Date-worthy cheap eats downtown?

I'm not sure what my friends are looking for actually exists. They want a sit-down place with very good food in a reasonably nice atmosphere somewhere downtown (Loop, River North, Streeterville and vicinity). It doesn't have to be white-tablecloth but they want table service and better than hot-dog stand decor. They want to spend roughly $20-$25 or less (preferably less) before tax and tip. And it can't be Asian or any other cuisine heavy on pork or shellfish.

I can think of places that fit any of these separate criteria or several of them together, but my head and my database aren't coming up with anywhere with all of them. Can you?

I suggested India House, Reza's and Sayat Nova, but they're all just a little pricier than what they're hoping for.

LAZ wrote: $20-$25 or less (preferably less) before tax and tip....

per person or for 2?

Maybe Greektown? Split a pizza at Italian Village?

Small plates at Quartino or Sable? You can eat well at either place for $25 of food per person.

Also, aside from small plates, if this is for 1-2 courses rather than the standard 3, that will provide more flexibility to meet their price target. There are lots of nice places where you can find entrees for under $20.

Oh, and what about that place that Gary ate at?

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=23498

I received an email today from FineDineDeal.com that features a $26 three-course meal at Rhapsody. I haven't used FineDineDeal (and have no idea how I got their mailing list), so I'm not certain how their deals work.

Judging from the three restaurants that LAZ said were too expensive, I think the $20-$25 price range is total, not per person.

Hot Wok/Cool Sushi, Gage, Miller's, Sweetwater, Plymouth,Takumi (the other side of the loop ), PJ Clark's, Emerald.

I'm a big fan of Star of Siam - it's good (not great), but always reliable and relatively inexpensive - entrees are around $10 - $12. I'm a big fan of the Hor Mok I haven't been there in a year or so but it can be a cute, quiet place for a date.

Star of Siam
11 East Illinois Street
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 670-0100

nicinchic wrote:Hot Wok/Cool Sushi, Gage, Miller's, Sweetwater, Plymouth,Takumi (the other side of the loop ), PJ Clark's, Emerald.

The only one on your list which comes close to the price range is the Plymouth, which is pretty awful and nowhere near date-worthy.

hmm...they might get close to that if they hit the fake pub that is Elephant and Castle. Sandwiches run near $8-$10 and it's nice enough to sit in.

Emerald Loop is more authentic and decent food. And they might check out Groupon. <smile>

but LAZ is right -- what they're looking for doesn't really exist. $25 for two people in a sit down downtown? Even north side that's a tough nut to crack. This is the city, after all. And soon to be 67% more expensive to work here.

South Loop has some options. Hackney's has decent bar-style food. Trattoria Caterina isn't my favorite, but in that price range it offers decent Italian. Both are in Printers Row on South Dearborn.

Also sort of depends on whether they are willing to stick to cheap items on a menu or if they want full entrees. Places like Miller's or Hackney's will work if they stick with a cheaper sandwich, skip drinks, etc. Or maybe even Chicago Curry House? Kinda far south but a great place.

I know the atmosphere isn't amazing, but the 7th floor food court at Macy's on State does have some excellent choices too, like Frontera Fresco. (Less atmosphere but largely better food than you'll get at other under $25 spots, and you do still have the romance of the beautiful old department store.) And a pizza would come in under $25, again skipping drinks, apps, etc. Plenty of pizza choices around (Gino's, Malnati's, etc)!

There is a whole menu of things they can get under that price here

http://hotwokscoolsushi.com

Miller's is definately affordable, http://www.millerspub.com/food
You can get a chicken dinner for $12.

Sweetwater, all kinds of sandwiches, wraps burgers for $10-$12 here
http://www.sweetwatertavernandgrille.com

I mean c'mon, even the Gage has a $10 burger for dinner.

If they're looking for a lunch date, La Madia has a terrific deal: salad, pizza, and wine for two for $26.

Pizzas are inexpensive enough to do dinners, too (altho probably without wine.)

http://www.dinelamadia.com/

earthlydesire wrote:This is the city, after all. And soon to be 67% more expensive to work here.

I think you need to check your math (or your sources).

Is Greek Town too far from their intended area?
I like Artopolis and Nine Muses. I wouldn't call either romantic, but most dishes are $7-$13, table service, and open late. Nine Muses has more of a bar atmosphere, while Artopolis has more of a coffee shop atmosphere.

Depending on how much they want to eat, I think you could put together a decent meal at Avec for $25.

Artopolis
306 S Halsted St
Chicago, Illinois 60607
(312) 559-9000
artopolischicago.com‎

Nine Muses
315 South Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60661-5427
(312) 902-9922
9museschicago.com‎

JBW got there first but I think you could come close at Le Madia even at dinner time - depends a lot on drinks however. We eat there often and there are lots of options that are quite inexpensive. Plus the salads are immense so you can easily share those amongst several people along with pizzas or most of the entrees.

After 9PM, they also have pizza and wine for two specials that are way below your budget.

The food has always been very good and the atmosphere is lively .... you will not feel like you're in a cheap spot.

Reserve in advance - they can be quite busy in the evening.


Also Sable is always wonderful - for food, you can make that price range but you'll break it if your group wants cocktails.

I thought it was $25 for both, but in fact they are looking to spend under $50 total for dinner for two, including tax, tip, etc., but no booze, and they are hoping to be able to share an appetizer and dessert plus two entrees. So the entrees need to be well under $20.

For example:

$ 5 app
15 entree
15 entree
5 dessert
------------
$40
9 tax & tip
------------
$49

I gather that the situation is that they are making a date to meet another couple and they don't want to make their financial constraints too obvious, so skimping on sandwiches or pizza isn't an option. If they ate pork and shellfish, I would send them to Chinatown, but they don't and are therefore leery of Asian food in general, so Thai is out, too.

Greektown might work -- thanks Darren72. I love Artopolis. Greek Islands might fit the budget, too. Also GI has free valet parking, which may help.

Another idea I did think of was Petterino's, which has its "7 after 7" menu after 7 p.m. -- three courses for $19.95 and free parking to boot -- but I'm not sure what their timing is.

LAZ wrote:Greektown might work -- thanks Darren72. I love Artopolis. Greek Islands might fit the budget, too. Also GI has free valet parking, which may help.

Given the larger budget than I presumed, some of the larger, older Greektown places would be nice also.

LAZ wrote:$40
9 tax & tip

Sales tax on meals in Chicago is 11 percent, so that works out to a tip of 11.5 percent. Just sayin'.

LAZ wrote:Another idea I did think of was Petterino's, which has its "7 after 7" menu after 7 p.m. -- three courses for $19.95 and free parking to boot -- but I'm not sure what their timing is.

That's a great deal! The menu is here.

LAZ wrote:If they ate pork and shellfish, I would send them to Chinatown, but they don't and are therefore leery of Asian food in general, so Thai is out, too.

In the northern burbs and downtown, Thai restaurants understand these types of people very well. Your friends have nothing to worry about at Star of Siam or Dao. You couldn't get a dish with pork at those places if you begged for it.

I'd definitely support the recommendation above for La Madia. You could easily stay within that price range without drinks, the food is quite good, and the atmosphere is nice too.

nsxtasy wrote:

LAZ wrote:$40
9 tax & tip

Sales tax on meals in Chicago is 11 percent, so that works out to a tip of 11.5 percent. Just sayin'.

You're right. I used the wrong percentage. That means the food costs need to be lower. (And I'm thinking $5 for appetizers and desserts is a little unrealistic, too. For example, at La Madia, recommended above, that gets you either a not very sharable bowl of soup du jour or a dish of olives.)

Just wanted to echo the support for La Madia. It's my go-to for exactly the kind of meal you're looking for at a reasonable price. If you didn't know the address, you might even think you were at a neighborhood spot.

I'll give it one more try....
http://www.crepebistro.net

This is a cute little restaurant. Entrees are cheaper, appetizers a little more, but cheaper desserts.

I'll second the Thai recommendation. Most dishes are "Choice of Meat" and so you can choose chicken or beef or tofu. Split an appetizer, each get an entree, and you don't even need dessert, really. Or go somewhere for an ice cream.

leek wrote:I'll second the Thai recommendation. Most dishes are "Choice of Meat" ...

I think you firsted it. I hope no one took my comment about the lack of pork at downtown Thai restaurants as a recommendation.

nicinchic wrote:I'll give it one more try....
http://www.crepebistro.net

This is a cute little restaurant. Entrees are cheaper, appetizers a little more, but cheaper desserts.

I want to try it for lunch.