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Good "Stand-By" Restaurants in Chicago (MK, The Gage, etc..)

Good "Stand-By" Restaurants in Chicago (MK, The Gage, etc..)
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  • Good "Stand-By" Restaurants in Chicago (MK, The Gage, etc..)

    Post #1 - May 17th, 2009, 12:23 pm
    Post #1 - May 17th, 2009, 12:23 pm Post #1 - May 17th, 2009, 12:23 pm
    My parents are coming up to visit next weekend, and I realized that the majority of places I've been to in the city have been either outstanding ethnic restaurants (tac quick, mixteco, etc...), or "destination" restaurants (Blackbird, Schwa, etc..).

    My parents are approaching 60, and while I'm sure that we'll hit up few unique restaurants mentioned above, I'd like to get some opinions on a lot of good stand-by restaurants located close to downtown. I've heard great things about The Gage and MK, so I'm thinking we'll do at least one of those this weekend.
  • Post #2 - May 17th, 2009, 12:38 pm
    Post #2 - May 17th, 2009, 12:38 pm Post #2 - May 17th, 2009, 12:38 pm
    I really enjoy Paramount Room. Close to downtown, good food & drink and great service.
    Justin Hall
    FIG Catering
    FIGcatering.com
    MMMMM, Moon Waffles.
  • Post #3 - May 17th, 2009, 12:59 pm
    Post #3 - May 17th, 2009, 12:59 pm Post #3 - May 17th, 2009, 12:59 pm
    My folks are 60 as well, and the last two places I sent them when they came into Chicago were Province and Hot Chocolate--liked both of them a lot. The sweet spot seems to be contemporary-yet-accessible two-star American restaurant; both of these fit that bill.

    Having said that, they seem to take a particular shining to the Bayless Diaspora--Mixteco, Sol de Mexico, Fonda, et al. I wouldn't necessarily rule those places out.
  • Post #4 - May 17th, 2009, 1:07 pm
    Post #4 - May 17th, 2009, 1:07 pm Post #4 - May 17th, 2009, 1:07 pm
    Sepia is another good choice. Near downtown and quite impressive - particularly if they will enjoy a cocktail.
    Toast, as every breakfaster knows, isn't really about the quality of the bread or how it's sliced or even the toaster. For man cannot live by toast alone. It's all about the butter. -- Adam Gopnik
  • Post #5 - May 17th, 2009, 3:17 pm
    Post #5 - May 17th, 2009, 3:17 pm Post #5 - May 17th, 2009, 3:17 pm
    My mom loves Brasserie Jo.
    Leek

    SAVING ONE DOG may not change the world,
    but it CHANGES THE WORLD for that one dog.
    American Brittany Rescue always needs foster homes. Please think about helping that one dog. http://www.americanbrittanyrescue.org
  • Post #6 - May 17th, 2009, 3:53 pm
    Post #6 - May 17th, 2009, 3:53 pm Post #6 - May 17th, 2009, 3:53 pm
    Petterino's- Best Chocolate Pudding in the city

    Rosebud on Rush- Ask for a table upstairs looking out over the street or try Carmine's if the weather is warm and sit outside

    When my family was last here we ate many meals (needed wheelchair accessibility) at Mighty Nice Grill in Water Tower (back of Food Life, it is full service & best Mai Tai (haven't had a drink in years) as I recall in the city!

    If you can get out of downtown then I would do breakfast on the weekend at Lula cafe in Logan Square & Lunch or Dinner in Ravenswood at Spacca Napoli.
    Ava-"If you get down and out, just get in the kitchen and bake a cake."- Jean Strickland

    Horto In Urbs- Falling in love with Urban Vegetable Gardening
  • Post #7 - May 17th, 2009, 5:53 pm
    Post #7 - May 17th, 2009, 5:53 pm Post #7 - May 17th, 2009, 5:53 pm
    MK would be a good choice, also I'd recommend places like Boka, Sola, Crofton on Wells.
  • Post #8 - May 17th, 2009, 5:57 pm
    Post #8 - May 17th, 2009, 5:57 pm Post #8 - May 17th, 2009, 5:57 pm
    We've taken my parents to Scoozi and the Gage and they love both.
  • Post #9 - May 17th, 2009, 7:53 pm
    Post #9 - May 17th, 2009, 7:53 pm Post #9 - May 17th, 2009, 7:53 pm
    Le Bouchon (for the step-mother, my father feels crowded), Laschet's (for my dad, the step-mother thinks German food is weird), and Real Tenochtitlan, which works well for both of them and is generally easy to get a table at.
    "Baseball is like church. Many attend. Few understand." Leo Durocher
  • Post #10 - May 17th, 2009, 11:14 pm
    Post #10 - May 17th, 2009, 11:14 pm Post #10 - May 17th, 2009, 11:14 pm
    My folks are huge fans of West Town Tavern.

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