LongRiders BBQ coming to Chicago!

....well, for a visit anyway.

My family owns and operates Long Riders Bar~B~Que out here in Montana. My wife, the butcher's daughter, was born and raised in Chicago. We are coming out to visit her folks (her dad, the butcher). They live in River Grove, about three blocks from Gene & Jude's...so I will be having some more of their dogs, and looking forward to it too.

Food figures heavily (heh heh) into this trip. We will be there about a week and will have our own children with us; also probably be accompanied, at least some of the time, by her dad and mom, or brother.

Having lurked here for a while, and read lots (thanks everybody) I have got some great ideas about places to go for food.

I'd like to have you all give some ideas here in this thread about some fun/interesting food spots in and around Chicagoland. Almost always will have small children with us, but we'll be having Date Night too. Gonna hit Halstead for some music, and so I'd like some late-night ideas other than White Castle....not that I'd come to Chicago without eating there once (for the kids!) Would like ideas for dogs, beef, and pizza of course....but would like some other interesting ideas for food and drink. I am a food nut who lives in a place without a lot of different food opportunities and I want to take full advantage of our trip.

Thanks everybody, and maybe see you at Wrigley Field when the Padres are there next month!

Ok, I'm further away from you...but I'll toss out a couple of ideas. First of all, if you are near Gene & Judes, then you are nearby the place with te best beef anywhere...Johnnie's in Elmwood Park on North Ave is legendary (a combo beef/sausage, fries and italian ice may be the best lunch anywhere!). Just a few picnic tables to eat at. Decent hot dogs as well. Also, close by on North Avenue is a place I've never been to but always heard good things about...Old World Pizza. It finished Top 3 in the Tribune's best deep dish pizza taste-off a few years ago.

Ok, a couple of other unique experiences that would work for family dinner or date night. Superdawg on the NW side is a CHicago institution with great dogs, burgers, fries, shakes. Car Hop service and just a fun place...and it so happens to have been the sire of my parents first date 40 years ago! Also, ok so the food might not be super great, but pick a nice day and go to the restaurant or bar on the 95th floor of the Hancock Center on Michigan Avenue. You just can't do that most anywhere else! I do understand that they put out a decent and relatively reasonable lunch buffet. The view/atmosphere would justify a visit...I hope to do so in August!

Don't forget to take the kids to Kiddieland! Have a great trip.