Chicago eats near my hotel.

[callitasicit]

Hi everyone, I am visiting from Toronto in a couple of weeks and I was hoping to get some recommendations on good eats near my hotel. I am looking for good pizza, hot dogs and seafood.I would like to find a good breakfast/brunch place as well. I am staying at the Wyndham Blake Chicago Hotel in downtown Chicago. The exact location is 500 South Dearborn Street. Thanks in advance, Chicago chowhounds!

[nsxtasy]

Pizza - Lou Malnati's at 8th and State.

Breakfast/brunch - Bongo Room at Roosevelt (12th) and Wabash.

I don't know of any good seafood restaurants close by; if I were staying there and I wanted good seafood, I'd travel a mile north to Shaw's Crab House or GT Fish.

[callitasicit]

Thanks Nsxtasy:) I am also planning on venturing out and trying different restaurants out of the vicinity. I would like to try Hot Dougs, Anne Sather's and New England Seafood Company. Call me crazy but I have always wanted to try Chick Fil A as I have heard such good things about their chicken. I know it's fast food;) Any other must tries in Chicago? I also read that Garrett Popcorn is really good, I heard the Chicago mix is amazing but of course that is just snack food lol.

[ferret]

If I can chime in, Ann Sather's is not really worth a visit. The best thing they serve are their cinnamon rolls, and you can get them to go, which is what I would recommend. Then snack on them while you head to a different restaurant,

[callitasicit]

Thanks Ferret. Do you have any restaurant recommendations for me?

[ferret]

I have lots of good suggestions but you set your initial parameters as "near my hotel." However, when you started to get into specifics, none of the places you identified (save for Garrett's) are near the Wyndham Blake.

[callitasicit]

True, I did prefer to have something close to the hotel but I am more flexible now. Care to share any of your suggestions? I hear the train system is very good in Chicago so it shouldn't be difficult to get around.

[camusman]

Mercat a la Planxa is convenient to your location. Tapas from Iron Chef Garces.
Good thin crust pizza at Coalfire.
Yummy tortas at Rick Bayless's Xoco.
Argyle Street for pho and other Vietnamese goodies; Sun Wah is nearby with great duck.

[Querencia]

Your near Red Line subway/EL station is at State & Harrison. In five or ten minutes it will get you to hundreds of restaurants. In direction of Howard get off at Grand (station) for Brazzaz (Brazilian), India House (Indian), Maggiano's (Italian), PF Chang (Chinese), Heaven on Seven (Cajun), or Lawry's (Prime Rib) as well as many others. Get off at Chicago and walk north along Rush to where Rush and State come together at a little park (Cedar Street) and you will be surrounded by restaurants in all directions.