Looking for great restaurants for get-together.

Hello everyone! This is my first time posting to the site but I've been lurking for a while. I have a couple of out-of-towners coming in July 2-7 and I would like to show them what Chicago has to offer gastronomically besides the usual. Does anyone have any recommendations, especially places that are...um....inexpensive? I'd also like to know if there are any good restaurants with hooka bars in them.

Thanks in advance!

OnyxSwan wrote:Hello everyone! This is my first time posting to the site but I've been lurking for a while. I have a couple of out-of-towners coming in July 2-7 and I would like to show them what Chicago has to offer gastronomically besides the usual. Does anyone have any recommendations, especially places that are...um....inexpensive? I'd also like to know if there are any good restaurants with hooka bars in them.

Thanks in advance!

Onyx,

Besides the usual and hookas.

......sound of lonely little hamster skittering on his running wheel in the empty vacuum of my brain....

Carthage Cafe, Tunisian food and a hooka lounge.
Full thread with pictures may be found here

Welcome to LTHForum.

Enjoy,
Gary

Carthage Cafe
3446 W. Foster Ave.
Chicago, Il 60625
(773)539-9004

What could be more Chicago than a Hookah!

If you can't make it up to Carthage, you could also try Kan Zaman - 617 N. Wells. Very good Labanese food. I have only had the standards(Schwarma, Kebab, Vegetarian platter, hummus), but they have some more interesting items on the menu.

Full menu is here: http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurant ... =44&home=Y.
Hookahs are available on request. Also, Belly Dancers perform on Fri and Sat evenings.

FYI, its BYO. There is a Binnys on Grand between Wells and Franklin.

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/dini ... 2399.venue

Sigara Hookah
2013 W. Division St.
773-292-9190

Onyx-

Although I'm not sure what you mean by "the usual" (deep dish pizza? hot dogs?), you can never go wrong by visiting any of the GNR winners. Many on that list also fit your inexpensive requirement. Alternatively, you could take a page from any of the "a-thons" that have been done and wander a stretch of the city like Devon, North Clark, etc. You might also get some tips from Joby's thread on where to eat in Chicago on a budget.

Enjoy your week and do report back!

-The GP

It would help to know what area of the city you're going to be in. If that's not a factor, I'd probably want to show-off Chicago's diversity and take some out-of-towners to Pilsen, Greektown, or out for Korean food.

May I suggest Hot Doug? I realize that it's just a hot dog stand, but I can guarantee you that your guests have never seen a hot dog stand like this one... It's inexpensive too.


Hot Doug
3324 North California
(773) 279-9550

Here's a previous thread:
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t= ... t=hot+doug

Paradise Restaurant at 5848 N. Broadway is worth a trip for its over-the-top Middle East decor (think Gullivers on steroids); they have a belly dancer in the evenings and hookahs. For more of a night club feel, there's Juliana's at 3001 W. Peterson; belly dancers, singers, and hookahs at the tables.
>>Brent

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!

mellonhead - I've never been to Hot Doug but I've heard great things about it. Plus, the founder went to Kendall College (which is where I hope to be in a year or so) so that's a bonus for me.

The GP - As far as "the usual" I was referring to deep dish pizza, Chicago dogs, Italian Beefs, Polishes, etc. I know they can be great but I think I've become kinda "meh" about them.

Even though all of my almost 23 years of existence have been spent in Chicago, I feel like a tourist in my own city so I guess I'm using the get-together as a way to see the restaurant scene here in a new light. I'm guessing that we'll be on the northside because of the bars and clubs but I'm seriously thinking of looking at the various "A-Thons" (Thanks to The GP for reminding me) and following the chosen path.