Visiting from Canada - want to try all the good stuff! :)

Hey everyone, I've read through a few of the threads here and am getting hungry just thinking about all the good places. I've always wanted to visit Chicago and am finally coming over for a few days. So would really appreciate your insider tips on the best places to eat.

I'm fairly open-minded, but specifically looking for places that aren't too expensive (ie. main courses no more than $20, although one nice restaurant during the trip would be nice). Not too crazy about ethnic food (thai, chinese, etc), as we have tons of that in Toronto. I'd really love to try:
- Chicago style pizza
- Great BBQ
- Good steaks (obviously budget goes out the window here)
- Mexican (Toronto has very little, if any, authentic Mexican)
- Anything else that you think is unique or worthwhile checking out

Thanks in advance - can't wait to get there!!

First place to check is the restaurants designated by LTH as Great Neighborhood Restaurants.

smog wrote:I'd really love to try:
- Chicago style pizza
- Great BBQ
- Good steaks (obviously budget goes out the window here)
- Mexican (Toronto has very little, if any, authentic Mexican)
- Anything else that you think is unique or worthwhile checking out

If you let us know what part of town you'll be staying in and how you'll be getting around, you'll get more relevant recommendations.

Here are some links that may be useful:
* Deep-dish and stuffed pizza
* Steakhouses

Other foods that are more or less unique to Chicago include:
* Italian beef sandwiches (and beef/sausage combos)
* Chicago-style hot dogs
* Maxwell Street Polish
* Shrimp DeJonghe
* Chicken Vesuvio (a classic version can be had at Rosebud, 720 N Rush St., 312-266-6444)
* Jibaritos

For barbecue, it would be helpful to know something of your tastes, since Chicago has a few styles. Do you like meat with some chew in it or do you want it to slide off the bone? Also, are you willing to go into dubious neighborhoods to visit take-out only places?

Similarly, Mexican here ranges from high-end, chef-driven restaurants to hole-in-the-wall taquerias that focus mainly on fried pork or goat stew.

Here are a couple of places to look:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=18663
viewtopic.php?p=9531

LAZ wrote:
If you let us know what part of town you'll be staying in and how you'll be getting around, you'll get more relevant recommendations.

For barbecue, it would be helpful to know something of your tastes, since Chicago has a few styles. Do you like meat with some chew in it or do you want it to slide off the bone? Also, are you willing to go into dubious neighborhoods to visit take-out only places?

Similarly, Mexican here ranges from high-end, chef-driven restaurants to hole-in-the-wall taquerias that focus mainly on fried pork or goat stew.

Very fair, I definitely should have been more specific. Thanks for the tips, I'll check them out.

As for the specifics, I'm going to be staying in The James, which is on E Ontario St (@ N Michigan Ave, I think). So pretty central. My preference would be to stay within the central area and not go too far off. I'll have a car, but likely will travel by public transport. Although, if there's something worth checking out, I'm willing to drive out.

As for BBQ... I like fall off the bone, sticky, saucy. I can't say I know much about the different styles, as in Toronto I've only been exposed to one style: Not-so-great!

smog wrote:As for the specifics, I'm going to be staying in The James, which is on E Ontario St (@ N Michigan Ave, I think). So pretty central. My preference would be to stay within the central area and not go too far off. I'll have a car, but likely will travel by public transport. Although, if there's something worth checking out, I'm willing to drive out.

I would give anyone visiting Chicago the same advice that I would give someone visiting Metro Toronto: a car is more of a liability than an asset. Parking is expensive and you can generally get around by bus or train to about 80% of the places. See teh trip planner at www.travelchicago.com .

jlawrence01 wrote:I would give anyone visiting Chicago the same advice that I would give someone visiting Metro Toronto: a car is more of a liability than an asset. Parking is expensive and you can generally get around by bus or train to about 80% of the places. See teh trip planner at http://www.travelchicago.com .

Totally agree. Although, I'm not renting a car, rather I'm getting there by driving. So actually having the car while I'm there I can't help.

jlawrence01 wrote:I would give anyone visiting Chicago the same advice that I would give someone visiting Metro Toronto: a car is more of a liability than an asset. Parking is expensive and you can generally get around by bus or train to about 80% of the places. See teh trip planner at http://www.travelchicago.com .

This is true for the downtown central area, but in many of the neighborhoods with good, small places, street parking is doable without too much effort.

As far as fall-off-the-bone BBQ, you can find it at places like Gale Street Inn or Twin Anchors, but you should know that most of the true BBQ mavens who post on LTH view that style with something less than enthusiasm. You might find it interesting to compare ribs at one of the places above, then try BBQ at a place like Smoque or Honey 1, and see if your preferences remain the same.

smog wrote:As for the specifics, I'm going to be staying in The James, which is on E Ontario St (@ N Michigan Ave, I think). So pretty central. My preference would be to stay within the central area and not go too far off. I'll have a car, but likely will travel by public transport. Although, if there's something worth checking out, I'm willing to drive out.

For steaks, definitely David Burke's Primehouse (in the James hotel by the way) which IMO is the best steakhouse in Chicago.

For pizza, most of the major deep dish proprietors are within walking distance of the James. I would recommend walking a few blocks north to Pizano's (my next choice would be Malnati's, but it's a longer walk).

smog wrote:Totally agree. Although, I'm not renting a car, rather I'm getting there by driving. So actually having the car while I'm there I can't help.

Start shopping around for cheap parking. Parking at the hotel cold cost you as much as $40/ night.

jlawrence01 wrote:Start shopping around for cheap parking. Parking at the hotel cold cost you as much as $40/ night.

No kidding! It's $36 at the hotel actually, which is relatively cheap compared to some other hotels. What would you say is a reasonable price to pay at a lot?

smog wrote:

jlawrence01 wrote:Start shopping around for cheap parking. Parking at the hotel cold cost you as much as $40/ night.

No kidding! It's $36 at the hotel actually, which is relatively cheap compared to some other hotels. What would you say is a reasonable price to pay at a lot?

Try the Millenium Garage downtown.

I concur on Primehouse, although it's not the most Chicago-ish of steakhouses. Definitely the best beef, though.

nr706 wrote:As far as fall-off-the-bone BBQ, you can find it at places like Gale Street Inn or Twin Anchors, but you should know that most of the true BBQ mavens who post on LTH view that style with something less than enthusiasm.

Downtown, there is also Miller's Pub, which, like Twin Anchors in Old Town, is a classic old Chicago tavern established in the 1930s. The Fireplace Inn, also in Old Town, falls in the same category. Then there's Carson's, which is more of a steakhouse ambiance.

I can't see any reason to schlep out to Gale Street, but I'm also not a fan of that style. But isn't there anyone out there who likes fall-of-the-bone ribs who can distinguish between the fare at these places?

Miller's Pub
134 S. Wabash Ave.
(312) 263-4988
http://www.millerspub.com

Twin Anchors
1655 W. Sedgewick St.
(312) 266-1616
http://www.twinanchorsribs.com

The Fireplace Inn
1448 N. Wells St.
(312) 664-5264
http://www.fireplaceinn.com

Carson's
612 N. Wells St
(312) 280-9200
http://www.ribs.com

- Chicago style pizza
Uno's invented it, so my gut might tell you to go there, but I feel that Art of Pizza (3033 N. Ashland) perfected it. They're a small storefront, but make amazing pizza. Make sure you get stuffed. I recommend Spinach/Mushroom.

- Great BBQ
Twin Anchors was the classic chicago joint up until a year ago. Now, Smoque (3800 N. Pulaski) makes the best BBQ in the city. I would never go anywhere else. I recommend the sliced brisket sandwich http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=10951&hilit=smoque

- Good steaks (obviously budget goes out the window here)
Not a huge steak guy, but I've never had anything bad at Gibsons or the Chicago Chop House

- Mexican (Toronto has very little, if any, authentic Mexican)
If you want basic, cheap northern Mexican, go to Nuevo Leon (1515 W. 18th St). But for Authentic Mexican, Sol de Mexico (3018 N. Cicero) is hands down my favorite place in the city. Rick Bayless brought tradition Mex cooking to Chicago with Frontera/Topolobampo, but Sol de Mexico is about 1/3 the price and just as good. Quite possibly the best moles I've ever had. http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9568&hilit=sol+de+mexico - Get the Oaxacan Black mole with the plantains

selanator wrote:Not a huge steak guy, but I've never had anything bad at Gibsons or the Chicago Chop House

I find the beef at Gibsons very bland, but the Chop House is always good. My favorite steak there is the signature Chop House prime rib, a kind of cross between a rib steak and traditional roast beef -- it's first roasted, then grilled.

smog wrote:- Anything else that you think is unique or worthwhile checking out

Yeah, we got unique.

Smog - while at the James Hotel, count your blessings. The best steak in the city is on the ground floor at David Burke's Primehouse. get the Ribeye, aged 45 days and then thank God for beef, glorious beef.

Ghazi wrote:Smog - while at the James Hotel, count your blessings. The best steak in the city is on the ground floor at David Burke's Primehouse. get the Ribeye, aged 45 days and then thank God for beef, glorious beef.

Hahaha... fair enough! I've already got my reservation booked through Opentable.

jlawrence01 wrote:

smog wrote:

jlawrence01 wrote:Start shopping around for cheap parking. Parking at the hotel cold cost you as much as $40/ night.

No kidding! It's $36 at the hotel actually, which is relatively cheap compared to some other hotels. What would you say is a reasonable price to pay at a lot?

Try the Millenium Garage downtown.

I presume the $36 gives you in-and-out privileges. That is a fairly typical price for all-day parking. The in-and-out privileges are key since you'll probably want to explore some of the town by car. The El is great, but it can be incredibly slow (esp if you take lines that are under construction).

The Millennium Park garages range from $20-$25 for a full day, but do not give you in-and-out privileges. Plus, if you park there, you'll have to walk about a mile from the garage to the hotel.

I haven't been to most of the well-known steak houses, but I've eaten at Primehouse at the James and it is wonderful. Plus, it won't break the bank.

Regarding Mexican, I recommend trying both a higher-end place and some more casual, neighborhood places. The food and experiences are different. Use the GNRs to find a good casual place. You'll likely have to leave the downtown area for these. Two great higher end places that are close to your hotel are Salpicon and Frontera Grill. I prefer Salpicon personally. Frontera doesn't take reservations (unless you have a large group - someone can correct me if I am wrong about this), so you'll likely have to wait 1-3 hours for a table or fight for a table at the bar. If you want to try Frontera, I recommend going for an early lunch when the wait isn't that long.

Report back on what you tried.

Ive made same day lunch reservations @ Frontera. Called at 10:00 a.m., and made a same day reservation for 12:30 p.m.

Hey everyone, just got back from my trip and I have to say that I absolutely loved the city! Gorgeous views, great architecture, convenient layout, great blues, and of course... amazing food!

First off, thanks very much for all your help and suggestions. We picked 4 restaurants for all the choices and very unfortunately only got to 3 of them. My summary as follows:

- Went for deep dish pizza at Uno's. I'm a huge fan of the thin style Italian pizzas (but have had very little luck finding suitable pies outside of Italy). So I was very skeptical that I would enjoy deep dish. But I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I really liked that the crust was not greasy whatsoever. Nice abundance of toppings and great flavor.

- Went to Smoque for the BBQ. My mistake was taking a cab, which cost $20, but didn't realize it was as far as it was. Compared to the best BBQ in Toronto, this is in a different league! Between me and my wife, we tried the baby back ribs, pulled pork, chopped brisket, fries, beans and coleslaw. I absolutely loved this place for the second I walked in the door and could smell the smoke. The flavor was incredible and I have honestly been craving this every day since!

- Went to Primehouse for some steak. We had the aged porterhouse that was the special for the day, onion rings and basil whipped potato. The steak was fantastic. Nicely charred on the outside, perfectly done on the inside and wonderful flavor and texture. Potato was delicious, and the onion rings were fried in a curry oil, so had a very original flavor to them. My only complaint was that they were too oily. For desert, we had the cheesecake lollipops. Very original presentation, I really enjoyed this. Overall, great and friendly service; nice atmosphere; great food; and appropriate prices. Had a great time here and would definitely return.

- Biggest regret was that we had planned to go to Fronterra on Sunday (picked this one mainly out of convenience, close to our hotel). And... they were closed! We were kind of late leaving the hotel with some evening plans, so couldn't make it all the way up to Sol De Mexico in time. I was really looking forward to this experience, but guess I'll have to put it at the top of my list for next time.

Thanks again everyone! Chicago had probably the most friendly and genuine people of any city I've been to. It was a true pleasure and I know I'll be back soon.