Food, Baseball, and Stevie Nicks
Hi - My husband and I will be heading to Chicago for a quick kid-free getaway April 14-14th. I would love your help on food/drink suggestions:
Our current plan:
- Friday 12th (early morning arrival)
- Go to Cubs day game (single tickets haven't been released yet!)
- Can we get quintessential Chicago hot dogs at the game?
- Late afternoon pizza (We are staying at the JW Marriott - any suggestions close by? Preferably by the slice)
- 6pm Coctail 10 course tasting menu at Aviary Bar (note the need for some pizza beforehand to soak up alcohol)
Saturday 13th
- Brunch at Frontera Grill (get there by opening)
- Need an early dinner as we are going to the United Center at 8pm for the Fleetwood Mac concert
- I was thinking we could go to the Girl and Goat at 4:30 or so - and try and get a seat at the bar. There are no reservations available. Would that work? Would pushing it til 5ish work - still to make an 8pm concert?
- Open to other dinner suggestions!
- Nightlife after concert - either near the JW or the Union Center?
Sunday 14th
- I have 10am brunch reservations at the Publican - but open to other sugestions. We may be taking a carryon bag to go straight to airport afterwards.
Thanks!
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nsxtasy
Mar 3, 2013 04:22 PM
>> - Go to Cubs day game (single tickets haven't been released yet!)
Single game Cubs tickets go on sale this coming Wednesday (MasterCard presale) and Friday (general public). Info: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/ticke...
Let us know if you have any additional questions about food during your visit!
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nsxtasy
Feb 21, 2013 03:43 PM
>> - Can we get quintessential Chicago hot dogs at the game?
You can, but they're not as good as they are outside the park at nearby places such as Wrigleyville Dogs.
>> - Late afternoon pizza (We are staying at the JW Marriott - any suggestions close by? Preferably by the slice)
Pizano's on Madison is about a ten-minute walk. You can get a small deep-dish and split it.
>> - I was thinking we could go to the Girl and Goat at 4:30 or so - and try and get a seat at the bar. There are no reservations available. Would that work? Would pushing it til 5ish work - still to make an 8pm concert?
I haven't been there quite that early, but I've heard you can walk right in at 4:30 without a reservation (you could even get a table if you wanted, rather than sitting at the bar), and that waits start increasing around 5:00. You might want to call the restaurant to ask. Once you're seated, I would allow 90 minutes for dinner (you could call to ask about this, too); let your server know what time you need to leave. The United Center is less than two miles away; allow 10 minutes by cab.
>> - Open to other dinner suggestions!
So many great places to choose from! We have an assortment of great restaurants specializing in small plates of various sorts, including GT Fish & Oyster (seafood), Sable (contemporary American), Province (contemporary global), Mercat a la Planxa (tapas), and Quartino (Italian). All of these accept reservations, including on Opentable.com and they're not terribly difficult to get.
>> - I have 10am brunch reservations at the Publican - but open to other sugestions. We may be taking a carryon bag to go straight to airport afterwards.
Which airport, and do you have a car?
›2 Replies-
re: nsxtasy
- Can we get quintessential Chicago hot dogs at the game?
I agree with Nxtasy's response to this. My favorite at Wrigley is the stand with grilled onions. Regardless of the style, get a dog from one of the concession areas, not the vendors in the stands. They might not be quintessential Chicago hot dogs, but they are quintessential ballgame food/
- Late afternoon pizza (We are staying at the JW Marriott - any suggestions close by? Preferably by the slice)
Although there are some options for slices, Chicago is a whole-pie town. For a pre-Aviary Italian snack, one of your best bets will be right in your hotel, at The Florentine. It does not get as much buzz these day after some chef changes, but is still an above-average hotel restaurant that doesn't feel like a hotel restaurant. Check out their menus below, including the lounge menu and the crostini-pizza menu.
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