Chicago!! What's missing from my culinary adventure??
Got in today and hit up Taste of Chicago.
Dinner tonight at Moto.
Going to see the Cubbies tomorrow and figured we'd hit up Art of Pizza before. It looks near Wrigley.
Then we have dinner at Alinea.
We're looking to get breakfast at Xoco one day (I have to try Bayless' Chilaquiles).
Going to see U2 on Tues., so we were thinking of a late night dinner/drinks at Big Star or Mercadito.
I'd like to hit L20 but it's not looking like we'll have time.
We were also considering Purple Pig, Publican, Frontera (been to Topolobampo already) and we heard Kuma's Corner has great burgers.
What did we miss?
Hot Doug's is closed all weekend so bummed we're missing out on that.
Any strong recommendations for mid-week lunch?
Thanks in advance!
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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
Topolobampo
445 N Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610
Art of Pizza
3033 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Kuma's Corner
2900 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Mercadito
108 W. Kinzie, Chicago, IL 60610
XOCO
449 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
Purple Pig
500 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
By VanCosta
on Jul 2, 2011 05:02 PM
View »
Art of Pizza is not especially near Wrigley. And frankly, I don't think it's especially good. Do you have a car?
If you haven't already, check these threads:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/787406
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/780366
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/773080
Interested in your assessment of Moto. My impression is gimmicky for its own sake, but not especially wonderfully tasty food. I think you'll find Alinea beats it to shreds.
Expect a long wait at Kuma's.
I love The Publican for dinner or brunch. Always fun. Always great food.
Big Star is also fun. Mercadito is a chain, but I think the food is good.
Why don't you do Topo for lunch? It's a great bargain.
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Thanks! Moto was good. Definitely a unique experience. You're right though... Alinea beats it to shreds. That's why we did Moto the night before. Going to Moto after Alinea would've been very disappointing.
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Alinea
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Moto Restaurant
945 W Fulton, Chicago, IL 60607
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Nice to hear you enjoyed Moto. I think people make a mistake it comparing it to Alinea ... by it's own standards I found it both delicious and fun to have a meal with such a sense of humour.
Definitely Big Star over Mercadito - Mercadito is fine and tasty but Big Star is the perfect summer hang out, eat tacos, drink well, watch the world in a very casual summer fun kinda way.
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Alinea
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Moto Restaurant
945 W Fulton, Chicago, IL 60607
Mercadito
108 W. Kinzie, Chicago, IL 60610
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I've found Moto's approach fun and interesting. Delicious, though - not so much. It's not a place that makes me want to return.
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Now that I'm back to work, I have time to reply. ;-)
The pretzel soup at Moto was ridiculous. My favorite course. Their wine pairing were awesome... Several of the wines were glasses that I would never drink on their own, but when coupled w/ the dish, they were spot on.
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Moto Restaurant
945 W Fulton, Chicago, IL 60607
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Bookmarking. thanks chicgail.
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If you want pizza, the new branch of Lou Malnati's on Rush Street (at Viagra Triangle) has a big sign that their grand opening is Monday July 4. Just saying.
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I had a slice at Lou Malnati's at Taste of Chicago and it was good.
Art of Pizza was HORRIBLE! Well, it wasn't horrible. It tasted good, BUT we ordered a stuffed sausage pizza and I found 3 tiny pieces of sausage in the intire slice. It was a nice cheese pie though, I guess.
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Art of Pizza
3033 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
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As chicgail mentions, Art of Pizza is not near Wrigley; it's about two miles away. For stuffed pizza, the Giordano's on Belmont is a half mile from the ballpark. Otherwise, I'd go to one of our best deep-dish places near your hotel - Uno/Due, Lou Malnati's, Pizano's - depending on where you're staying.
>> What did we miss?
What I don't see on your itinerary is any contemporary American (Moto is more molecular), Italian (e.g. Piccolo Sogno), or ethnic food (provincial Mexican - sorry, breakfast at XOCO doesn't count; other Latin; tapas; Asian of any sort; etc).
>> Hot Doug's is closed all weekend so bummed we're missing out on that.
No great loss there.
>> Any strong recommendations for mid-week lunch?
chicgail's suggestion of Topolobampo is good except you say you've been there. Otherwise, Piccolo Sogno for great contemporary Italian (if the weather's nice, sit on the patio); North Pond for contemporary American in the middle of the park; Blackbird for contemporary American in the West Loop.
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Unfortunately, all Rick's restaurants were closed for the holidays. I was very disappointed not to get any chilaquiles!
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Were they closed any days other than Sunday and Monday? They're always closed those two days of the week.
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They were on they're annual vacation to Mexico. They re-open today.
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Oh. Sorry!
We have lots of other great Mexican restaurants here...
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You're missing out on Chicago's excellent breakfast/brunch scene - and you'd have been better off at L2o, Avenues, TRU, Trotter's, and many others than Moto.
I quite liked Art of Pizza, but not moreso than Lou Malnati's.
Purple Pig is okay - nothing truly novel or overwhelming and I personally really enjoyed Hot Doug's despite the wait.
Blackbird or NAHA or Cafe Spiaggia would make for a great mid-week lunch.
http://uhockey.blogspot.com
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Hot Doug's
3324 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Moto Restaurant
945 W Fulton, Chicago, IL 60607
Cafe Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Art of Pizza
3033 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Purple Pig
500 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
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>> You're missing out on Chicago's excellent breakfast/brunch scene
Good catch by our friend from Ohio. Need ideas? Southport Grocery is a short walk west of Wrigley Field. And if you're taking the CTA Red Line to the ballpark, Bongo Room is near the Roosevelt/12th stop, and M. Henrietta is at the Granville stop.
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Bongo Room
1152 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
Southport Grocery & Cafe
3552 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
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I thought Purple Pig great. Everything we ordered was tasty -- particulary the charcuterie.
Hot Doug's was closed, but we hit up Frank n' Dawgs and that was pretty good.
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Hot Doug's
3324 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Purple Pig
500 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
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Might be a little late to make additional suggestions, but if you head to Big Star and find it too crowded, you might consider Bangers & Lace, also in Wicker Park. They're open until 2am and I think the kitchen is open until nearly that late, as well. Menu is limited to sausages, more or less, but they're good. I've had some issues with service (and only one bartender in particular who is the walking embodiment of 'beer snob') but it's lively and has lots of outdoor seating. One of the best beer lists in the city, though the prices are a hair higher than I'd like.
Longman & Eagle, in Logan Square, is also open late and has a very good menu.
And a burger alternative would be Bad Apple. Easily as many over-the-top creations as you'll find at Kuma's but no wait. Also, not as much 'character' to the restaurant, but I'll take a place where you can walk in with no wait over deafening metal music in a crowded, tight space with a 1.5+ hour wait.
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I agree with the Bad Apple suggestion. One of my favorite places to grab a burger. They also have a stellar beer list with a lot of local brews. My new summer favorite is 5 Rabbits - slightly fruity but not sweet. They have it at Bad Apple. Also the neighborhood is easier to get to than Kuma's. You could easily spend an afternoon in Lincoln Square and you'll see how the majority of Chicagoans live.
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Garrett's Popcorn. I hate to be low-brow. But it is worth it.
Bongo Room is an excellent suggestion.
Lou Malnati's for pizza. I do not even like pizza, but it is the best.
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Bongo Room
1152 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
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