Mag Mile Recs

I'm getting bored off eating Potbelly's and the like. I need something new outside of the Nordstrom food court. The sit down service restaurants dont seem to have food worthy of a wait during my 1 hr lunch break. Are there any hidden gems? TIA!

I share your pain daily. An adequate addition to the repertoire is the deli next to McDonald's, although sometimes their specials are spectacularly unspecial. There's a food court in the basement of the Equitable building ( http://www.fft401.com/ ) that can be a bit pricey and occasionally have some pretty long lines, but it's a nice change of pace. If you've got time for a walk, Cityfood (link to Chicago MenuPages page, which in turn links to its menu) has some very good stuff, with their roast chicken club being the signature option.

I believe that Silver Spoon, at 710 N. Rush, is open for lunch and I think the food is very good -- same owner as Spoon Thai in Lincoln Square, but with some emphasis on Thai/Japanese fusion. I was just there the other night for dinner and had a very good meal, with the highlight being the shrimp tempura maki w/ green curry sauce.

It might be a bit of a walk, but I like the Fox and Obel Cafe, at Illinois and McClurg.

I agree that the food court outside of Nordstrom can get boring quickly [does that Chinese place ever have a special besides bourbon chicken?], but have you tried the Cafe' INSIDE Nordstrom? Good fire roasted pizza, sandwiches, fresh soups, salads, daily specials, very good deserts, good coffee - prices are reasonable [considering the area] and the room is pleasant. It's on the top floor of Nordstrom in the back left [as you walk in from Michigan Ave.]. I consider it a semi-hidden gem.

And stay away from Jimmy Joe's.

Giovanna

mby385,

I spent the better part of a year working in that area and I found very little to get excited about during lunch.

There was one place that I really enjoyed and still consider something of a destination: Chalfin's Deli. A traditional Jewish Deli with pretty good soups, sandwiches, and smoked fish.

Chalfin's Deli
200 E.Chestnut
(In the Seneca Hotel)
312-943-0034
http://www.chalfinsdeli.com/

Best,
Michael

Zest in the Hotel Intercontinental has some good sandwiches and salads. I will get the 1/2 sandwich and salad combination to go on days when I just can't bring myself to eat in that food court.

Take some time on the next sunny day to locate the lunch trucks that park near Northwestern University Hospital, near Superior and St Clair. I have seen the Bolat (African cuisine) truck there, as well as several others. However, I am not exactly sure of their schedule.

Other than that, I recommend Indian Garden (also a bit of a walk) if you want to indulge.

i was doing some work at the trib tower the other day and someone recommended a place to me... I can't remember then name of it though.

in the bottom of the NBC tower (the one that looks like a mini-rockafeller center--not the one with NBC Plaza where they have the news), there is an italian restaurant with a take out counter... they have decent sized wood-fired pizzas that are only $4 or so, with the usual cheese, sausuage, pepperoni, etc being the choice of toppings... pretty good! the down side being that if you get it at the counter, i *think* you have to take it to go? (though this wasn't immediately obvious to me...there was seating but I think that was for full service?). they had some other stuff too.

they also had a full service bar in the restaurant, which had its own bar menu and had daily specials (free app w/ drink, etc... seemed like they might have good deals there too)

now if only i could remember the name... there was a blue awning or big blue sign on the outside of it... anyone, anyone?

I miss the diners/Greek-coffee-shops that used to be steps from the Avenue. Besides the newly deceased Cambridge House, there was a good one called Alexander's in the Lenox Hotel, somewhere like Rush and Ontario. And Carton's, like around Wabash and Delaware. Obviously, most people aren't into that sort of dining option anymore, or such places would still exist (or new ones would crop up to take the place of old ones that've lost their lease). But I'd still go, if I could! There's not much else that fills the bill of 1. Actually sit down and order, in a semi-civilized way, rather than stand at a counter; 2. Have a table with enough room to open a newspaper and/or enough isolation to have a conversation; 3. Basic good food (made for you, not prepackaged in plastic wrap) like eggs or a club sandwich or a salad; 4. Inexpensive. I wish these sorts of places hadn't fallen out of favor with the general populace, which they must have done. Or else there are structural, economic reasons they became dinosaurs. But they sure are going fast in the Mag Mile area.

dddane wrote:in the bottom of the NBC tower (the one that looks like a mini-rockafeller center--not the one with NBC Plaza where they have the news), there is an italian restaurant with a take out counter... they have decent sized wood-fired pizzas that are only $4 or so, with the usual cheese, sausuage, pepperoni, etc being the choice of toppings... pretty good! the down side being that if you get it at the counter, i *think* you have to take it to go? (though this wasn't immediately obvious to me...there was seating but I think that was for full service?). they had some other stuff too.

they also had a full service bar in the restaurant, which had its own bar menu and had daily specials (free app w/ drink, etc... seemed like they might have good deals there too)

now if only i could remember the name... there was a blue awning or big blue sign on the outside of it... anyone, anyone?

Pazzo?
455 N. Cityfront Plaza

Assuming they're related, I used to frequent a Pazzo where I worked seven years ago near O'Hare in one of the office buildings. As far as takeout goes, they were quite good and the prices were very reasonable. Haven't been to the city location, though.

riddlemay wrote:I miss the diners/Greek-coffee-shops that used to be steps from the Avenue.

One that remains is Snickers, on the southwest corner of Illinois and State. It's an OK change of pace, but unfortunately just about all the options at this end of the Mile end up being "an OK change of pace from the rest of them." I kinda like their pastrami -- not Uncle Abe's, not awful (although their rye bread gets mushy fast) -- and the burgers stand up to the trip back to my cube, so they're probably just that much better if you can stay there to eat. The "counter" is a bar, so this venue is not beholden to no-smoking laws.

It's somewhat farther south, but there's still Artists' in the Fine Arts Building. The food's very good there.

Artists' Restaurant and Cafe (George Mitchell's)
312/939-7855
www.artists-cafe.com
412 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60605

ive tried a majority of the suggestions and am just looking for something new... hmm maybe i'll go the distance when it gets warmer. it just seems like in with the cold blasts coming in - that it would be easier to go next door to nordstroms(the court and cafe itself which is a wee bit pricey) the equitable building, and the surrounding areas. ive even resorted to big bowl once... ugh! my chinese hubby would totally disapprove!

Lawry's has a pleasant sandwich bar. Not inexpensive, but considering the location, far from outrageous--and the quality of their beef is good.

Lawry's The Prime Rib
100 E. Ontario St.

aschie30 wrote:Pazzo?
455 N. Cityfront Plaza

Assuming they're related, I used to frequent a Pazzo where I worked seven years ago near O'Hare in one of the office buildings. As far as takeout goes, they were quite good and the prices were very reasonable. Haven't been to the city location, though.

yup, that would be the place I'm talking about, not sure if its the same one they had out by O'hare. found their web site, too. the pictures only show the restaraunt itself, not the "take out" counter, which was completely seperate... i think its what they consider to be the "deli" ... there are downloadable menus for both the 'deli' and the regular restaraunt.

They also have locations at 100 S Wacker and 311 S Wacker, but no mention of a location by O'Hare (though their offices are in Des Plaines, so maybe they do or did)

http://www.pazzoscucina.com/italian/ke7/nbc.htm

It's not a restaurant but there's a brand-spanking new Dominick's on Fairbanks between Grand and Illinois (same block as Nordy's just east). We've been enjoying the soups, the salad bar is decent (but I like Treasure island's in the Playboy buidling more) they are making Paninis and have a hot case, prepped salads sushi made in-house, etc. The one surpising element is the produce section--they have a stunning array of fruits from all over the world. I hope it continues . . .

bjt