Recs Appreciated for Restaurants Near Our Chicago Hotel

[canna2011]

I've been reading through all the great Chicago threads on this board and already have an idea of some places to try during our days in the city, however, I was wondering if anyone can recommend some specific places near our hotel.

We'll be staying at the Sheraton Chicago (301 East North Water Street). We're open to all kinds of suggestions, but would love some recs for "typical" Chicago fare, Italian, steakhouses and maybe a bar/lounge/pub or two.

Also, from what I understand the hotel is in a relatively good location sightseeing wise. I would love it if you could suggest some close-by things we might want to try while in the city.

Thanks in advance!

[Querencia]

The Sheraton has a fun breakfast arrangement in its lower-level Bistro & Patisserie. For a fixed price you get access to all the chef stations where they will custom-make pretty much anything you want with any number of refills and seconds. Go down and take a look at the crepes station.

[jbontario]

A short walk (10 mins) north is Francesca's on Chestnut and DiSotto Enoteca. Francesca's is part of the Chicago go-to upscale casual italian Mia Francesca mini-chain and always good in my book. DiSotto is the sister to Davanti Enoteca which I really like for sharable and individual rustic italian plates. Very nice salumi and bruschetta specials.

Also in that River East / Streeterville area is Volare, a top spot for a quick Italian lunch; Fox & Obel grocery and cafe (nsxtasy discusses) for breakfast and lunch; and of course Joe's is just a couple blocks West under Michigan Ave on Grand.

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Joe's Seafood Prime Steak & Stone Crab
60 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611

Volare
201 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Francesca's on Chestnut
200 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL 60611

[Bada Bing]

I'm not a local, but I can add on the Fox & Obel front that several of my family members were very pleased with the Market Bistro restaurant in Fox & Obel, going there twice for dinner during a recent visit, mainly for its convenience, value and ambience:

http://www.fox-obel.com/Bistro

It's quite affordable, with rather modest portions (e.g., a 4 oz. filet mignon with mashed potatoes and some greens for $10). I thought the food was decently done, and the atmosphere--looking over a sort of canal--is quite nice. We were even treated to the Weds. fireworks from the Navy Pier.

[chicgail]

Just a clarification: are you specifically looking for Italian food and steakhouses or is it your impression that Italian and steak are "typical" Chicago fare? Like most big cities, Chicago has good steakhouses and Italian, but those would not necessarily be "typical Chicago" food. I would suggest other styles of food, such as regional Mexican cuisine or fine creative American so recommendations may be different depending on what it is that you're looking for.

Also, can you say anything about your expectations price-wise?

[nsxtasy]

I agree with chicgail on all counts. There is nothing specifically "Chicago" about Italian cuisine or steakhouses; you can find excellent versions of both in any sizable American city. However, we do have other cuisines which you can't find elsewhere, or which are nowhere near as good as ours. These include our local specialty of deep-dish pizza as well as the creative provincial Mexican cuisine which she mentioned.

Last week, visitors from out of town asked for recommendations in this topic:

Torontonians in Chicago for 3 nights - http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/801386

They were staying at the Hyatt Regency, which is right across the river from your Sheraton, about a three-minute walk. So the recommendations in that discussion are not only great recommendations for Chicago cuisine, but also, they are suitable for proximity, and any distances and travel times stated in that topic are equally relevant to the Sheraton. So take a look at it, and start making your plans for Frontera Grill/Topolobampo or Mexique, Uno or Due for deep-dish pizza, and Sable or North Pond for contemporary American cuisine. Also make sure you hit Fox & Obel for their baked goods and Garrett's Popcorn for snacking.

If you still want to have Italian cuisine while you're here, Piccolo Sogno may be the best reasonably-priced Italian food in the city right now (or, if you want to keep it close to the Sheraton, consider Coco Pazzo Cafe or Cibo Matto). And if you still want to go to a steakhouse, David Burke's Primehouse may be our best and is 5-8 minutes walk from the Sheraton.

>> I would love it if you could suggest some close-by things we might want to try while in the city.

I know the Chowhound Team discourages recommendations that aren't related to food and beverage. Briefly, the Sheraton is an easy walk to Navy Pier and Millennium Park, and the Art Institute (our largest and most famous art museum) is not that far. It's also right off the south end of the "Mag Mile", the shopping district along North Michigan Avenue. For more suggestions, visit the city's official tourism website at www.choosechicago.com

Feel free to ask more questions!

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Pizzeria Due
619 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Pizzeria Uno
29 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611

Fox & Obel Food Market
401 E Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60611

David Burke's Primehouse
616 N Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611

Frontera Grill
445 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

North Pond
2610 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614

Topolobampo
445 N Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610

Garrett Popcorn
625 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Coco Pazzo Cafe
636 N St Clair, Chicago, IL 60611

Mexique
1529 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Piccolo Sogno
464 N Halsted, Chicago, IL 60622

Cibo Matto
201 N State St, Chicago, IL 60601

Sable Kitchen & Bar
505 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60654