Casual dinner rec needed on Michigan Ave. this Saturday

Hi All..... I am hoping you can help me. I have a friend coming into town this weekend and we are heading downtown this weekend. We are going on the on typical "out of town guest" tour by going on the Wendella boats, Museum of Science and Industry.... We would like to end up on Michigan Avenue for dinner. The catch here is that we will be very casual (shorts, tennis shoes...) AND my friend is not very adventurous with her eating. I was thinking along the Americana line but I am open to suggestions...just nothing too far out for her and of course something that tastes great!

Thanks for any suggestions.

Bistro 110 at 110 E. Pearson would, I think, be a good choice, but maybe you should call them at 312-266-3110 to check on the dress code.

RL at Chicago & Michigan apparently has a pretty flexible dress code, according to last weekend's rerun of Check Please, but it's probably a good idea to call and check there, as well. Pasted from the Check Please review:

Type of Cuisine:
Classic American
Address
115 E. Chicago Ave.
Chicago
Phone
312-475-1100
Open
Open for lunch and dinner every day of the week
Average dinner tab
About $25 per person without drinks

Isn't this where I always suggest Iberico?

Get her sloshed on sangria while you wait for a table and then the ever-so-slightly-exotic Spanish comfort food will go down easily.

Café Iberico
739 N LaSalle Blvd
312-573-1510

Yeah, I know that's not Michigan Ave., but it's not far off.

For a casual wine-bar experience try downstairs at Bin 36, 339 N. Dearborn St. Lots of good cheese plates, soups, and salads to go along with the glasses or flights of wine.

Or, if you want a good basic bar burger (and the like), Blackie's right north of Michigan at 164 E. Grand Ave is one of the better values in the area.

Also, (altho it's not one of my favorites -- but others like it), it strikes me that the clientele at Shaw's Crabhouse (21 E. Hubbard St) can be very casual, particularly if you find seating at the oyster bar.

Safe bet Americana on Michigan Avenue would seem to put Bandera right in your crosshairs. It's not especially Chicago--I think it's part of a restaurant group based in California. It is, however, one floor off the street, and the tables along the window provide some of the best views of Michigan Avenue you'll find outside of Spiaggia (most definitely NOT a shorts and tennies place). The menu is primarily beef, chicken, lamb and ribs roasted over wood fire with Southern-ish sides including cole slaw, corn bread, fries and mashed potatoes. It's about as unadventurous as restaurants get, but I think their chicken sandwich is preternaturally good.

[Warning: Cheeseball Touristy Recommendation Ahead] Sitting outside at Cheesecake Factory is a nice way to enjoy the relative serenity of the Hancock Building Garden Level while keeping a close eye on the thrumming throngs at street level.

For something out of the ordinary, Oak Street Beachstro is the only actual beach-based full service restaurant in the city (Castaways not included). For that privilege, along with great views and people-watching, you'll pay a premium for middle-of-the road contemporary fare.

For a cheaper Oak Street Beach option, pack a picnic basket at L'Appetito, an excellent Italian deli in the same Hancock Garden level concourse as Cheesecake Factory. You'll need to eat earlier, since it closes at 6:30. The cold beef sub is spectacular and the panini are various and good. I've grown unreasonably attached to their three bean salad, which carries a harsh bite of raw onion with every forkful and swims in far too much olive oil. For the less sadistic, there are another dozen pre-made salads to choose from, a large sandwich board, fresh pizza, arancini, packaged higher-end Italian foodstuffs, six or so flavors of gelato, good Illy coffeee and great bakery items for dessert.

Have fun!

Bandera
535 N. Michigan Ave.
312-644-3524

Oak Street Beachstro
1001 N. Lake Shore Drive
312-915-4100

L'appetito
875 N. Michigan Ave.
312-337-0691

What about Pane Caldo? It's at Walton and Michigan and had good to better Italian fare. There are outdoor tables so if it's not deathly humid you could sit outside and people watch.

Pane Caldo
72 E. Walton St.
312-649-0055

There's also Erie Cafe, located a bit off the Mag Mile but this would definitely fit the bill for a casual place to go with great food. It's Italian/steakhouse and seems to offer something to please everyone.

Erie Cafe
536 W. Erie St.
312-266-2300


Enjoy!

I would second the RL recommendation above.

I like RL a lot too but I bet it will be hard to get in Saturday evening, as they're often booked up. Also, though the dress code may say casual, my experience has been that most folks are dressed pretty well, perhaps in an effort to fit into the whole RL advertisement ambience the place generates.

KatyK wrote:What about Pane Caldo?

That's a lovely restaurant, but not a casual one, nor is the food such that I would take an unadventurous diner there. Last time I was there, the chef, Maurice Bonhomme, was doing an elegant menu based on edible weeds. It's fairly expensive, too. A place for connoisseurs.

On the touristic theme, though, there's always the Billy Goat.

Chicago Flat Sammies and foodlife are also easy food places where you'll feel OK in shorts.

Billy Goat Tavern & Grill
312/222-1525
430 N. Lower Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611
Cash only

Chicago Flat Sammies
312/664-BRED
www.lettuceentertainyou.com
Pumping Station, 811 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
(Caution: Once they switch to winter hours, they close early.)

foodlife
312/335-3663
www.lettuceentertainyou.com
Water Tower Place
835 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611

I have to agree completely with LAZ. Those are three recommendations that everyone from out of town seem to enjoy ... and they are pretty reasonably priced for the area.