Dinner tonight, b4 Bill Maher @ Chicago Theatre

Looking for ideas, I am thinking in the "Chicago" experience vain. Want to be able to walk to theatre. Right now I am leaning towards Miller's Pub to give you an idea of the vibe I am after.

Thoughts?

Exchequer, Pizano's, slighty more upscale, but the price is right, Nick's Fismarket in the bar area, they have a really nice happy hour.

If you're thinking Millers Pub, Exchequer is an equally good choice, and probably the one I would make. However, if you want something a little closer to the theater, Old Timers is right around the corner and is another old-school Chicago joint...

And also very close, Petterino's (where, as per stevez, they have great homemade chocolate pudding). Though I have found a pre-theater reservation at Petterino's difficult on short notice, as pre-post-theater seems to be their raison d'etre and the source of 90% of their business.

Exchequer is a good call. Old Timers looks interesting but maybe a little lower than I want to go tonight. For some reason in my head I think of Miller's as a step up for lack of a better way to put it.

We work down here and plan on going out after work until the show. I can walk from anywhere in the loop and would consider my bounds Congress on the south, Wacker on the West and North and and Michigan on the east.

Our standard pre theater place is Bin 36. It's just north of the river, but no more than a ten minute walk from the Chicago Theater. it's probably close than Miller's Pub. I don't like a big meal before a show, and Bin 36 has great wine flights and cheese tastings. They have a full menu, too.

Jonah

good choice, but not the theme i am after tonight.

Probably too late for the OP, and the wrong theme, perhaps, but I'm a fan of Catch 35 in that area. Very good seafood with an Asian influence, and you can leave your car with their valet while you're at the show. Atwood Cafe and South Water Kitchen are also good pre-theater spots.

They have their detractors, but I also enjoy Trattoria No. 10 and 312 Chicago.

Of course, for Chicago themes, you could also go to Gold Coast Dogs or Giordano's.

For after-theater, choices are more limited, and we typically wind up at Italian Village, which is now one of the oldest Italian restaurants in Chicago, or the grill at Smith & Wollensky.

Catch 35
35 W. Wacker Drive
(312) 346-3500

Atwood Cafe
1 W. Washington St.
(312) 368-1900

South Water Kitchen
225 N. Wabash Ave.
(312) 236-9300

Trattoria #10
10 N. Dearborn St.
(312) 984-1718

312 Chicago
136 N. Lasalle St.
(312) 696-2420

Gold Coast Dogs
159 N. Wabash Ave.
(312) 917-1677

Giordano's
135 E. Lake St.
(312) 616-1200

Italian Village
71 W. Monroe St.
(312) 332-7005

Smith & Wollensky
318 N. State St.
(312) 670-9900

We ended up at Miller's. Went for the standard prime rib offering with side "greek" salad. Prime rib was good, I've had it before so I know what to expect. For some reason, I ordered medium rare which was a mistake, should have gone rare, as I did not find any pink in the middle which to me is medium. The crust on the outside of the cut was very nice. It came with a nice horseradish sauce, which tasted homemade, sour cream based for sure with fresh horseradish mixed in. I would have upped the horseradish factor but that is probably me, I grew up making horseradish from a young age out of the family garden. The same root family still produces at my parents and it is the best stuff anywhere, but I digress.

The au jus on the plate needed salt, but then in my mind there is not enough salt in anything, I am a chef's nightmare. You could bring me a grilled block of salt with soy sauce on it and I would probably add salt.

As a side there were some carrots which tasted almost like they were done in a cherry brandy, I found them too sweet for my liking. The french fries were cooked excellent, crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle.

The greek salad was typical fare with some kalmatta olives, a rather nice larger triangle of feta and a tangy vinagerette.

I do find the bartender Michael there makes a nice dirty Vodka Martini. Incredibly large stuffed blue cheese olives were a nice touch with just enough dirtyness but not too much.

Overall a solid experience. Bill Maher was above average.

I'm looking for pre-theater suggestions for Saturday night. I'm thinking appetizers, maybe Bin 36, A Mano or Nia. Outside would be nice, but not required. Has anybody been to Nia? Thanks.

Going to Spinal Tap, too?

We'll probably hit Shaw's Bar beforehand.

chfwannabe wrote:We ended up at Miller's. Went for the standard prime rib offering with side "greek" salad. Prime rib was good, I've had it before so I know what to expect. For some reason, I ordered medium rare which was a mistake, should have gone rare, as I did not find any pink in the middle which to me is medium.

Interesting...the last 3 times I've been to Miller's, my prime rib was overcooked as well. I actually spoke to a manager about it and was told if you get there after 9, they are down to the well cooked bits, which led me to wonder why they bother taking medium rare orders.

Glad Maher was good, though!

Ill piggyback this thread, WSP tonight @ the Chicago Theatre & need dinner beforehand.

Are there any BYOB spots in the vicinty?(please no pizza or Italian places) or am I better off taking the cooler of Miller High Life, and Herradura to Chinatown as first planned?

thanks.

jimswside wrote:Ill piggyback this thread, WSP tonight @ the Chicago Theatre & need dinner beforehand.

Are there any BYOB spots in the vicinty?(please no pizza or Italian places) or am I better off taking the cooler of Miller High Life, and Herradura to Chinatown as first planned?

thanks.

Show me a BYOB anywhere near The Theater District and I'll show you a very bad businessperson.

I don't think one exists.

thats what I was figuring.

I did a brief search and didnt come up with anything, but figured i'd tap the LTH "braintrust" for any ideas.

Looks like its Chinatown(Spring Worls, Double Li, Cafe Hoang, or perhaps a Chinatown Mall wild card), or maybe even Manny's Deli(even though they are not byob or in Chinatown) unless another idea comes up.

jimswside wrote:Looks like its Chinatown(Spring Worls, Double Li, Cafe Hoang, or perhaps a Chinatown Mall wild card), or maybe even Manny's Deli(even though they are not byob or in Chinatown) unless another idea comes up.

If you're in the mood for some good soul food (excellent peach cobbler and sweet potato pie), I believe Pearl's Place on S. Michigan Ave. is BYOB (although you might want to call first).

Best,
Michael

eatchicago wrote:If you're in the mood for some good soul food (excellent peach cobbler and sweet potato pie), I believe Pearl's Place on S. Michigan Ave. is BYOB (although you might want to call first).

thats a good one, Ill have to check it out.

thanks