Help! Visiting for 1 nite-don't want to miss

1 nite in Windy City-what is the MUST DO? Value! cash is limited
Staying by Water Tower-no car

When is the one night? I'd have different recs for you tonight/tomorrow (St. Patty's Day) from next weekend. How limited is the cash? What constitutes a "MUST-DO" for you - atmosphere, history, or actual food?

Great questions, thank you. This Thursday is the night, and it is a 'date' night. I consider myself a foodie, so quality is the focus. I want to stay away from pizza (already planned for a lunch). The $20-25 or less plate would work. Appreciate the help.

If you're willing to travel a little there are some great options. A good one not too far from where you're staying is Avec. It meets your price criteria and has some ambiance.

http://www.avecrestaurant.com/
615 W Randolph Ave
Chicago, IL 60606

Or else you could take the red line south to Chinatown or north to Argyle for great Asian food options, though with less atmosphere. Less than 20 minutes by L.

But if you're not interested in leaving the River North area I'd recommend either Frontera Grill (mexican food, which I'm guessing you get plenty of), Cafe Iberico (tapas), or Sayat Nova (Armenian food). I wouldn't say these are great foodie restaurants, but they'll be fun and the food is good.

Need a little more guidance - what type of foods do you want? A certain ethnic type, or do you want local fare that Chicago is best known for, lke polish sausages, Italian beef, etc.?

you can pretty much get anywhere in the city with public transit, and since you're near water tower, you have access to buses and trains. but like everyone else said, it really all depends. are you looking for a hole-in-the-wall? a well known place? a chicago staple food?

also, the GNR list pretty much lists everything. http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=20908

san antonio girl wrote:...it is a 'date' night.

This recommendation might depend on what number date it is, but since you're apparently sharing a hotel room, you're probably far enough along for it: The most sensual meal in Chicago is a Beijing duck for two at Sun Wah, preceded by their garlic fried pork ribs which explode with hot, delicious pig juice. Foreplay, Chicago style.

Kennyz wrote:The most sensual meal in Chicago is a Beijing duck for two at Sun Wah, preceded by their garlic fried pork ribs which explode with hot, delicious pig juice. Foreplay, Chicago style.

I don't know about anyone else here, but that both convinced me and turned me on. Now to formulate a plan to convince my reformed-vegetarian, still-slightly-skittish-about-meat wife to consent to a meal of ribs & a duck (very sexy-sounding ribs and a duck)....

Khaopaat wrote:

Kennyz wrote:The most sensual meal in Chicago is a Beijing duck for two at Sun Wah, preceded by their garlic fried pork ribs which explode with hot, delicious pig juice. Foreplay, Chicago style.

I don't know about anyone else here, but that both convinced me and turned me on. Now to formulate a plan to convince my reformed-vegetarian, still-slightly-skittish-about-meat wife to consent to a meal of ribs & a duck (very sexy-sounding ribs and a duck)....

Alas, 'tis but a fantasy for me as well. My wife is a pescatarian.

Kennyz wrote:

Khaopaat wrote:

Kennyz wrote:The most sensual meal in Chicago is a Beijing duck for two at Sun Wah, preceded by their garlic fried pork ribs which explode with hot, delicious pig juice. Foreplay, Chicago style.

I don't know about anyone else here, but that both convinced me and turned me on. Now to formulate a plan to convince my reformed-vegetarian, still-slightly-skittish-about-meat wife to consent to a meal of ribs & a duck (very sexy-sounding ribs and a duck)....

Alas, 'tis but a fantasy for me as well. My wife is a pescatarian.

And me, too. My wife is a...well Chow Poodle.

Oh my gosh, ya'll are great. Love Rick Bayless, but, you're right mex. is out. We like asian food, but I feel that if you look, you can find good asian in most any big city. Traveling a bit for good food is worth it, though I think it's funny that no one has a place in mind around the Mag. mile. Avec sounds wonderful. Is there a steakhouse under a bridge that was a gangster hang out? If it's fun, it might be good for a drink and bite before going somewhere else.

though I think it's funny that no one has a place in mind around the Mag. mile.

Mostly not an accident, though Cafe Spiaggia would be one of the few contenders (great views, less expensive sibling of fine-dining Italian). Still, I'd say Avec is first choice, assuming you're cool with a place that's more bar than restaurant (even as it's one of the city's better restaurants) and is sardine-packed and noisy/lively most nights.

Mag Mile is tourist central. Lots of great food there, but it's all pretty expensive. Plenty of fine dining options nearby, but for great food under 25 bucks a head, you'll have to travel.

Gene and Georgetti's is a good, old-fashioned Chicago steakhouse. That'll probably fit your needs.

I think many people are surprised to learn that Chicago has some great Thai restaurants. Spoon Thai, TAC Quick and Sticky Rice are all easily L accessible and they have menu items I doubt you've seen anywhere else. Also there's really good German food (Laschett's Inn is listed on the Great Neighborhood Restaurant list). But for near downtown and not too expensive, Avec would definitely be my pick.

I do like Pops for Champagne

Pops for Champagne
312.266.7677
601 North State Street at Ohio

There are a handful of fine dining options on/just off Michigan Ave, but there's nothing uniquely "Chicago" about them per se. If that's what you're looking for, would you consider an upscale steakhouse?

If so, I would recommend using the search functionality here...keyword "steakhouse" and category "Eating Out in Chicagoland" should give you plenty of useful reading material. As you're reading, do keep in mind that there is usually a good deal of bias in each steakhouse review, because in Chicago, everyone's got their own favorite steakhouse, and is fully prepared to lay a beat-down on all who disagree with them

I do think you'd dig Avec, but note that the seating puts you elbow to elbow with other diners if they're busy (unless you snag a corner, or two seats at the bar). Food is usually beyond reproach for the pricepoint.

Upstairs at the Italian Village is very old-school gangstery Chicago, with a wonderful atmosphere, but you'll have had pizza earlier in the day, and the service is brisker than typical (catering to before-opera / before-show crowds, but I always find a way to linger).

My other two recommendations that are a short cab ride west would be May Street Market (mains in the teens, though they usually have creative sandwich specials as well) and downstairs at the Paramount Room, which really showcases some wonderful beers and whiskeys alongside handcrafted pub cuisine.

I linked individual restaurant websites for easy address / vibe access, but, of course, the better research would be LTH threads (use "search" in upper right)!

san antonio girl wrote: Is there a steakhouse under a bridge that was a gangster hang out?

It sounds like you're talking about Gene and Georgetti's except it's not under a bridge, it's under the 'L' tracks. And it's still a gangster hangout, except, nowadays, we call them politicians.

All foodies love music, right? Any jazzy suggestions for a Thursday night?

Kennyz wrote:

Khaopaat wrote:

Kennyz wrote:The most sensual meal in Chicago is a Beijing duck for two at Sun Wah, preceded by their garlic fried pork ribs which explode with hot, delicious pig juice. Foreplay, Chicago style.

I don't know about anyone else here, but that both convinced me and turned me on. Now to formulate a plan to convince my reformed-vegetarian, still-slightly-skittish-about-meat wife to consent to a meal of ribs & a duck (very sexy-sounding ribs and a duck)....

Alas, 'tis but a fantasy for me as well. My wife is a pescatarian.

Fried Scallops. More cute once-fuzzy creatures for you.

san antonio girl wrote:All foodies love music, right? Any jazzy suggestions for a Thursday night?

green mill. hands down.

san antonio girl wrote:All foodies love music, right? Any jazzy suggestions for a Thursday night?

Food + jazz = http://www.katerinas.com/

Take a look at Chicago Magazine. The reviews are not paid ads. We rarely eat out downtown and so I basically only know the more expensive places. If you can stretch the budget, I would vote for Crofton on Wells as wonderful innovative food in a romantic atmosphere.

For food, I'll second the suggestion of Avec, and also toss in Santorini or another Greek Town spot. And let's be sensitive to the OP's request for under $25/head; it would be disingenuous at best to recommend any steakhouse in Chicago to someone on that budget.

Regarding jazz, and in consideration of the fact that you'll be here only one night, I suspect the Green Mill might just be too much effort, despite its general greatness and Chicago-uniqueness. Unless you are highly adventurous and energetic, and as fantastic as the Green Mill is (I note for the record that it would check your (former) gangster hangout box), it's about 6 highly-developed urban miles north of the Magnificent Mile and I'll wager it's going to take you about 30 minutes each way by public transportation or about a 15 minute/$15 cab ride each way.

As an alternative, I'll suggest that Andy's offers surpassing good jazz every night, is within walking distance of your hotel and has live music starting as early as 5:00 p.m. and extending into the wee hours. This Thursday, you can hear Frank Catalano starting at 9:00. So, I offer Andy's as the alternative that might not be the ideal "experience," like the Green Mill, but is by no means a musical compromise and might be more practical and more likely to actually get done.

And enthusiastic second on the Andy's suggestion, specifically including checking out Frank Catalano. Dude is an amazing saxophonist.

You are from San Antonio, you can have steak anytime, anyplace. If you want a sense of Chicago, without having to travel too far off of One Mag Mile. Take the Chicago Bus, westbound, you board at the intersection of Michigan and Chicago, on the north west corner. Get off a bit west of the expressway for Green Zebra. Chicago Transit Authority, CTA is $2.50 per person per way, this assumes you do not buy a cheaper one day visitor pass at the airport at O'Hare, assuming that product is still available.

Green Zebra has a cool contemporary look and is perfect for a date night. My husband and I have done birthdays and anniversaries there. A couple of years ago we did a birthday party there with all omnivores including a local chef who just adored their meals. They have seasonal, locally/regionally sourced, small-plate offerings. It is primarily vegetarian, but generally you will find one fowl or seafood dish on the menu. Shawn McClain is one of the hottest chefs in the city. It takes a lot of talent to have a steakhouse, a seafood spot, and a zen vegetarian spot as well. He has done all of them well. I don't think he is in the kitchen, because I heard he was opening a spot in Vegas, but he is homegrown.

Not that you care, but my first visit there included a visit by Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband. About a year ago, I was eating brunch there with a friend and Chicago's own Stefanie Izzard, winner of Top Chef Chicago was also dining there with a friend. The food is good, and accessible. Luckily, when there is a celeb dining they are very low-key, so no big deal at all.

After dinner and coffee (Intelligentsia if I recall correctly, a fabulous local roaster) grab a taxi back, if you don't see the eastbound Chicago Avenue bus, by the way, if you have a smartphone you can track buses by the minute at ctabustracker.com.

Then for Jazz, you head to the legendary JazzShowcase. This place is so serious, that it has always offered an afternoon show on the weekends for families to bring the kids. I have had the honor of seeing McCoy Tyner, Ahmad Jamal, Art Blakely, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, to name a few, play in this intimate setting.

Peace,
http://www.jazzshowcase.com/
http://www.greenzebrachicago.com/about.html

I want to second Cafe Spaggia for dinner, since it is pretty special and a very short walk up Michigan from Water Tower. Anything you order there is a can't miss, and the setting is intimate w/o being stuffy.

Then I want to second the Jazz Showcase, just a short cab ride or long walk south on Michigan towards Printers Row, at Dearborn Station. Get there in time for the 10pm set. After that, you could take another short walk and see what's doing at Buddy Guy's Legends Blues club. Or go back up north and have a little dessert in the wine bar that is inside the Hotel Intercontinental.

With my plan you never need to leave the area, and yet you are doing unique to Chicago things.

Under $25 Eats- Bandera on Michigan Ave, The Gage on Michigan Ave (easily accesible by cab or bus), Quartino, Osteria Via Stato, Mercat al Plaxa, Tempo or Pierre Gourmet (outside the Penninsula Hotel) for brunch http://www.peninsula.com/Chicago/en/def ... t_Gourmet/
http://www.osteriaviastato.com/
http://www.hillstone.com/#/restaurants/bandera/
http://www.quartinochicago.com/
http://www.thegagechicago.com/
http://www.mercatchicago.com/

Andy's is good for Jazz, but the drink prices add up fast there. I second Buddy Guys.

under a bridge below michigan av., billy goat tavern?

The Jazz Showcase has the best jazz acts in town. It would be a short cab ride. It's in the old Dearborn Station. No food, but drinks.

http://www.jazzshowcase.com/

steakhouse under the bridge old time chicago defines Gene & Georgettis' which is indeed a wonderful choice,
but you'd be hard-pressed to get out at $25 a plate unless you are splitting an entree...
In fact that is true of most any (Chicago or any other big city) steakhouse...

http://www.geneandgeorgetti.com/