Suggestions for weekend, Iowan coming to Chi

Well we're making one of our regular visits to town and need some suggestions. We're staying downtown at the Palmer.

Our only for sure is K's Dumplings, probably on Saturday late afternoon early evening (couldn't find their hours, hope it's open then).

Also, wouldn't mind some suggestions near the Palmer.

Finally a couple of other ideas/requests:

-anyone use restaurant.com coupons? Maybe we could get a deal on something we normally wouldn't be able to afford.

- any suggestions for a casual French place for lunch, not too expensive?

Lots of very good places near the Palmer House Hilton...

Vivere (Italian - part of the Italian Village complex - Vivere is great, but I don't recommend the other parts there)
Trattoria No. 10 (Italian)
Atwood Cafe (upscale American, and also open for breakfast)
Park Grill (contemporary American)
Pizano's (Chicago deep-dish pizza)

All of these are within a block or two of the Palmer House. There are plenty more excellent places 5-10 blocks away, but these are the closest really good places.

I've used the restaurant.com coupons. They work. Although, like the Entertainment book, a lot of them are for places you wouldn't necessarily want to go to. But it's worth checking to see if they have them for anyplace you're already considering.

For a casual French place for lunch, not too expensive, I can't think of anything really close to the Palmer House Hilton, but about a mile away, Bistro 110 and Kiki's Bistro are both pretty good.

Abouna wrote:- any suggestions for a casual French place for lunch, not too expensive?

In addition to nsxtasy's suggestions, there's Cyrano's.

And Brasserie Jo, which is focused on Alsatian food, so that may or may not fit what you're looking for. I have only nibbled snacks there at one LTH Cocktail Hour.

Cyrano's Bistrot
www.cyranosbistrot.com
546 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 467-0546

Brasserie Jo
59 W Hubbard St
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 595-0800

I'd add Russian Tea Time, at 77 East Adams. It's less than a block away from the Palmer House, and its excellent. If you've got a hankering for periogies, stuffed cabbage or blinis (and perhaps a shot of vodka), this is your place.

Jonah

We've been to Natalina before and I personally loved the Rum Baba. However, we weren't totally impressed with the rest.

Any suggestions for take out desserts? Any type is fine as long as it's really good.

Take out desserts = Fox and Obel

I assume you've read through the topic on Pasticceria Natalina for suggestions? Everything I've gotten there has been really good. I think it's more a matter of what kind of pastries you prefer. If you're a fan of almond paste/marzipan (I am), those pastries are excellent. If you like pastry cream (custard), then... well, you get the idea.

I like the pastries at Fox and Obel, too, and it's in the downtown area, no need to hike up to Andersonville. Some are more along the lines of breakfast pastries - great bran muffins, their wonderful cinnamon swirl rolls, croissants, etc - and others are more like dessert pastries, such as their bread pudding and chocolate brut (basically chocolate bread pudding), fruit tarts, cookies, etc.

nsxtasy wrote:I assume you've read through the topic on Pasticceria Natalina for suggestions? Everything I've gotten there has been really good. I think it's more a matter of what kind of pastries you prefer. If you're a fan of almond paste/marzipan (I am), those pastries are excellent. If you like pastry cream (custard), then... well, you get the idea.

I like the pastries at Fox and Obel, too, and it's in the downtown area, no need to hike up to Andersonville. Some are more along the lines of breakfast pastries - great bran muffins, their wonderful cinnamon swirl rolls, croissants, etc - and others are more like dessert pastries, such as their bread pudding and chocolate brut (basically chocolate bread pudding), fruit tarts, cookies, etc.

I have read that thread, it was the whole reason for our first visit!

As for Fox & Obel, whoa, looks good. Also looks wallet scary!