Chicago Restaurants

I really don't get to a very wide variety of restaurants these days, so I have no idea what's actually good and will be checking this thread religiously for suggestions. But I like Privata and Matsuya and Le Creperie (I know, I know), and whatever else is wrong with the Bongo Room they still have great eggs benedict (the lox and asparagus ones).

I saw Lou Malnati's on some Food Channel pizza special. Way overrated IMO. They put a whole freakin' layer of meat on their pies...TOO MUCH

Oddly enough, some of my favorite restaurants in Chicago tend to be veggie places with a religious aspect to them. Especially the Buddhist joints, like Victory's Banner (for breakfast), Amitabul, and the new, delicious Alice & Friends.

I'll also third Andie's -- it is a shade better than Reza's, methinks.

Topalobampo
Blackbird
NoMi
Spring
Crofton on Wells

would be tops in the next tier for me.

After much research and deliberation I've decided Chicago Chop House has the best steak, with Gibsons running close behind.

Mirai for sushi.

I'm not much of a Pizza fan, and I really don't like stuffed all that much, so I'll bow out of naming a winner there.

Gioco has great food but is overpriced. Rosebud on Taylor probably still the king for Italian. Favorite place for cheap Italian: Bertucci's, a nice little family owned restaurant in the grey area between Chinatown and Bridgeport. It's like dining in someone's converted basement, but the food is fantastic.

I think we already did Italian Beef on some other thread, but Carm's on Polk roolz (for Italian Ice too). Ricobene's on 26th has a great one too, and don't miss their signature breaded Steak Sandwich.

Portillo's for Hot Dogs.

Chinatown I like Hong Min or Emporer's Choice best.

I've been to Turkish Bakery twice -- it seems a little overpriced to me, though.

So the "Mr. Diamond" name really does refer to your wealth!

THe Middle Eastern place is only a bakery. They have Jordan Almonds and 50 different shapes of fillo/pistachio/honey desserts. It is not "baclava." Can't you see it's shaped like a bird's nest?

I've been to maybe 20 of the 50-odd Indian restaurants on Devon, but damned if I can remember the names of the better ones. One of the Moti Mahals is really good. Also all of the video/music stores owned by the Patel Bros are great!

Avoid the weird Mongol-Indian restaurant on that one corner, though.

They jet in fresh fish and seafood from all over the world to O'Hare. It is cheap and casual and large and they know what the hell they are doing.

Mr. Diamond you should inflate your itemized deductions and then splash out at Le Francais!

nabisco, was Spring the one we were standing directly in front of when the 2 Lincoln Park Trixies asked us for directions to it on our way to Mod?

Yes. I don't know if I told you the story about how Spring made me cross the street every day. But there was a period the summer after it opened where (a) the sidewalk was crowded with valet-parked people who, when you tried to get past, acted like you were the out-of-place one, and (b) their fish-filled dumpsters reeked up that side of the street pretty unbearably.

That said: Felicity, you liked Mod, right? Dear everyone: Mod looks terrible -- it looks like a Lego hair salon, which is sort of cool but not someplace you'd want to eat. But it's very good.

I'm really enjoying this thread for the recommendations, especially some of the north side places that I just don't get too that often.
Yeah, they actually opened a Bob Chinn's near the loop. I've been meaning to get over there for a while now...

Oops, where is Carso's? Do you mean like south loop, or way far south? Anyway, it sounds great!

Wet is the beef dipped, but not the bread? I would absolutely do that.

#1 is deserved, you really aren't going to get better than Johnnie's.

The first two nights I am going to my wife's work events at two steakhouse looking places, then we are having dinner Saturday with my aunts and cousin at Obelix. Between all that, plus me having to get a few Chicago dogs and the beef sandwich, I am going to need to eat salad all next week.

xp the beef will be dipped no matter what iirc, wet is a slight addition of jus—if it means anything, wet is how I typically order it, but every once it a while I will get the whole thing dipped (it's really only a problem if you have an aversion to using lots of napkins)

also I wrote that having ordered exactly one italian beef in at least the past 4-5 years :D

oh and absolutely get the giardinera, don't fuck around with sweet peppers unless you really don't like spicy things

Thanks for the tips dan m. I will go with wet and get the giardinera.

You can also order the beef dry with the jus/sauce on the side, especially if you are getting it to go, but not every place honors that request, lol.

Any recommendations for quick lunch in Wicker Park near Division stop? Preferably not beef, lol.

I’m an out of towner (in fact an out of continenter) but La Pasadita was vg the one time I ate there.

Not for up the road to Dove’s Luncheonette and Big Star, can’t go wrong with either of those.

xp A few possibilities within a few blocks of the Division stop:

-Sando Street: Japanese-style sandwiches, counter service, 1547 N. Ashland (ate there a few weeks ago, pretty good)

-Alegrias Seafood and El Barco Mariscos: two Mexican seafood places across the street from each other, 1024 and 1035 N. Ashland (I've only been to Alegrias, but a long time ago -- I think it might have even had a different name back then, but people seem to like 'em)

-Antique Taco: Hipster (i.e., cheffy, nontraditional) tacos, 1360 N. Milwaukee (been a while since I've been here, too, but it was reliably decent). There's also Big Star, which is in a similar vein, but a little further afield, at 1531 N. Damen.

also agree on the Dove's recommendation, if you're wandering up that way -- it's next to Big Star

If you're heading to the Division stop bc you're going to Dusty Groove, you might as well walk up Milwaukee Ave. and hit up Reckless, too

Yeah, that was the plan. Thanks for the recommendations everyone. I do love Japanese sandwiches, though Masa pancakes sound awesome, too.

I forget where (in the country) you're coming from, but there are lots of good Mexican spots everywhere, including Big Star, which is boutiquey but still really good. (For later, more or less across the street from Big Star is Violet Hour, one of the country's best cocktail bars.) Also in Wicker Park is Piece, the pizza place co-owned by Rick Nielsen. It's pretty good and has good beer/good vibes. All this stuff is by the Damon stop, but that's just one stop closer/farther, depending what direction you are going in.

If you get Japanese sandwiches in Chicago, I'll get Chicago deep dish pizza in Japan: http://en.devilcraft.jp/

There's a Harold's Chicken near Ashland iirc, get your 2pc dark with mild sauce

Sauce on the side!

I went to Dove’s Luncheonette and had the masa pancakes with a side of smoked sausage. Fun little place with a nice vibe and good food. Thanks Tim and Chicago ilxors.

On the downside, I wasn’t really a fan of the record stores I went to (Reckless, Mr. Shuga, Dusty Grooves) because they were a style of store I kind of hate: too much new vinyl/reissues, not enough used vinyl, and anything you actually wanted to buy was $$$. I ended up buying a couple of African reissues I would never find or afford in OG.

Also, how do stores get away without a new arrivals section for used vinyl?

Both DG and Reckless have always had those bins to my memory

DG did, but I don’t think Reckless did (or I missed it). DG was definitely the best of the three.

We take visitors to Buona Beef b/c they do a great Italian beef but also a seitan Italian "beef-less" that I love. It's a chain, but no reason to hold that against them. There's a location east of where you're staying...on the way-ish to Navy Pier or the lake.

How was Obelix, PBKR? It's on my list, but I haven't been yet.

Obelix was really great. Mostly classic French bistro with some cheeky modern twists.

They had a poire spritz with a pear eau di vie and pear cider that was one of the best cocktails I’ve had.

We shared escargot and a pate en crout for the table, both straight forward and excellent, then duck breast for my main (the menu has an entire section just for duck dishes). Everything was really perfect. Prices are high but worth it imo.

Go hungry! I stupidly ate too much for lunch or I would have really done damage on some appetizers.

nice

My wife had their version of a salad lyonnaise that had a duck egg and duck confit instead of lardons. The confit was shredded and then seared in a pan like a big smashburger of duck.

We're going to be back in Chicago to visit my aunts and cousin next month. I am really looking forward to it. Visiting the city a couple of times the last two years has given me even more appreciation for it.

Has anyone been to Gene and Georgetti's in the last few years? I wanted to do a very classic Chicago restaurant and that came up as still having decent food and classic atmosphere. My aunt laughed and told me she last went there in college (50+ years ago), then made a reservation. What say Chicago ilxors?

I went there once, had to be more than 15 years ago at this point. It was good, classic, all those things, and I'm sure it still is. Get yourself some Chicken Vesuvio!

I'm generally not a huge fan of steakhouses, but I guess that one counts as a classic? Anyway, by that standard I'm sure it is both a) exactly as one remembers it and b) not as good as it used to be. The duality of the old-school thing. I can't remember if I've ever been there myself, tbh!

Check out the Cherry Room in the Chicago Athletic Club and make a reservation for that and Cindy's.

Cherry Circle Room is permanently closed, unfortunately (I just found that out this week!).

Gene & Georgetti's sounds like a good call for what you're looking for, from what I've heard from some friends over the past week.

Never been to G&G's! I'm not much of a steakhouse guy, either. I like restaurants with that vintage steakhouse ambiance, but ... I don't really like steak.

xp I *have* been to Cherry Circle Room, because my brother worked there for a while, and I'd second that recommendation -- but the restaurant is currently closed. (IIRC, it's transitioning from one hospitality group to another.)

(Oh, I didn't realize CCR closure was permanent, though that doesn't surprise me.)

Thanks everyone for your responses.

I used to be a person who was "food above all else" when it came to restaurants, always wanting the best and newest. The last couple of years I've really come to appreciate old places that still do things well and have history, even if technically some newer place maybe has better food. Classic places close all the time (or get terrible), so I like to take advantage when I can.

That's also where the street/comfort food excels. Hot dogs, sandwiches, red sauce Italian, Calumet fisheries, burgers, pizza places ...

Calumet Fisheries definitely on my list for a future visit.

On thread topic though not to PBKR's question, my wife and I recently celebrated our anniversary at a Chicago restaurant, Brasero on Chicago Ave in Ukrainian Village. Very meaty, but a good variety of dishes, and absolutely lethal cocktails.

We went to Brasero for my birthday last year, it was great, iirc. Piggybacking on that, last year or so we went to this great Ukrainian restaurant also on Chicago Ave., just down the block:

https://tryzubchicago.com/

I wasn't all that impressed with Tryzub when I ate there in 2019, though it's probably a decent option for Ukrainian if you don't want to shell out for Anelya.

I liked Tryzub when I ate there, but it was with a Ukrainian who ordered everything. Really didn't like Anelya when I was there last fall, unfortunately. The service was especially bad. (Wish the group I was with had picked Parachute Hi-Fi next door. Still haven't been there since its changeover.)

Also was shocked to learn this week that 90 Miles is no more!

I was back in town for a few days (sorry to miss ChILXors) and for the second time had an amazing dinner at Noodlebird.

Too bad you had a bad experience at Anelya; I thought it was pretty good. I like Parachute Hi-Fi, too. Kind of an odd menu, but it mostly works, and the vibe is great.

I've gotten good takeout from Noodlebird but have never eaten there. A good reminder to go back.

Is Noodlebird nu-Fat Rice? I don't know that one!

Finally went to Maxwells Trading last night. Pretty good, kind of Thai-tinged fusion? Very rich, some tropical flavors (coconut, pineapple, basil, a curry), some good ideas, solid cocktails. Though hey, have you heard about prices these days? Sheesh.

Coincidentally, I was just looking at their menu last night and thinking about making a reservation. Have not been but am curious.

My fave restaurant meal of the past few months was at the new Grant Achatz place, Fire, which was not only delicious but surprisingly affordable given its pedigree and the multi-course prix-fixe format.

I didn't even know he had a new place. Is it the one replacing Roister? I never went there, but ate at Next a couple of times early on and felt ripped off, and ate at Alinea once, which left a bad taste in my mouth (metaphorically; food was good). Never been to the cocktail place.

Googled Fire and it seems inspired by Warlord, maybe? Or perhaps part of the same trend. I've never been to Warlord, either, since eating there seems like a PIA and the people behind it are reportedly dicks.

Yeah, it's the place that replaced Roister.

I am interested in Warlord, but the fact that they don't take reservations and reportedly have had long wait times has kept me away.

Back from our weekend in Chicago and I can report that Gene and Georgetti is a classic. Atmosphere was great, starting with the guy sitting outside who offered to take our picture in front of the sign when he saw us interested in it. Classic wood bar with obligatory celebrity photos. We sat upstairs in a room with a mural of a cityscape from the early/mid 20th C. The restaurant was full, lively, but not loud, which was nice. Our waiter appeared to have been there for twenty plus years and we felt very well taken care of. The food and drinks were very good. The steak was perfectly cooked, the Vesuvio Potatoes cooked in garlic and wine were good, and the broccolini and asparagus were al dente. We ordered two pastas for the table - a very good a la Norma (eggplant, tomato, and ricotta salata), and an exceptional homemade garganelli with lamb, a little soffrito, and a whisper of cream. The pastas really exceeded my expectations because I just assumed a steakhouse was phoning them in a little. I ordered a martini "not too dry" and they made it just right. Portions were very large as well. We ordered gelato and I expected a scoop of each and we received a chalice of each. Not cheap, but this is exactly the kind of restaurant I love now.

We also went to Elske in the West Loop while we were in town. Another excellent meal. We had a lentil crepe with sunchokes that was out of this world.

Hey, that's fantastic.

Sounds like a great visit. Elske was where my wife and I celebrated our last wedding anniversary before moving away from Chicago, been wanting to go back for a while.

Awesome. Now I want to go to Gene & Georgetti.

Can confirm that Elske is very good, although my memory of the meal I had there in 2018 is fuzzy. I do remember the Swedish meatball-style burger they offered for takeout in 2020, which my wife and I ate on their patio in the cold.

Everyone raved about the sourdough bread with koji butter at Elske. I love a really good bread and butter to start a meal.