Looking for some restaurant suggestions

Hey guys,

I'm from NYC but coming to Chicago fir the first time for a Fri-Sun weekend in April. I was looking for some suggestions on where to go to eat. Priority goes to good food and service over anything else.

What are your food preferences (and dislikes), especially in terms of cuisine and restaurant ambiance?
We like a variety of things, but mostly American, Italian, Asian, steak, etc.

What is your budget in general terms (but remember "moderately" priced means different things to different people)?
We would like to go to a few cheaper places for breakfast maybe 50-100$ lunches for two, and some nicer dinners. Don't really want to drop a few hundred on each of us by going to the #1 places, but something like $200 or so for 2 with a bottle of wine sounds about right.

Where will you be staying and what transportation do you have?
We'll be somewhere in river north, might be at the trump, four seasons, or another hotel around that area. Won't have a car so relying on taxis and public transportation.

What is the size of your party? (are you alone, do you need a restaurant for thirty?)
2 of us

What decor or vibe do you prefer? (Loud, quiet, romantic, child-friendly)
Don't want anything stuffy but somewhere that is considered a good date spot or a little fancier than that sounds good for dinner. Maybe one place that is more on the fun but not too loud side, and another on the fancier side. Lunch and breakfast I don't really have a preference.

Are you coming for any special occasion? (Bachelorette weekend, College visit)
Nope. Just me and my girl visiting for the weekend.

Do you have particular time constraints? (Breakfast, Brunch, Drinks, All-nighters)
We are arriving Friday afternoon and leaving Sunday night, so we can fit in lunch and dinner Friday, breakfast lunch and dinner Saturday, and breakfast and lunch Sunday.

What type of people are you as it affects your dining choices? Are you searching for something in particular? Would you feel uncomfortable in any neighborhood or type of restaurant? This may be particularly important in terms of selecting cocktail lounges, bars, or taverns.
We are pretty casual and roll with the punches. Have no problem stepping in 3 Michelin star places in NYC and then leaving to go to a wine bar or just a dive afterwards, and anything in between.

Actually, the one nice thing about Chicago is that the best places are never the most expensive as long as you are willing to venture away from River North. You can get great Italian food for $20 or less per plate at any of the restaurants in the Heart of Italy neighborhood at 23rd and Oakley. Asian food is a pretty broad term when it comes to Chicago because the Asian restaurants are spread out pretty far. If you want Chinese, go to Chinatown Square on the south side. If you want Korean, go to Koreatown in Albany Park. I'm not too familiar with Thai restaurants in the city, but I have heard the best are somewhere on the near north side. Don't waste your time or money getting a steak... that's just a stereotype that started because Chicago was home to the nation's biggest stockyards in the early 1900s. If you want a good steak, go to Texas. They do it much better there. As for American food, you can find good American food anywhere you go in the city.

I live in NYC and visit Chicago 2-4 times a year. The biggest factor for some popular, not-super-fancy Chicago restaurants is how long you're willing to wait for a table, especially because you'll only be here Friday evening through Sunday evening.

Some of the casual places we love don't take reservations (Purple Pig) or take a very limited number (Frontera Grill - I think I called 11 wks ahead) or book up months in advance (Girl and the Goat - takes them 6 months in advance).

Brunch waits can get pretty long as well for the famous spots (though Publican does take reservations and just announced they're doing brunch on both Saturday and Sunday now, starting 3/24).

Chicagoans also tend to eat on the earlier side, so first come, first served bar seating starts to get filled up much earlier (5pm ish) than it does in Manhattan.

http://chicago.metromix.com/restaurants ... to/2509001

A quick cruise through the current GNR List viewtopic.php?f=28&t=32599 should help.

Just a few places that come to mind, although not all are in the immediate area and could be hard to get into:

Dinner - MK, Publican, Anteprima, Piccolo Sogno, Purple Pig, Maudes, Yusho

Lunch - Xoco, Slurping Turtle, Chicago pizza and oven grinders

B-fast - Publican, Perennial Virant, Jam

I'd suggest Blackbird for lunch of Friday if you get in on time. Nice relaxing lunch with some good wine choices.

Bperellis wrote:Lunch - Xoco

Also note that Xoco (along with Frontera Grill and Topolobampo) is closed Sundays (and Mondays).

I'd like to second the MK recommendation; great place and fits your budget. Another dinner spot to consider would be a fairly new venue called goosefoot (would require a cab or public transportation). It is a prix fixe menu for $90 per/person and is BYOB. Outstanding food and great service. Perfect place for a date night.

If you are willing to pay a bit more, El Ideas is a really cool, unique new venue. About 13 courses in a very small intimate restaurant (16 seats total). The chefs serve all the food and you are encouraged to mingle with them in the kitchen between courses. The food is really, really good, creative and beautiful. It is in an out of the way area, so a cab is needed to get there and they arrange town car service home. It is $135 per/person, but BYOB.

My favorite brunch spot is North Pond (Sunday's only). This is literally inside Lincoln Park and has great views of the skyline and the pond. Outstanding food, service and ambiance. It is a hearty brunch rather than a sweet brunch (it is a three course prix fixe with four choices for each course). Publican is supposed to be great for brunch too, but I have not made it there yet. M Henry is another excellent (but less fancy and unique) brunch spot.

Chicago also has some great Mexican food; you may want to consider one of the Rick Bayless venues (Topolobampo, Frontera Grill or Xoco). Mexique is great as well (and cheaper and easier to get into).

Purple Pig (downtown on Michigan Ave) is a fun lunch spot, but can be loud and busy.

If you like fun, interesting cocktails, definitely try to get into Grant Achatz' cocktail lounge - the Aviary (West Loop neighborhood). Awesome drinks and very fun atmosphere. He is the chef/owner of Chicago's only 3 Michelin starred venue (Alinea).

I'll reiterate the Rick Bayless recommendations (Frontera Grill/Topolobampo/Xoco), and point out that Frontera Grill does a great brunch on Saturdays (but not on Sundays, as kathryn noted). The food is superlative, the wait minimal, the price very reasonable, and the location perfect for your needs.

Frontera Grill
445 North Clark Street
312.661.1434
> Brunch Menu