Suggestions for friends visiting from CA?

I've got a couple friends (early-to-mid 30s) visiting from CA (SF Bay area to be exact, but one is originally from LA and the other is moving back to LA) this weekend, and was hoping to get some LTH recs to give them a good, fun Chicago experience. I live in Evanston (NU grad student), but want to spend as much of the time in Chicago as possible (I have a car too). I am planning on going to Beercade, Los Barrilitos, maybe Edzo's or Owen & Engine, and ???

I would like your help in filling in the ??? Oh, and one doesn't like Chicago style pizza, so we'll probably skip it (otherwise, I'd probably do Malnati's or Pizano's). For beer, Revolution, Local Option, Piece, Hopleaf, Fountainhead? Recs for a Chicago dog that wouldn't be a drive just for that? My default used to be Wiener's Circle bc I lived down the street...

TIA

Hot dog: Wiener and Still Champion, right in Evanston. See viewtopic.php?t=15079

Darren72 wrote:Hot dog: Wiener and Still Champion, right in Evanston. See viewtopic.php?t=15079

And don't miss the creative fried stuff, like Country Bacon and Chili Bombs. And congratulate Gus on his wedding last Saturday.

I'd include one of our contemporary Mexican restaurants, because it's something they really don't have much in the SF Bay area. Near Evanston, you've got Yolo, Libertad, and Wholly Frijoles; or go into the city to Topolobampo/Frontera Grill, Mexique, or Mixteco Grill.

I'd also consider Found, in Evanston. And Anteprima, in Andersonville, always consistent and reliable (and inexpensive too). If you're going downtown, I'd hit our terrific small plates places like GT Fish & Oyster, Sable, Mercat a la Planxa, Perennial Virant, or - if you can go at an off hour to avoid the long waits - Purple Pig. If you're going out for breakfast/brunch, Walker Brothers in Wilmette is always a treat; or, in the city, consider M. Henry, Jam, or Southport Grocery.

All of the above accept reservations in advance except Purple Pig (none), the breakfast places (none), and Wholly Frijoles (where you can call and leave your name on the waiting list).

Based on your post, I'm assuming you don't want any place that's too terribly expensive. If you want to hit some upscale places without paying the full tab for an expensive dinner, consider the three-course $25-26 prix fixe lunch at Topolobampo (mentioned above), Naha, or Blackbird.

If you wind up going to Hopleaf (cool place) there's a great (I mean great) sushi spot right across the street: Ora Sushi.

Most definitely Girl & the Goat and Au Cheval.

Jeni's Ice Cream is also pretty amazeballs and probably rivals Humphrey Slocombe and Bi-Rite Creamery.

I completely second the Mercat a la Planxa rec, I often take out of towners there and they are blown away.
If it is nice weather- you are a short stroll from Buckingham fountain (altho it is turned off this time of year.)

Another cool Chicago spot is Calumet fisheries, where they filmed the Blues Brothers car jump, and have some of the best smoked shrimp and fish in the universe.

peaceyall wrote:Jeni's Ice Cream is also pretty amazeballs and probably rivals Humphrey Slocombe and Bi-Rite Creamery.

I really like Jeni's, despite the high price*. But it's worth noting that it's based in Ohio, so it's not exactly a local establishment (not that there's anything wrong with that).

*Jeni's ice cream in pint containers sells for $12 at the Jeni's store on Southport in Chicago, $12 at Foodstuffs in the northern suburbs, $10 at Heinen's in Glenview, and $10 at the Jeni's stores in Columbus where they're based.

I would start at Haymarket for some craft beer and walk across the street and try to get a table at Au Cheval.

I noticed that you said that one in your group doesn't care for Chicago-style deep dish pizza, but if there's an interest in thin-crust pizza, there are quite a few places in the Chicago area that serve thin-crust pizza that is far superior (in my opinion) to what one typically finds in California. Forno Rosso, for example?

Of the places already suggested, the ones I'd soonest take a Chicago visitor to are Frontera Grill and Wiener and Still Champion.

Perhaps no point trying to impress a West Coaster with seafood or Asian or vegetarian options, but what about Indian?

Katie wrote:I noticed that you said that one in your group doesn't care for Chicago-style deep dish pizza, but if there's an interest in thin-crust pizza, there are quite a few places in the Chicago area that serve thin-crust pizza that is far superior (in my opinion) to what one typically finds in California. Forno Rosso, for example?

Of the places already suggested, the ones I'd soonest take a Chicago visitor to are Frontera Grill and Wiener and Still Champion.

Perhaps no point trying to impress a West Coaster with seafood or Asian or vegetarian options, but what about Indian?

Yeah, we'll definitely hit up Indian on Devon at some point - we all love Indian. I tend to like Viceroy.

Any ideas for good places to watch football on Sunday? I go to Nevin's because it's close, but it sucks (as does Evanston's bar scene).

HonestMan wrote:I would start at Haymarket for some craft beer and walk across the street and try to get a table at Au Cheval.

Conversely, I would put my name in for a table at Au Cheval and then walk across the street for a beer or 2 at Haymarket while I wait. And then probably return after, based on Haymarket's tap list that day.

mdpilam wrote:Any ideas for good places to watch football on Sunday? I go to Nevin's because it's close, but it sucks (as does Evanston's bar scene).

Have you tried Temperance Brewery at 2000 Dempster Evanston?

Also, I frequently take out of towers for Polish food, since I think it's safe to say that Chicago has some of the best Polish food in the Western Hemisphere. Try GNR Smak Tak 5961 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60646

And if you think your friends might like Senegalese food, Baduo Senegalese Cuisine (2055 W Howard St, Chicago), just over the Evanston border, does a great job.

nr706 wrote:

mdpilam wrote:Any ideas for good places to watch football on Sunday? I go to Nevin's because it's close, but it sucks (as does Evanston's bar scene).

Have you tried Temperance Brewery at 2000 Dempster Evanston?

I have been, but I prefer the beer at Smylie's.

mdpilam wrote:

nr706 wrote:Have you tried Temperance Brewery at 2000 Dempster Evanston?

I have been, but I prefer the beer at Smylie's.

I like Smylie's beer as well - not sure I'd say better, since Temperance won a silver at GABF for their Gatecrasher, but unless things have changed, I prefer both to Peckish Pig. Haven't tried Sketchbook, yet. (Of course, nothing in Evanston beats Boilover Brewery.)

For first timers in Chicago I take them to Lou Malnati's (since they are always curious to try deep dish and to me there is nothing better), and Portillo's for a hot dog and Italian Beef since they do both well. That covers the big three. If I was adding Chicago thin crust pizza, I'd take them to Barnaby's of Northbrook or Marie's. If they wanted more obscure/less chain feel, probably Pequod's for deep dish, and Johnnie's for beef. For a Vienna hot dog, I have to think about that - if Gus has the heat working at the Wiener...

As someone who grew up in Southern California and then lived in San Francisco prior to coming to Chicago I have a pretty good handle on both dining scenes. I'd actually skip Chicago stuffed pizza as (this might sound blasphemous), I actually prefer Little Star and Paxti's in SF over any of the Chicago choices. I'd go with Publican or Avec; Dusek's, Longman & Eagle or Hopleaf (these remind me a little of Monk's Kettle/Abbot's Cellar in sensibility but very different food); I agree with the previous poster's in terms of contemporary Mexican; Little Goat or Girl and the Goat are major winners. I personally feel that for beer Goose Island Clybourn is still one of the best options given the amount of stuff that is brewed in house that will be turned over and never available anywhere else.

Zaragoza