fell in love with the place. I really wish we had something like that in Minneapolis, to die for. My favorite plate was the ham sampler, so tasty. We did Quartino's on Saturday and it was perfect, exactly what we were looking for. You were right, not inventive at all, but good for nervous marathoners. We actually thought they had very good quality pasta. The salads were boring, but hey, it's a salad. Fri Nov 06 08:24:32 -0800 2009 5067497 138167 debbie421