Chicago dining experience - from Italy

Hello!
We are an Italian couple in our late 20’s coming to Chicago from July 3rd to July 7th, looking forward to a Chicago dining experience.
Here in Florence (where we live) dining out is simply outrageous, a regular meal at an average trattoria or pizzeria range from 25€ to 40€ (except for a few places only us locals know). A good seafood place would cost you 45€ -50€.
Do you think we would get away with a 50$ each daily budget? Lunch will often be some sort of fast food…
Given the fact we have 4 dinners, 4 breakfasts and 4 lunches and we’re staying on Michigan Avenue, what would you recommend us, gastronomically speaking, not to miss out ?
We were thinking of : some great American breakfast places, hamburger places, Chicago pizza places and some other good spots to “feel” some Chicago vibes, avoiding any kind of Italian food at all.
Of course if you will ever come to Florence I’ll be more than happy to give you a couple of good hints…

You could eat at most Italian places in Chicago and still completely avoid food you would identify as Italian ...

If you plan on doing "fast food" for lunch I think your budget will more than allow - though if you want to add fine dining to the end of your day, you'd be stretching it a bit, as a full meal at many of the nicer places starts at $25/person. However, if you want to get creative, you can certainly keep within that budget - check out the GNR list, which includes a handy pocket guide and map.

Welcome to Chicago! Have fun on your trip!

I think you could have a nice mix of Chicago-style food(pizza, hot dogs, etc) and our renowned ethnic cuisine(Chinese and Mexican). Budget-wise these are pretty inexpensive options. The savings you would experience could give you a chance to enjoy one or two of our fine dining establishments as well without going over your budget. If this sounds interesting I'm sure you could get some great suggestions. If you'd rather do all American foods let us know and we can sway it that way as well. Will you have access to a car?
At the time you're arriving, the annual festival, Taste of Chicago, will be in full swing. It is probably not the best way to try Chicago cuisine, per se, but it is a good option to try a great variety of the foods offered in Chicago. It is a short walk from Michigan Ave and would be at least worth your time for one of your lunches.

I'm so glad you found us. Unfortunately, dining in Chicago can be just as expensive. However, if you're strategic, willing to plan a bit, and travel outside the heavily touristed zones, you will do just fine with $100/day for the both of you.

Some strategy:

Chicago has a vibrant "downtown," which consists mostly of the touristy areas like, the "Loop" (the business center), the Museum campus, Millennium Park and the "Magnificant Mile"/Michigan Avenue area. In those areas, food prices will be consistently higher than anywhere else in the city.

Most of Chicago residents, however, live in "neighborhoods," which are to the north, west and south of the touristy areas. Some of these neighborhoods are called Lincoln Park, West Town, Bucktown Wicker Park, Andersonville, etc. If you get a good map, you will be able to decipher these neighborhoods.

In these neighborhoods, a lot of different ethnicities are centered, including Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, Polish etc. It is in these places where you can not only eat great, but eat relatively cheaply. Chicago is very well-represented when it comes to Mexican, Puerto Rican, Thai and Polish foods. These foods are as much "Chicago" as anything else.

Is there a certain type of food that you'd like to try?

As for a typical Chicago meal, I guess that would be a Chicago hot dog, deep dish pizza which, coming from Italy, may not appeal to your tastes, and steak, but truth be told, any steak place will likely exceed your budget.

Time Out recently rated the best hamburgers in the city. You may want to browse that list. I personally like Rosebud steakhouse's hamburger the best.

Hot Doug's is very much a Chicago institution that has gotten a lot of attention for its gourmet sausages. I would try that as well, it's pretty fun, it's crowded, and the owner, Doug, is a very nice guy. Marco Pierre White recently ate there.

I'm sure plenty of others will have a ton of suggestions for you.

There are a lot of ways you can eat inexpensively and experience a wide range of dishes that are not available to you in Florence.

Checking out the GNR list is a good suggestion. Check that List for Thai, Mexican, Polish, hot dogs, and Korean.

While you have choices for Chinese and Middle Eastern food in Italy, I think your choices here in Chicago would be significantly different enough to warrant a look as well.

Most of these dining options listed are among the best inexpensive restaurants in town, although most of them are a fair distance from the city center.

Best,
Michael

Not too sure where you'll be on Michigan Avenue, but here are some breakfast suggestions for the Loop area:

Lou Mitchell's. It's seen better days, but it's still popular and a unique Chicago experience. (We've taken Italian friends there before, and they've loved it, but come with an appetite; not for you if all you want is a cornetto and a capu.)

Heaven on Seven. Breakfast with a New Orleans twist, interesting atmosphere (on the 7th floor of the Garland Building--not the one one the near North).

Bongo Room. A little bit further south; it opens at 9:00, and gets crowded, but not so much on weekdays. Particularly known for its rich, sweet pancakes (and you can ask them to cut down the servings to one or two pancakes; otherwise the servings are quite large)

Lou Mitchell's
565 W. Jackson Blvd.
312-939-3111

The Bongo Room
1152 S. Wabash
312-291-0100

Heaven on Seven
111 N. Wabash Ave., Seventh Floor
312-263-6443


A couple of additional notes: You'll be there on July 4. This is a major holiday, so be sure to call in advance to make sure places are open on that day.

You should visit Taste of Chicago but avoid at all costs on July 4 when thousands will be descending on the Loop. Things should quiet down on the 5th and 6th, and you should have a much more relaxing experience on those days. In fact, you might want to try lunch on the 5th there, so that if you like it you can return on the 6th or 7th. Here's something about Taste: http://gochicago.about.com/od/tasteofch ... hicago.htm

On the other hand one of the great fireworks exhibits in the country will be taking place in Grant Park on the night of the 3rd. If you get into Chicago in time, run over to Buckingham Fountain for a good view (There will also be a July 4 concert that night at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Be prepared for crowds)

Buon viaggio!

I am going to be in Florence in October (around the 28th) of this year on my honeymoon (for part of the time).

Any great places to eat in Florence, please send along! Price isn't an object really, we just want to have some real Italian food from Italy without that American twinge.

[quote="jbw"]

Bongo Room. A little bit further south; it opens at 9:00, and gets crowded, but not so much on weekdays. Particularly known for its rich, sweet pancakes (and you can ask them to cut down the servings to one or two pancakes; otherwise the servings are quite large)


The Bongo Room
1152 S. Wabash
312-291-0100

quote]
I second the Bongo Room. You'll need to get there early (at 9am) but the food is great and I think they do the "Big American Breakfast" really well.

For fast food, I'm quite partial to the Wow Bao in the Water Tower place. The restaurant serves Chinese "bao" - or meat-filled steamed buns. Good flavors and very reasonable (approx $5 - $7 per person). There's also salads and noodles.

On the dinner front, you may wish to try Roy's. The food is a Hawaiian fusion, which I think is pretty unique to the States. It is a chain and it's not totally "authentic" but the food is good, the service is competent and it's relatively affordable (entrees range in the $15 to $20 range if I remember correctly).

Both Wow Bao and Roy's are easily walk-able from the Mag Mile/Michigan Avenue location...however if you're willing to try something kind of wacky and don't mind taking a short cab ride, you can go to Lao Sze Chuan in China Town. See the thread here: http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.ph ... +sze+chuan

Additionally, you can take a short cab ride to Greek Town, or check out any number of Steak-houses (WildFire, Gibsons, Ruth's Chris, etc.) I can't vouch for the quality, and there are too many in the city to list - but there are a number of threads on this forum regarding steak-houses if you wish to know more.

If you can get in, you may also wish to try Frontera Grill - again, good food and not horrifyingly expensive. And you could walk there from Michigan Avenue.

Avere viaggio piacevole! (sorry - my Italian is terrible...)

Wow Bao
835 N. Michigan Ave.
312-642-5888

Roy's Chicago
720 N. State St.
312-787-7599

Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S. Archer Ave.
312-326-5040

Frontera Grill
445 N. Clark St.
312-661-1434

You people are faboulous! Thanks a lot for all your suggestions. I have downloaded the GNR list - it looks like it's going to be extremely useful.
Thanks also for your suggestions on what to do the 3rd and 4th of July.
I'll make sure I'll have everything planned, we won't have a car during our stay in Chicago, as people told us public transportation in Chicago works well, in any case I don't mind taking a cab ride.

Thank you once again!

ps: Ryan, I will send some good suggestions directly to your mailbox - as soon as I can

Giovanni wrote:ps: Ryan, I will send some good suggestions directly to your mailbox - as soon as I can

Why not post your suggestions to the Beyond Chicagoland board? There's plenty of discussion about Italy that goes on there. I'm sure that everyone would love to hear Florence recommendations from a local.

Best,
Michael

Giovanni wrote:Hello!
We are an Italian couple in our late 20’s coming to Chicago from July 3rd to July 7th...
Of course if you will ever come to Florence I’ll be more than happy to give you a couple of good hints…

This would've been very helpful about ... 5 days ago. The only great meal we had in Florence was at Trat. Cibreo. beyond that, it was a mixed (and expensive) bag.

I'd suggest you to avoid any type of "continental", including Polish, German, etc., food, that is related to European cuisine. A flight from Florence to Warsaw/Prague/Barcelona costs < €100 for 2 people. Anything resembling European eats would be a complete waste of time. Hence one should exclude Bongo Room. After all, there's nothing as interesting at Bongo Room as a plate of prosciutto al melone with a "regular" cup of cafe.

Instead, because of complete lack of Asian cuisine (tho not people) in Florence, I'd dive straight into Little Argyle and Chinatown. One can easily follow up with 2 consecutive Thai dinners interspersed with great burger joints (Darwin, Sweets and Savories, Hackney's, Jane's, Billy Goat???) followed with some Nuevo-Mexican food found all over Chicago (Sol de Mexico, Fonda del Mar, Mundial Cocina Metiza, etc.) . Beware, your taste buds will be in for a shock treatment.

TonyC wrote:

Giovanni wrote:Hello!
We are an Italian couple in our late 20’s coming to Chicago from July 3rd to July 7th...
Of course if you will ever come to Florence I’ll be more than happy to give you a couple of good hints…

This would've been very helpful about ... 5 days ago. The only great meal we had in Florence was at Trat. Cibreo. beyond that, it was a mixed (and expensive) bag.

Well, a couple weeks ago, I posted about one of the single best meals I had in Italy, in Florence at Il Santo Bevatore. Very sorry you missed it.

Best,
Michael

TonyC wrote:
Hence one should exclude Bongo Room. After all, there's nothing as interesting at Bongo Room as a plate of prosciutto al melone with a "regular" cup of cafe.

Hi Tony - just wondering what you would suggest for the "Big American Breakfast" besides Bongo Room? What may be an uninteresting breakfast to you may be just the thing Giovanni is looking for.

Of all the people I've met in my life, it's consistantly the Europians that tell me that the thing they really enjoy when they're here are not the burgers, steak-houses, or pizza, but the "Big American Breakfasts"... most likely because good big Breakfasts are more difficult to come by in Europe.

The Bongo Room is certainly not the end-all be-all, but it's good, there are some interesting choices on the menu, it's in the requested price range, and it's close to their location.

A flight from Florence to Warsaw/Prague/Barcelona costs < €100 for 2 people. Anything resembling European eats would be a complete waste of time. Hence one should exclude Bongo Room.

Barcelona? Prague? Bongo Room? Unless it were in a high end hotel that catered to American tourists, I'd be very much surprised to find a menu such as this in any one of this places: http://www.bongoroom.com/menu_breakfast.php

For the record--When a few months ago a colleague of R.W. Apple Jr, the late journalist and occasional commentator on food for the NY Times, asked for a recommendation for "a great example of American pancakes," Apple sent him to the Bongo Room in Wicker Park (the South Loop branch is similar in menu and execution). The result: "As was often the case with food, Apple was right." (NY Times Magazine, 12/3/06)

Admittedly, "robust" pancakes are not everyone's breakfast cup of tea (You've been warned.) but I doubt that you're likely to find a breakfast of cornmeal-cranberry pancakes w/ apple compote and caramel-butter sauce anywhere in the viciniity of Las Ramblas, Wenceslas Square, or, for that matter, the Ponte Vecchio

Here I am! I am sorry for this late reply but I have been kind of busy...

This is a list of decent places in the centre of Florence. Some of these places might be listed on your guidebooks, although a little touristy are still a good way to taste Florentine cuisine.

Il Latini
Via del Palchetti 6R
055/210916
(this is very popular among tourists, don't be fooled, it's still one of the best. One hint : avoid the 7:30 pm service, reserve a table for the 9:30 pm service)

Sostanza
Via Porcellana 25/R
055/212691
(only cash)
(very well known among locals)

Osteria Antica Mescita
Via San Niccolò 60/R
055/2342836
(a classic, rough Tuscan trattoria, you share tables, but wines are top notch and serve true Tuscan food (yes I also mean pig's and cow's interiors)

Antico Ristoro dì Cambi
Via Sant’Onofrio 1R
055/217134
(very good)

Il Cibreo
Via Andrea del Verrocchio 8R
055/2341100
80/90$ pp
(one step below the Enoteca Pinchiorri quality and 5 or 6 steps below Pinchiorri's prices 300$ a la carte, this is got to be the best gourmet food restaurant in Florence)

Sottovoce
Piazza Taddeo Gaddi 25R
055/702100
(EXCELLENT seafood as well as creative cuisine, recommended)


Il Pizzaiuolo
Via dè Macci 113R
055/241171
(cash only if I’m not wrong)
(the only decent pizzeria in the centre of Florence, for real pizza, you should venture in the outskirts of the city)

Remember one thing: Tuscan cuisine is about meat and strong flavours. It used to be a very poor (not quality, but ingredients-wise) cuisine.
If you’re not picky try to eat some trippa or a panino con il lampredotto (cow’s stomach) and you won’t be disappointed. The bistecca alla fiorentina (t-bone steak which will be served almost raw) is a must, as well as the fagioli all’uccelleto (beans with spicy tomato sauce and sausage) and the ribollita, pappa al pomodoro.

Follow Michael advices - congrats mate - you hit the spot!

Giovanni-

What a great list! Thanks so much.

mellonhead wrote:wondering what you would suggest for the "Big American Breakfast" besides Bongo Room? What may be an uninteresting breakfast to you may be just the thing Giovanni is looking for.

Good point. Tho if "Bongo Room" is American, this country is really in need of a make over.

How about sending the couple to diner joint devoid of yuppy preggo moms in dire need of chocolate fix: Ramova Grill. I had chili, no beans, with 2 eggs for $5 at 5:30am this morning. Can't get more American than that?

Surely 1000 people can come up with better eats than Bongo Room. (Jane's, Sweets&Savories, even Parlor). Taxi cab fare be damned, I musta walked 3000 steps just to find Cibreo from Duomo.

mellonhead wrote:just wondering what you would suggest for the "Big American Breakfast" besides Bongo Room? What may be an uninteresting breakfast to you may be just the thing Giovanni is looking for.

Lou Mitchell's is a Chicago breakfast institution and serves the archtypical American Breakfast complete with extra large portions of eggs. The place haqs got so much character, it's almost as if it was built using people from Central Casting.

Lou Mitchell's
565 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL
312-939-3111

Lou Mitchell's is an excellent suggestion for breakfast. American breakfast fare and American diner rolled into one. Two sights and experiences for the price of one.

Hey, having traveled to Italy myself a couple of times, I know exactly where you are coming from regarding to price. I agree with previous post saying that there is not much authenticity, but I do have 3 suggestions for Italian if you are looking for great food and cheap eats.

Tufanos located in the heart of little italy, is a great choice. It's a mom and pop style of italian restaurant. With a certain amount of Authenticity. I love the fact that they have the home made wine in a pitcher. It's a quaint little place, and food is delicious.

My 2nd suggestion is Caro Mio. it is one of my favorites. BYOB and great food. lovely interrior decor. Romantic in the back room.

Also, Enoteca Roma in wicker park is also a great place. They carry fairly modern style italian at a great price. Food is always interesting and good and they have an excellent selection on wine; price is not outrageous.

1. Tufano's Vernon Park Tap
1073 W. Vernon Park Pl.
312-733-3393

2. Caro Mio
1825 W. Wilson Ave.
773-275-5000

3. Enoteca Roma Winebar & Bruschetteria
2144 W. Division St.
773-342-1011

manifesto wrote:Hey, having traveled to Italy myself a couple of times, I know exactly where you are coming from regarding to price. I agree with previous post saying that there is not much authenticity, but I do have 3 suggestions for Italian if you are looking for great food and cheap eats.

But if the poster is coming from Italy, why on earth would they want to eat Italian food in Chicago?

stevez wrote:

manifesto wrote:Hey, having traveled to Italy myself a couple of times, I know exactly where you are coming from regarding to price. I agree with previous post saying that there is not much authenticity, but I do have 3 suggestions for Italian if you are looking for great food and cheap eats.

But if the poster is coming from Italy, why on earth would they want to eat Italian food in Chicago?

Steve, your question assumes that the "Italian" food they would eat in Chicago would be the same as, or at least very similar to, the food they eat at home in Italy. As Antonius and others have made very clear, that is just not likely to occur in most Chicago Italian-style dining establishments, with limited exceptions. Maybe they actually would enjoy trying Italian-American food as a change of pace from authentic Italian food? Even just as a social experiment, perhaps? Or maybe they would not, but it is possible.

JimInLoganSquare wrote:

stevez wrote:

manifesto wrote:Hey, having traveled to Italy myself a couple of times, I know exactly where you are coming from regarding to price. I agree with previous post saying that there is not much authenticity, but I do have 3 suggestions for Italian if you are looking for great food and cheap eats.

But if the poster is coming from Italy, why on earth would they want to eat Italian food in Chicago?

Steve, your question assumes that the "Italian" food they would eat in Chicago would be the same as, or at least very similar to, the food they eat at home in Italy. As Antonius and others have made very clear, that is just not likely to occur in most Chicago Italian-style dining establishments, with limited exceptions. Maybe they actually would enjoy trying Italian-American food as a change of pace from authentic Italian food? Even just as a social experiment, perhaps? Or maybe they would not, but it is possible.

I'd like to point out that the original poster said that he'd like to eat in Chicago, "avoiding any kind of Italian food at all".

Best,
Michael

JimInLoganSquare wrote:Steve, your question assumes that the "Italian" food they would eat in Chicago would be the same as, or at least very similar to, the food they eat at home in Italy.

No, just the opposite. I think that advising them to try Italian food in Chicago is a recipe for dissapointment. Maybe, as you point out, it would be a novelty for them, but I didn't get the impression that they had extra money or time for an indulgence that will only fall short of their expectations.

If you want cheap tasty food, head out to Skokie, Wheeling or Glenview and get some Mediterranean/Middle Eastern for an insanely low price at Pita Inn. You can have a very large meal for under $8 and it's so yummy.

Pita Inn
3910 Dempster St., Skokie
122 S. Elmhurst Rd., Wheeling
9854 N. Milwaukee, Glenview

Also, try Red Apple, a Polish buffet that goes for only $8.49 per person during the week, $9.49 on the weekends:
Czerwone Jabluszko
3121 N. Milwaukee
6474 N. Milwaukee (both in Chicago)