Chicago Itinerary Review
HI All,
I am coming to Chicago for business in October but am going to stay the weekend with my husband so that we can explore the city. I've come up with a "food itinerary" and was hoping that I could get some feedback on it. Thanks!
(Weekday breakfasts and lunches will be covered for me by the conference but my husband may need some help!)
Tues Dinner - Giordano's
Wed Breakfast/Lunch - ??
Wed Dinner Publican - 7:00 PM
Thurs Breakfast/Lunch - ??
Thurs Dinner - Girl and a Goal - 4:45 PM. I may have to cancel this if I can't move the time. So other options are appreciated!
Fri Breakfast/Lunch - ??
Fri Dinner - Blackbird - 6:30 PM
Sat Breakfast - Fox & Obel
Sat Lunch - Hot Doug's (any ideas about what else there is to do in this area, since we're going so far out for a hot dog!)
Sat Dinner - ?? Was thinking Cafe Spiaggia but other ideas are welcome. Would like to stick to this area since we'd like to catch the fireworks at the pier later.
Sun Breakfast - Fox & Obel
Sun Lunch - Portillo's
Sun Dinner - L20 - 6:30 PM
Mon Late Breakfast - Bongo Room (We have to be at the airport by 1:30 so a late breakfast may be all we can do.)
We're on the wait list for Alinea but I'm not holding my breath!
Also any ideas about what to do in the city are welcome. So far we're planning on the science museum, boat tour, grabbing a drink at the observatory, and possibly the Art Institute. Anything to keep me away from shopping for as much as possible! :)
Thanks so much!!
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Hot Doug's
3324 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Bongo Room
1152 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
Cafe Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
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-- Hot Doug's: will have an extremely long line if you go for lunch. I'd skip F&O for breakfast that day and head out to H.D to get in line as soon as possible. Will you have a car? Cabs will be expensive and public transporation is kind of pain. The area right around it isn't really much to write home about from a tourist perspective. You really need to think if it is worth it *to you both* to trek up there. Especially if it is your first time in Chicago. I wouldn't skip going to the Art Institute for H.D for example.
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Hot Doug's
3324 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618›5 Replies-
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re: rempi
Well, would he be adverse to going to Hot Doug's by himself on a Friday morning/early afternoon - if you'll be working? I definitely understand the appeal of going (as long as he is getting a specialty sausage and not a regular hot dog) and the duck fat fries are on Friday as well. If he does want to go by himself and take public transportation, a good website is www.hopstop.com. He could bring you back a sandwich too! :
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Hot Doug's
3324 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618-
re: lbs
Hi All,
So we're back and had a fantastic time! I thought I'd do a brief review in thanks of all your help!
Giordano's - First night I was there alone and exhausted so I just got a small pizza from Giordano's (I fully recognized I wouldn't finish it). I don't get it. I thought it was one of the worse take-out pizzas I'd every had. I read someone on here described it as tinned tomato sauce and that's exactly what it tasted like. My husband tried it the next day and was unimpressed as well.
Alinea - Well we got in! They actually called me the day of to tell me they had a cancellation which of course I snapped up. What can I say....it's just as fantastic as people say. Truly not to be missed! I bought their cookbook which Chef Achatz was kind enough to autograph for me. Funny side note - Stephanie Izard (of Girl and a Goat) was there the same night sitting at the table next to me :)
Also, since we got into Alinea, we had to nix L20. Budget considerations must be made! It's on the agenda for next time.
Gino's East - The next night for dinner we tried a different pizza place. A huge improvement! This is the Chicago pizza I've heard of, so fantastic! We both loved the crust and the toppings were nicely balanced. Very very good and way better than Giordano's.
Weber Burger Place/Portillos - The husband tried these out for lunches (I had to have conference lunches). He was not impressed by Portillos but said that the Weber burger was very good.
Intelligentsia - This is some strong coffee! It is a little pricey due to their artisanal nature but the coffee itself was very good. Although, I'm from a coffee city so as good as it was, I've had better back home.
Fox and Obel - I love this store! I'm a sucker for fancy grocery stores and could spend hours in this place. We grabbed some drinks and snacks as well as some pastries/breads. The cinnamon roll and macaroon were awesome even the next day, and the bread was perfect - chewy and crusty, just how i like it! A great option for a quick light breakfast or snack. Also, they brew Intelligentsia coffee so it's a great option if you're as sick of starbucks as I am :)
David Burke Primehouse - We were pretty tired so we cancelled our Blackbird resv (didn't want to travel that far) and went to David Burke's instead. Hands down the best steak I've ever had! I know there may be great debate amongst Chicagoans about what is a good steak place but coming from someone who is not from a "steak city" - this was fantastic. Also the biggest cut of meat I have ever seen....I felt like I was on the Flintstones eating a brontosaurus :) We had so much leftover that we made steak sandwiches for lunch the next day!
Yolk - We popped by for a late breakfast/lunch one day. It is not earth shattering food but very good simple breakfasts. It was good value and totally hit the spot!
Cafe Spiaggia - I thought this was excellent value for the quality of food you get. The trout appetizer was amazing - I still think about it :) I loved my pasta dish as well. The husband thought his pasta was a little overcooked but liked it overall. The service is a little meh.....but we had a seat by the window which slightly made up for it!
Drinks at the John Hancock Centre - Two drinks + a view! Way better value than getting admission tickets :) It was a gorgeous view and the drinks were actually very good!
Pizzeria Uno - The lineup here was insane. Although lineups do comfort me as they must be doing something right! I loved their pizza. For me it was a close race between Gino's and Uno but Uno won by an inch. My husband liked Gino's better but ultimately loved both! It's amazing how such a heavy pizza can feel so non-greasy. Pizza Hut leaves such a greaseball in your tummy....but this doesn't!
Corner Bakery - The morning before we left, we popped by Corner Bakery for a quick breakfast. Was good - nothing to write home about. The muffin was decent :)
Hot Doug's is on the menu for next time - one of the previous commenters was right. It was just too far on transit.....so we're saving that for the next trip!
All in all, we had a fantastic time! You have a beautiful city and very friendly people. We can't wait to come back!
Thanks!
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Pizzeria Uno
29 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611Alinea
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614Hot Doug's
3324 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618Cafe Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611Gino's East
8725 W Higgins Rd Ste 100, Chicago, IL 60631-
re: rempi
uhockey
Nov 1, 2010 12:57 PM
Nice reviews - Alinea is the only table in the Midwest I'd cancel L2o for, and Achatz is a really nice guy if you can get him out of the kitchen for a few seconds - he signed the menus at our visit right after making the tableside dessert.
I do have one question - where do you live that does coffee better than Intelligentsia? The only thing I've found better was a couple of the single estate blends at Blue Bottle and (maybe) the Corsica blend at La Colombe.
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Alinea
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
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uhockey
Sep 27, 2010 03:56 PM
Cafe Spiaggia is excellent "bang for the buck" - keep it.
L2o is the second best place I've been in the city - second only to Alinea - but I think Trotter's is "Can't Miss" as well.
Would consider one of the Bayless spots while in town and don't miss m.henry for a breakfast (pass on one of those Fox & Obel's, perhaps?)
Blackbird, IMO, is a steal for lunch - not as much for dinner, but it is a great spot.
Would head to Fritz for some pastry while you are there.-----
Alinea
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614Cafe Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611›4 Replies-
re: uhockey
Thanks! It was actually your review (and Bourdain's) that sold L20 to me! :)
I was considering m. henry, will definitely put it on the list now - maybe for Sunday morning. I'll look up Fritz as well! Was also going to try to get to Intelligentsia for some coffee :)
If I move Blackbird to a lunch (maybe Sunday), what else would you rec for dinner on Friday? I don't have a burning desire for Portillo's, the hubby can do that on his own during the week!
As for Bayless - was trying to get lunch resv at Topo but they had nothing. May try Frontera on the Wednesday night if can't move that GatG resv. Although I was considering Purple Pig too - heard good things about it and only so-so about Frontera.
Thanks again!
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re: rempi
uhockey
Sep 27, 2010 06:24 PM
m.henry is better than bongo room, imo - it is a top 10 brunch nationwide for me.
If you can budget it, I'd recommend seeing Trotter's while in town - it is an institution and the kitchen is still very dynamic while the service is on par with the best anywhere in the US.
Topo is an easier lunch reservation than dinner, for sure, but Frontera is a worthy alternative. I personally wasn't "wowed" by Frontera, but my sister loved it.
I've not been to The Purple Pig - I will be in early November, and Intelligentsia is still my favorite Coffee company in the US - the blend served at Topo is particularly impressive. If you don't want to go out of your way to visit Intelligentsia's store it is sold in multiple blends and estate collections at Fox & Obel.
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re: rempi
We were at Trotter's in July and I've been to L20 twice in the last year or so. Trotter's is great but it is a long way from what it was five or 10 years ago. I hadn't been in 5 years. The food was excellent but the service was just o.k.
I would opt for L20 where I have been very, very pleased.
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