Looking for someplace for dinner with my sister in the loop

Hi- One of my sisters is coming into town for a meeting next week. She is arriving on Saturday 11/13, and leaving Wednesday 11/17. She wants to meet me for dinner some evening while she is in town. She is staying at the Hampton Inn at 22 West Monroe, which is right above the Bank of America Theater. She is going to be busy on Saturday night, and I am going to be unavailable on Tuesday night, and so that leaves Sunday and Monday evening. Does anybody have any favorite restaurants within walking distance of the Hampton Inn? We are willing to spend up to $30 per person, but my sister always waits until the evening before, or even a few hours before to tell me when she can meet me, so please no places that require a reservation, such as Frontera Grill. If it was still open, I would take her to the Berghoff. I took her there once when she was staying at the Palmer House, and she really liked it. We like any kind of ethnic such as Italian, Asian, Mexican or Indian. Seafood is okay too. She is not into BBQ, pizza or steakhouses. We are willing to walk 3-4 blocks. She lives in New Orleans, so please no Cajun restaurants. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Nancy

Nancy,

If you want to search LTH Forum for restaurants in a limited geographical area, an easy way to do this is to go to google maps and type "site:lthforum.com near 22 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603". This will give you a list of places discussed on this site and show you where they are on the map.

You might try The Gage at 24 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL.

Also, just a point of clarification, most of the seats at Frontera Grill are first-come, first-served.

NFriday wrote:If it was still open, I would take her to the Berghoff. I took her there once when she was staying at the Palmer House, and she really liked it.

The Berghoff's open but probably won't match your memory. The Atwood might be a better bet.

I'll add - http://www.russianteatime.com/ to the list.

Dave148 wrote:I'll add - http://www.russianteatime.com/ to the list.

Mostly off my radar but a great suggestion in this instance.

Beware, a lot of the places in the Loop itself are closed on Sundays, including two contemporary Italian places which I would recommend for your Monday dinner, Vivere and Cibo Matto. Vivere is in the Italian Village complex, on the next block of Madison just west of the hotel.

And you can forget about Frontera Grill, since it is closed on Sundays AND Mondays. But it's a short cab ride (or el ride on the Pink line to the 18th Street station) to my favorite Mexican restaurant in the city, Mundial Cocina Mestiza, which is open on Sundays but closed on Mondays.

Catch 35 is nearby for seafood, and Shaw's if you'd like to cross the river (still only about a ten minute walk, although it's more than the 3-4 blocks you mentioned). The Sunday brunch at Shaw's will blow your budget (it's $40) but it's pretty darn amazing, a great choice for seafood lovers.

The previously-mentioned Atwood Cafe is a good choice for brunch or dinner. Another good choice is across the river - Sable in the Hotel Palomar. The food, from Chef Heather Terhune (formerly of Atwood) is great, and it's very reasonably priced; you can have a terrific dinner for $30 or less. They also offer artisanal cocktails but that will run up your bill. About a 15 minute walk, i.e. more than 3-4 blocks, or you can go via cab, bus, or el.

Rhapsody, Gage, Tavern on the Park, Miller's, Sweetwater (1/2 off wine bottles on Mon), Italian Village, all within a block or two of her hotel. Not having a reso on Sunday probably isn't too much of an issue, but be prepared to wait.

FYI, Rhapsody is open for dinner on Sundays, closed on Mondays. Tavern at the Park is closed Sundays. All of the Italian Village restaurants are closed Sundays. So is the Berghoff.

The $30 ceiling is a bit of a challenge in the loop, as is the mere 3-4 block radius if you're serious about that. (Lucky thing she' s not that into steakhouses. You wouldn't take a brief cab or bus ride to open up your options?)
For something definitely a bit "different" I think Russian Teatime is a really good suggestion. It, too, could push hard at that $30 ceiling. After that, I'd look at the Gage for a fun and interesting menu. But again, maybe not for $30 if you want a full dinner, or a drink and dessert.
You can search out most of these places' menus on line to see what appeals most and get an accurate sense of pricing.

mrbarolo wrote:The $30 ceiling is a bit of a challenge in the loop, as is the mere 3-4 block radius if you're serious about that.

FWIW, here are the prices and distances from the hotel for the places I mentioned above:

Vivere - 1 block, most dinner entrees in the high twenties
Cibo Matto - 4 blocks, entrees in the high twenties to low thirties
Mundial Cocina Mestiza - 4 miles, entrees in the high teens to low twenties
Catch 35 - 5 blocks, entrees in the high teens to high twenties
Shaw's - 7 blocks, entrees in the low twenties to low thirties
Atwood Cafe - 2 blocks, entrees in the low to high twenties, small plates available
Sable - 8 blocks, entrees in the mid teens to low twenties, half portions available

If lunch works for you, most of these places are open for lunch at lower prices than at dinner.

mrbarolo wrote:You can search out most of these places' menus on line to see what appeals most and get an accurate sense of pricing.

Yup, always a good idea.

Nancy -

You have several options, even on a Sunday or Monday, where you can get out for $30/person. You could go to Trattoria No. 10 (at Dearborn and Washington) (closed Sunday). Petterino's is also an option, as is State/Lake at the bottom floor of The Wit (State/Lake). The food at the latter two is American-style, and not terribly exciting but not bad at all. Park Grill has a good burger, and is located in picturesque Millennium Park.

There's also Miller's Pub, a casual pub-style Chicago Loop institution as well.

Hi- Thanks for all the advice. FYI-My sister and I never order dessert when we go out to eat, unless it is included in the dinner, and we will probably have just one glass of wine. I saw the fantastic reviews for the Hong Kong restaurant on Jeweler's row, but unfortunately they are only open until 8:00P.M. I thought the Berghoff was only open for special events.

My sister is going to be at the Heart meeting at McCormick Place. I know that the options there are even slimmer. There was a really good Indian place we went to I believe on Grand a few years ago. It was right next to the old location for Jazz Showcase. Does anybody know the name of the place?

Some of the Italian places sound like possibilities. The Russian Tea Room sounds good too. I know if I wanted to go to Devon, I could get good Indian for $20. Thanks, Nancy

NFriday wrote: There was a really good Indian place we went to I believe on Grand a few years ago. It was right next to the old location for Jazz Showcase. Does anybody know the name of the place?

India House is located at 59 W. Grand (between Dearborn and Clark) If you are willing to cross the river to get to India House there are more places to choose from. There's a thread on Marketplace (I think that's the right name, in the Doubletree Hotel) that you may wish to consider.

Well, if the discussion is now ranging north of the river, I'd suggest Ginza or Sayat Nova for reasonably priced ethnic food. Ginza is closed on Sunday but Sayat Nova is open for dinner 7 days a week.

But actually, if your sister is going to be at McCormick Place, I think I'd take her to Chinatown and forget the Loop/River North options altogether.

P.S.

nsxtasy wrote:... But it's a short cab ride (or el ride on the Orange line) to my favorite Mexican restaurant in the city, Mundial Cocina Mestiza, which is open on Sundays but closed on Mondays.

PINK line L train to Mundial, not Orange line.

Amata wrote:PINK line L train to Mundial, not Orange line.

Post fixed - thanks!