Take-out & steak on the N.N. Side

I'm going to be in Chicago for a week (Apr.19-26) and then back for a few days in June. I was born and raised in the city, but haven't been back in 32 years. Have been enjoying reading this forum, but haven't seen answers to two questions. We need suggestions for those times when we can escape from family get-togethers and all the home cookin'.

We'll be staying at the Embassy Suites at 600 N. State. The location seems to be restaurant heaven! Anyway, question #1:

Suggestions for a good place to get wonderful coffee, tasty sandwiches and sides, and sinful desserts, all for take-out? There'll be times when I just want to be in the hotel. Past experience with E.S. elsewhere tells me that their room service is limited and very expensive.

Question #2: Mr. Candlelady is not a gourmet. He is a meat and potatoes man, specializing in steaks. They should be rather modest in size and actually cooked enough to prove that the animal has expired. Other than that, flavorful and tender. I would like him to have a real Chicago steak, anywhere between the N.N. Side and the Loop. Ambience should be quiet, service unobtrusive, and the general experience all Chicago.

You're in luck for take-out, if you're interested in sandwiches, desserts, etc., since you're not too far from Fox & Obel, one of the premier high-end grocery stores (with a cafe) in the area. You can also order special picnic packages (from a picnic menu) or simply buy right off the shelf:

http://www.fox-obel.com/index.asp

I'll defer to the more aggressive carnivores in the audience for the second query (altho there are plenty of excellent options in the area if you're willing to pay the price).

Steak place nailing those criteria is the Saloon. Not everyone (out of towners, especially) is looking for low-key in their big steak experience, but the Saloon is it. Very good food. Smaller place with much less people-watching, buzz, whatever.

BTW, I believe that hotel might have a PJ Clarke's branch in the building. You could do much, much worse. Nice tavern with a good beer selection and better-than-average food. Burgers aren't up there with the NYC original, but good.

For another possibility for take out, you can walk 3 (?) blocks north to Huron, then a block east to Wabash to go to L'Appetito deli. It's closed on Sunday but open till 6:30 other days.

http://www.lappetito.com/

There's also a Whole Foods on Huron just west of State.

L'Appetito is a good suggestion, and considerably closer than Fox & Obel. It really is a deli, so you can pick up packaged products as well as prepared sandwiches if you want some "stock" for the hotel room -- but as Amata noted, you're also close to Whole Foods and even closer to a relatively new Trader Joes (and a Jewel right there as well).

You're also only a block from Quartino, which I just visited for the first time last week, and I liked it quite a bit. It's neither a steak place nor carry out, but it's very close.

I don't think there's a PJ Clarke's in that building; according to Google Maps, the nearest is at 302 E. Illinois (near Fox & Obel, actually)

You're also pretty close to Lawry's, if you could please Mr. CL with Prime Rib instead of steak.

Trader Joe's
44 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL
(312) 951-6369

I don't know the Saloon, but I'm assuming this is the place JeffB meant:

Saloon Steak House
200 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL
(312) 280-5454

Lawry's Prime Rib
100 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL
(312) 787-5000

There's a Whole Foods in the neighborhood? Oh dear. Mr. Candlelady in Whole Foods is like a bear emerging from hibernation. However, we would also like some non-franchise places.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Am writing everything down. Saloon looks good!

Being a past Fox & Obel employee for 3+ years, I know the neighborhood well. There is indeed a PJ Clarke's in the Embassy Suites building, with a nice bar and large menu, complete with plenty meat-and-potatoes options. Both L'Appetito and F&O are a 3 minute walk from your hotel, and both offer great packaged foods as well as fresh deli items, warm entrees to-go, and desserts. You are also directly across the street from a large, new Dominicks grocery store, for any essentials you may need in the room.
For great dinner ambiance, and just a five minute walk from your hotel, I would recommend Bandera. Good American food - steak/potatoes, burgers, cobb salads, rotisserie chicken, etc. - with live jazz most nights, a great bar, and a lovely view of Michigan Avenue.

Bandera
535 N. Michigan Avenue

There is more than one Embassy Suites in Chicago. The one with the P.J. Clarke's is Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown Lakefront (511 N. Columbus).

The one at 600 N. State Street is Embassy Suites Chicago, which is the building where Osteria Via Stato is located.

Fox and Obel is about a block from the Columbus Drive Embassy Suites.

If you want a non-franchisy market, I think L'Appetito is your best suggestion so far, although I still kind of feel independent shopping in a Trader Joe's. There's a Treasure Island a bit further away (680 N. Lakeshore, assuming it's still open) -- they're definitely independent -- but not sure if you shouldn't just go to F&O if you're looking for that kind of shopping.