DC food lovers coming to Chicago

[wes2979]

We are 2 food lovers from DC and will be in Chicago for a few days at the end of August. We definiely will be experiencing the Chicago food traditions, i.e. pizza, hotdogs, but also are interested in trying a few of the high end Chicago dining spots. We have narrowed it down to 5 restaurants, Alinea, L2O, Moto, Blackbird and Schwa. How would you rank these restaurants? What are the best places to experience a true Chicago style pizza? Hotdog? Are there any other Chicago essentials we shouldn't miss?

I know this is a lot of questions for one post but I appreciate any inout you can give.

[coweepooh]

we went to Chicago from DC not too long ago and loved

-The Purple Pig for small appetizers, it was amazing...there was a baked cheese with truffle oil dish and fried prosciutto balls dish and some other really tasty small bites there..

-Giordanos may not be considered authentic Chicago style pizza but we loved it and the stuffed crust was delicious!!!

-Alinea, this was our fancy meal for the weekend...we loved it though being a non-Chocolate fan, the desserts didnt wow me though I am sure other chocolate experts would know better...

We blogged with pics about Alinea recently too:

http://www.corystyle.com/blog/2010/07...

Enjoy and post pics when you're back!! :

)

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Alinea
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

[nsxtasy]

Be aware that the Purple Pig does not accept reservations and waits for dinner seating have been lengthy, even during the week. Lunch there may be a more viable alternative.

[mountsac]

On your list of high-end places, I'd pick Alinea for sure. It's the whole package (food, creativity, service, ambiance). Unlike some, I love L2O: great food, ambiance, and service. But L2O is the kind of restaurant you can easily find on the east coast (i.e. NYC). You walk in, and you will think "oh, so this is the Chicago version of Jean George's and Le Bernadin." It's nice, but it's not uniquely Chicago.

Schwa's food is excellent, and you won't find food like this back on the East Coast; but the setting is not the traditional "high end" feel. Go for the food and creativity, but don't go for 3-star service or ambiance. Blackbird, I'd say, is a value-high-end place. Its food is out-of-this-world good, but the setting is a bit cramped - the kind of urban chic place you'd find in Manhattan. Moto is a lot of fun, but it's not necessarily the best taste-wise (kind of like WD50 in NYC).

Chicago style deep dish: Uno/Due, or Lou Malnati's (I'd go with the former two; but if the line is too long, go to Lou).

Hot dog: Hot Doug's (which is a cab-ride destination). Go to Wiener's Circle around midnight if you want to see people get yelled at. Portillo's is a Chicago-style hot dog fast food chain. And while you're here, in addition to trying the Chicago-style hot dog, also try Maxwell Street Polish dog and Italian Beef sandwich - both are Chicago specialties!

If you like popcorn, it's worth stopping by Garrett Popcorn - a Chicago classic.

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Alinea
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

Hot Doug's
3324 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Moto Restaurant
945 W Fulton, Chicago, IL 60607

Garrett Popcorn Shops
26 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL

L2O
2300 Lincoln Park West, Chicago, IL 60614

[nsxtasy]

This is good advice from mountsac, but there's more you should know about one place mentioned:

>> Hot dog: Hot Doug's (which is a cab-ride destination).

Although you can get a classic Chicago style hot dog at Hot Doug's, that's not what it's known for. It's known for its more exotic sausages (encased meats). In addition to the $15-20 cab ride to get there (each way), you can expect to wait in line (mostly outdoors) for anywhere from 1 hour 20 minutes to two hours before finally having your order taken. (No, I am not kidding.) Another place for exotic encased meats is Franks n Dawgs; it's half the distance that Hot Doug's is, and I have not heard any reports of long waits in line there. If you just want a Chicago hot dog, go to one of the other places mountsac mentioned, such as Portillo's, which has a location on Ontario in River North.

[matarresem]

Here are my thoughts as a life-long Chicago dweller.

1. Schwa-loved how close the kitchen is (ask to go to the bathroom and you have to walk through the kitchen) but keep in mind since it is a BYOB (do you have a go-to wine you can pick up here?) it is a more casual (loud music, neighbors popping in with gym shoes on) I loved the taste and presentation of each dish!!
2. Blackbird-I always recommend this place to my first time visitors. They just do a good job overall on a consistent basis. Not as experimental as Schwa, Moto or Alinea though.
3. Moto-Interesting neighborhood, good, experimental food, a solid choice.
4. Alinea-Wow! But in a whole different price range and reservation availability than the others. If you have to ask if it is a priority then you can wait on this place.
5. L2O-eh. As a food snob not too crazy about this place (but still not a bad choice per se). TIP: it is a Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant so you can buy $100 in gift certificate then get another $25 free. A good thing to do before you arrive and a nice way to save $$. TRU is also a LEYE restaurant and who can say "no" to a caviar staircase and chocolate cart?!?

True Chicago style pizza: My votes are Giordanos or Gino's East.
Hotdog: Hot Doug's gets rave reviews but not "Chicago style" (liked it) I don't eat much hot dogs so I cannot add much here.
Are there any other Chicago essentials we shouldn't miss: An Italian beef with cheese fries (mmmm cheese fries). A must-do in Chicago. Portillo's is the place to go for that.

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Alinea
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

Hot Doug's
3324 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Moto Restaurant
945 W Fulton, Chicago, IL 60607

Gino's East
8725 W Higgins Rd Ste 100, Chicago, IL 60631

Lettuce Entertain You
2171 Northbrook Ct, Northbrook, IL 60062

[BareDeal]

For high end, definitely put Alinea at the top of your list.

If you're interested in Blackbird, another restaurant I'd highly recommend is Avec, which is right next door and owned by the same people. The food is unbelievable and a very casual, hip atmosphere.

Matarresem already mentioned some great Chicago style pizza places. If you're willing to consider more traditional types of pizza, Great Lakes and Piece get my vote. Great Lakes has been featured in various publications as the best pizza in Chicago and nationwide. And Piece is an all-around great place for pizza and beer.

[nsxtasy]

>> TIP: it is a Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant so you can buy $100 in gift certificate then get another $25 free. A good thing to do before you arrive and a nice way to save $$.

That deal - and it is indeed a great deal - is only available with the purchase of gift cards between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve each year.

>> If you're interested in Blackbird, another restaurant I'd highly recommend is Avec, which is right next door and owned by the same people. The food is unbelievable and a very casual, hip atmosphere.

I wouldn't recommend it. Aside from the food - opinions vary, I'm not a fan - there are a whole host of things that make it very customer UNfriendly. Avec doesn't take reservations and waiting times can be lengthy, over 90 minutes on weekends; it's the loudest restaurant I have ever been in; there is only communal seating, at eight-tops or at the bar, so you're stuck sitting with strangers; the hard wooden seats are the most uncomfortable anywhere; and again, I think the food is just okay, nothing special at all.

[nsxtasy]

Alinea is the best of the best. It's been widely recognized as the best restaurant in the entire United States. The food is amazingly delicious and the entire experience is fun. Call NOW for reservations, and be flexible enough to grab whatever's available.

If I could not get a reservation at Alinea, the other four you mentioned are not even ones I would be looking at. If I wanted a truly high-end experience, I would instead recommend Charlie Trotter's, although Everest, Avenues, and TRU are all excellent too. If I wanted a more casual fine dining experience, I would instead recommend North Pond. I would also consider Topolobampo or Frontera Grill, rather than have an itinerary that consists only of contemporary American cuisine.

There are endless arguments, and no consensus, regarding the best places for pizza and hot dogs. You can check out those discussions at...

Hot dogs:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/364427

Pizza:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/327474
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/319254

If you can let us know where you'll be staying and/or spending time, we can recommend specific places that are close by.

>> Are there any other Chicago essentials we shouldn't miss?

Yes. For those, check out the discussion at http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/693477

And for an overview of some of the best dining values, see http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/697829

Enjoy your visit, and feel free to ask more questions!

[chicgail]

The only thing I would add here is that I think you could be as comfortable dressed casually elegantly at Trotter's or Topo (or certainly Frontera) as you would be at North Pond. Any of the three would be fine for a man in a suit through nice jeans and a jacket or sweater. I wouldn't consider a man at Tru, Everest or Avenues in less than a suit and tie.

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North Pond
2610 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614

[nsxtasy]

Trotter's? Really??? Granted, I haven't been there recently, but they have always been a place where gentlemen wear jackets, and their listing on Opentable still says Jackets Required. Have you been there and observed more than one gentleman in the entire dining room not wearing a jacket? Because I sure haven't. I would be really surprised if Trotter's even seated any adult male just wearing jeans and a sweater.

As for the last statement, it has become acceptable, at restaurants that require jackets, for men to wear them with a nice shirt but without a tie. Many men will still wear a tie with the jacket, but some will not, and it doesn't stand out as conspicuously inappropriate the way a lack of jacket would - at least, not to me.

Again, I'm not trying to set any rules, only trying to observe what others do...

[chicgail]

You've got to be careful about this jeans and a sweater thing. It is a slippery slope to looking like a slob.

I stand by my statement about a man wearing a jacket with a nice shirt and pants at Trotters and have seen men in a good pair of dark jeans there looking perfectly acceptable and comfortable. By the same token, a woman would be equally appropriate there wearing nice jeans with dress shoes and a dressy top and/or jacket.

Sweaters get a little closer to the edge and I retract my statement that a nice sweater would be equally appropriate. It's just that societal mores have been changing pretty dramatically and Trotters is in a neighborhood, rather than the central tourist/business area. Still, if they say jackets required, a jacket for men would be the right choice.