Loop what?

Staying around State and Ontario on a Monday night in a few weeks. Looking for somewhere roughly in the area for a nice dinner (not Tru-expensive, but dont mind spending), and for a nice lunch on Tuesday. We live in the outer burbs so want to take advantage of a rare few meals in the city to enjoy. Will have a car but dont necessarily want to drive around and look for parking, taxi or even maybe public trans is an option.

Thought of Sixteen, but that might be slightly too formal for that night. Thoughts for dinner (must be open Mondays) and lunch Tues??

Did a bit of research and have it "narrowed down" to, in no particular order, Slurping Turtle, Blackbird, Table 52, Sable or maybe for breakfast Tues, Naha, Mercat maybe for lunch or Big Jones for lunch on the way home. Or on the way down Monday. Open to other thoughts too. Sort of threw out Purple Pig, Quartino, Goosefoot...

You really can't go wrong with Blackbird, Table 52, or Naha. Haven't been to slurping turtle, so can't comment.

For lunch, you would do well to consider Xoco. Less formal than the places on your list, but very good.

EdE wrote:You really can't go wrong with Blackbird, Table 52, or Naha. Haven't been to slurping turtle, so can't comment.

For lunch, you would do well to consider Xoco. Less formal than the places on your list, but very good.

I've been going to Publican Quality Meats a LOT for lunch lately - about as casual as Xoco, though you do get table service. About the same price point as well, with an average lunch running maybe $12-$15, though you can certainly spend a lot more if you put your mind to it.

Really terrific, interesting food; friendly, knowledgeable servers; they even have two free parking spaces for guests to use right behind the building.

Also just like Xoco, I would suggest avoiding prime lunch hours, as things can get a bit crazy. Eating a little later in the afternoon, I've been able to just walk in and sit wherever I choose every time.

Publican Quality Meats
825 West Fulton Market
Chicago, Illinois 60607
(312) 445-8977

Xoco is closed Sundays and Mondays. Might be good for breakfast Tuesday morning.

Skip Sable if you're only in town for 36 hours or so.

For Goosefoot, it's BYOB, so would you be bringing alcohol from home or picking up something on the way?

Big Jones for lunch on a weekday is a great idea.

Goosefoot and Big Jones are nowhere near the loop. (FYI Ontario and State is not the loop, but thats just me being nit picky)

We dont drink, so booze not a problem. Since were probably driving down Big Jones would be doable for lunch either day coming in or going home. To me anything south of about Diversey is the Loop When you live in Algonquin its all relative.

I'm going to chime in with Longman & Eagle for dinner or brunch. I was impressed when I went last Winter but was blown away by a recent visit. Might be a good choice for your drive home because it's very close to 90/94.

Clearly the correct answer is: Oceanique is corkage free Monday.

Naha is always superb and a must if you haven't been.

Sixteen is a spectacular room so you might check whether they are serving lunch these days ... I had a business lunch there before the chef change and the food was fine, the view insanely wonderful.

I continue to love Sable for more casual meals and Xoco for breakfast or lunch if you have time for the lines (they do move folks along well). The suggestion of Mercat - a bit further south - is also great especially for their lunch option which is a great deal for very tasty food.

Goosefoot. . . (is) nowhere near the loop

. . . and it is booked way, way out, so the OP's target date is a no-go.

I like that Naha suggestion. I've had some really solid dinners there, and the room is elegant without being stuffy.

You can get to Perennial Virant in 10 minutes, and street parking is often attainable on Clark (although they also have valet). I like this place more and more every time I visit.

Re Perennial Virant ... while you mention you don't drink, if you head to this option, plan on a stop on the just opened rooftop lounge before dinner ... the views are spectacular and it's a great opening to the evening.

Slurping Turtle is pretty casual compared to others on your list, so that might be a better lunch option than dinner... and is worth a visit.

Define "roughly in the area". Do you mean a place within walking distance? If so, there are lots of great choices within a few blocks, with Sable (my favorite moderately-priced restaurant downtown) and GT Fish at the top of the list, also David Burke's if you love steaks, and the Purple Pig. Naha is not quite as expensive as TRU, but it's definitely more than Sable or GT, and may be the most expensive lunch in town. All of these are no more than a five-minute walk. All are open for lunch and dinner. All accept reservations except Purple Pig (where waits are lengthy for dinner, not so much for lunch).

Some of the other recommendations (as well as Blackbird, which you mentioned) are not really within walking distance, don't know if that's what you're looking for; after all, since you're local, you could drive to other neighborhoods any time you want...

Walking distance is relative. We had a friend staying for work at the Intercontinental, and she walked over to meet us at Avec (just nextdoor to Blackbird) and was glad of the chance to stretch her legs. We regularly walk from Webster to Division and back for dinner. Walking is a very nice way to digest your supper.

Ten to fifteen minutes walking distance. And were not adverse to jumping in a cab. Algonquin is about 35 miles outside even the northside of the city, so we dont get down here too much. Right now I think itll be either Naha, Sable or Blackbird for dinner, not sure about breakfast, maybe Sable if were going upscale, lunches Big Jones and then maybe Mercat or Xoco or Slurping Turtle. Have to figure out our downtown game plan also, what we will be doing Monday afternoon down town and Tuesday morning and maybe afternoon also downtown...Art Institute and ?? Anyway, so far those are the ones its narrowed to.

aviva5675 wrote:Ten to fifteen minutes walking distance. And were not adverse to jumping in a cab. Algonquin is about 35 miles outside even the northside of the city, so we dont get down here too much. Right now I think itll be either Naha, Sable or Blackbird for dinner, not sure about breakfast, maybe Sable if were going upscale, lunches Big Jones and then maybe Mercat or Xoco or Slurping Turtle. Have to figure out our downtown game plan also, what we will be doing Monday afternoon down town and Tuesday morning and maybe afternoon also downtown...Art Institute and ?? Anyway, so far those are the ones its narrowed to.

I posted in another thread about a very enjoyable lunch at Mercat earlier this week. It was $18/pp for the "Catalan Express;" a tasting menu is $35/pp at lunch. You can also order a la carte.

Current plan: Big Jones for lunch Monday on the way downtown, dinner still deciding between Naha, Blackbird and Sable. Tuesday breakfast at Yolk or Mercat, go to Art Institute then for lunch plan a bbq tasters blast, picking up from Chicago Q, Lillie Q and Smoque, possibly eating actual lunch at Hot Dougs on the way to Smoque or skipping HD and eating at Smoque. Take the rest home for full on comparison pig out that night and the days to come.

Just be aware that if you arrive anywhere near lunchtime, you will easily spend more than an hour standing in line between Hot Dougs and Smoque. You can avoid the line at Smoque by calling in a takeout order instead of eating in. During peak times, it could still take a while for your order to be ready.

Both are worth the wait, just don't forget to factor it into your schedule.

aviva5675 wrote:Current plan: Big Jones for lunch Monday on the way downtown, dinner still deciding between Naha, Blackbird and Sable. Tuesday breakfast at Yolk or Mercat, go to Art Institute then for lunch plan a bbq tasters blast, picking up from Chicago Q, Lillie Q and Smoque, possibly eating actual lunch at Hot Dougs on the way to Smoque or skipping HD and eating at Smoque. Take the rest home for full on comparison pig out that night and the days to come.

Be advised that Hot Doug's is closed until 8/15.

Will be down Aug 27/28, so the HD closing dates are ok. Have been twice before, both times right after opening and got lucky with basically no line each time. If we go this time Id like to hit about 2pm to possibly avoid a long line. I think take out for all 3 bbq places is the way to go- also to avoid long waits. You can call ahead to HD also,right?

you can order for take out if your order is over $20