Restaurants Near Second City and Old Town

We are going with friends to Second City on Sunday night and I am trying to figure out where to go for an early dinner. I am having trouble of thinking of a good place in that area that is worth the $.

We will have a car so I was thinking it would be easier to park one for both dinner and the show. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Susan

Salpicon

Park the car in the Pipers Alley garage and then proceed south on Wells on foot.

Salpicon
1252 N Wells St.
(312) 988-7811
www.salpicon.com

Salpicon is my choice as well.

There are other ideas in this thread

Best,
Michael

I used to live in that neighborhood. Although it's changed since I was there, I think Salpicon is an excellent suggestion for upscale Mexican. Adobo Grill is right next to Second City, and it's not bad, but Salpicon is better IMHO.

For other cuisines, Bistrot Margot is reasonably good for French bistro fare - probably the best French Bistro within walking distance of Second City. Old Jerusalem has great, cheap, middle eastern food (BYOB), but I think if it were up to me, I'd go to Trattoria Roma - possibly one of the city's longest-running sources for true Italian-style pizza, as well as lots of other Italian specialties.

Bistrot Margot
1437 N. Wells St., Chicago

Old Jerusalem
1411 N. Wells St., Chicago

Trattoria Roma
1535 N. Wells St., Chicago


And of course you can't forget:

Twin Anchors
1655 N. Sedgwick St., Chicago

for the ribs that everyone on LTH reveres.

3 words: the fudge pot. i usually get a milk chocolate pretzel and a chocolate covered oreo for dessert, but you could scale that to a full meal.

salpicon is overrated and overpriced. la fette might be worth considering, but it's overpriced as well.

i recommend orso's. it's decent italian without the pretension of trattoria roma or topo gigio.

the fudge pot
1532 n wells st

orso's
1401 n wells

Sorry, I'm late on this but I wanted to comment that I stopped by Old Jerusalem with my husband for lunch on Sunday. I have been there a few times before and have never been really wowed, but Sunday..... wow. Maybe it was the weather, or maybe the chef was having a good day, but my husband got a combo platter and I got the Shawerma, and it was fantastic. Beautiful day - shawerma's are perfect for the heat as they combine tasty meat with their cool and refreshing sauce.

Anyways. It was good. I rarely walk away from a meal so totally satisfied.

I'm late too, but for future reference I had a great early dinner yesterday at Topo Gigio. It was about 4:30 and we had been walking along the lake front most of the day soaking up the sun. I had the tortellini all Panna, but the highlight of the meal was Joe's Salad. Next time, we'll order the salad to go. Along with some great bread and wine, we'll be set for a concert picnic.

Topo Gigio
1516 North Wells
Chicago, IL 60610
312-266-9355

papua2001mk wrote:Sorry, I'm late on this but I wanted to comment that I stopped by Old Jerusalem with my husband for lunch on Sunday. I have been there a few times before and have never been really wowed, but Sunday..... wow. Maybe it was the weather, or maybe the chef was having a good day, but my husband got a combo platter and I got the Shawerma, and it was fantastic. Beautiful day - shawerma's are perfect for the heat as they combine tasty meat with their cool and refreshing sauce.

Anyways. It was good. I rarely walk away from a meal so totally satisfied.

I have had the opposite experience with Old Jerusalem: underseasoned shawerma and kabobs...I've weaned myself onto the vegetarian offerings which are always a good bet, but getting the urge to try their meat dishes once again, I'm always disappointed. Having said that, the fried kibbeh app. ain't bad. The vegetarian menu outshines that for carnivores.

Any more recent Old Town recommendations? Currently contemplating Two Lights Seafood and Oyster, 227 W. North Ave.

Two Lights is terrific. Have been there 5 times and enjoyed every time.