Any Cheapish Food in the Gold Coast?

I'm going to be staying with a group of non-food obsessed folks at 1200 North this weekend (1244 Dearborn Parkway to be exact), a neighborhood I don't know well at all. Anything within walking distance that is informal and not too expensive? Any kind of food.

Thanks.

There's an OK Italian place that fits your description within steps of where you'll be staying. Mario's Gold Coast Ristorante at the corner of Dearborn and Goethe.

You know in some ways I should not like PJ Clarke's in Chicago that much, with its enormous amount of inauthenticity, but as Lawry's has become part of Chicago, so has this incarnation. It's just north of Division on State. The menu is general or generic depending on how you wanna call it, but the food is all well done. I really like (and pretty much only order) the burger. The only question becomes the home fries or the onion strings.

More purely local, in the same vein is Lux Bar, near where State and Division come together, lovingly called around here, the Viagra triangle, for its collection of high-roller bars. Lux Bar has about the same prices, the same menu as PJ Clarkes, although with slightly better service and not quite the burger.

Given your well known love (and knowledge) of Thai food, you might want to take the short walk to Silver Spoon (710 N. Rush). Word from Erik M, is that Silver Spoon has become more like its parent, Spoon. Hopefully Erik can pip in. If it is more like Spoon than the old Silver Spoon, you can feast on some of the best Thai food around.

I haven't been, but perhaps Quartino would work for your group.
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=6711

Also, right on the same block as where you'll be is Third Coast Cafe, a pleasant spot for coffee which stays open till the wee hours of the night.

Quartino
626 N. State St.
312-698-5000

Third Coast Cafe
1260 N. Dearborn St.
312-649-0730

If your cohorts like middle eastern food (in this day and age, hummus, tabouleh, kibbeh and falafel can't be too strange, even for non-foodies), definitely stop in at:

Old Jerusalem Restaurant
1411 N. Wells St.
(312) 944-0459
http://www.oldjerusalemrestaurant.com/

I'll be back in July and then I can do some eating! I don't know if this is the appropriate place to post this, but my reason for coming this weekend is because one of my best friends, Mark Sinclair, who participated a bit on this board, died of an aneurism at the ridiculously young age of 34. I know that several of you met Mark (aka Stinky). Mark was the comedy and sports editor of Time Out Chicago but he also loved eating and he bicycled all around Chicago, and a great, great guy. He loved his adopted city. http://www.timeout.com/chicago/Details.do?page=1&xyurl=xyl://TOCWebArticles2/61/over_out/mark_alan_sinclair.xml

This weekend, there will be a tribute to him and friends are coming from all over the country.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Dave

Very sorry to hear about your friend. Another restaurant you might consider is Papa Milano just south of where State and Rush meet. We've had good, reasonably-priced gnocchi, pasta and pizza there (love their Pasta E Fagiol soup.)

Papa Milano Restaurant
951 N State St
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 733-5019

menu at: http://chicago.menupages.com/screenmenu ... &areaid=25

I just ate at:
Tsunami
1160 N. Dearborn
http://www.tsunamichicago.com/

Long story...My brother-in-law is in town from Asia. He decided that family and friends would meet here for dinner. When I found out its location, I thought "oh crap, it's going to be passing grade sushi at 3 times the price of good sushi." I was tempted to bow out, but rationalized that I rarely see my brother-in-law and just accepted his selection.

I arrived at Tsunami, a trendy sort of place, to find out that my brother-in-law's college friend owns the place. The appetizers were good, some a bit different than what is typical at a sushi restaurant. The maki was very good. I think the prices for the sushi are comparable to other, less swank places in less nice neighborhoods. All kinds of sake is available. They have a nice combination of dinnner tables and coaches, chairs, and cocktail tables for seating.

I also 2nd the PJ Clarke's suggestion. Plainer, more all-American menu, but I've always enjoyed what I order.

very decent b'fast at Tempo (a diner) 6 E Chestnut St (corner of State?) (312) 943-4373 maybe a ten min walk. cash only.

Santorini in Greek Town, many prior posts here. take a cab.

Take the train up to TAC ('Thai Authentic Cuisine'). Station (Sheridan?) is right outside the restaurant. You might could get some LTH'ers to join you so you could sample a range of stuff.

Trying to chow in the Gold Coast/River North area is like trying to chow in the Midtown East area of Manhattan...either go real low down and pray, or bring the gold card. stuff in the middle is little more than fuel.

Hope I've got the geography right!

Vital Information wrote:You know in some ways I should not like PJ Clarke's in Chicago that much, with its enormous amount of inauthenticity, but as Lawry's has become part of Chicago, so has this incarnation. It's just north of Division on State. The menu is general or generic depending on how you wanna call it, but the food is all well done. I really like (and pretty much only order) the burger. The only question becomes the home fries or the onion strings.

Onion strings, definitely. The home fries I had the other night were terrible. Flabby and undercooked. I'd have liked the onion strings to have been in the fryer a little longer, too; they were crisp but pale.

My skirt steak was large, tender and nicely cooked per my order -- but doused in a teriyaki-like marinade too sweet for my taste. We had some very good crab cakes as a starter -- lots of crab, hardly any filler and spicy remoulade-like sauce on the side.

We were surprised to see quite a number of Mexican items on the menu until our waitress explained they were Cinco de Mayo specials.

The drinks are fairly cheap for the neighborhood. $5 for a gin and tonic.

P.J. Clarke's
312/664-1650 State
www.pjclarkeschicago.com
1204 N. State Parkway,
Chicago IL 60610

I attended a conference at a Gold Coast hotel and had to find lunch for some grad students who were counting their pennies. I took them to Big Bowl, where they got nice, freshly cooked bowls of noodles and vegetables for a reasonable price. It's not exciting or memorable, but it is lunch at a better price than you'd expect.

If you want a real deal for dinner, the best deal you can get in the River North/ Gold Coast area, I'd recommend the Black Plate fixed-price menu at Vong. The food there is excellent, the service is efficient, the atmosphere elegant, and the price unbeatable.

I'm sorry to hear about the circumstances for your trip to Chicago. In answer to your question...

I'll echo the recommendation for PJ Clarke's. I particularly like their grouper sandwich.

Big Bowl is also a decent destination for Asian food.

Cru is a wine bar with a good assortment of light eats at 888 N. Wabash. I'd recommend it as a good place to relax before or after dinner, or if you don't want a heavy meal.

For breakfast I'd also point you toward Third Coast, Tempo or Oak Tree, which is in the 900 N. Michigan building (a bit of a stroll, but not too bad if the weather's nice). Oak Tree is also a good lunch place...not a diner, but not really a cafe, just good American cuisine.

Another lunch suggestion if you're over near Michigan Ave...sandwiches at L'Appetito, which is a great Italian deli in the lower level of the John Hancock building. Terrific subs and paninis using fresh Italian meats, cheeses, salads and vegetables, plus cakes and cookies, and great coffees and drinks. It's counter service and seating is limited, but if you're not there at noon (or if the weather is nice and you want to sit outside on the steps) you shouldn't have a problem.

chgoeditor wrote:
Cru is a wine bar with a good assortment of light eats at 888 N. Wabash. I'd recommend it as a good place to relax before or after dinner, or if you don't want a heavy meal.

For breakfast I'd also point you toward Third Coast, Tempo or Oak Tree, which is in the 900 N. Michigan building (a bit of a stroll, but not too bad if the weather's nice). Oak Tree is also a good lunch place...not a diner, but not really a cafe, just good American cuisine.

Cru is closed. From what I remember reading on their window, another grocery/deli type shop will be replacing it. I was at 900 N Michigan last month and also noticed that Oak Tree was closed, although I've never eaten there. Baisi Thai restaurant on the same level in 900 N Michigan has reasonably priced Thai food. Quality is a bit above average. I still need to try some of these other mentioned places, Spoon, Silver, TAC.

pizzicato wrote:Cru is closed. From what I remember reading on their window, another grocery/deli type shop will be replacing it. I was at 900 N Michigan last month and also noticed that Oak Tree was closed, although I've never eaten there. Baisi Thai restaurant on the same level in 900 N Michigan has reasonably priced Thai food. Quality is a bit above average. I still need to try some of these other mentioned places, Spoon, Silver, TAC.

Wow, I'd been to Oak Tree in January, and Cru sometime over the winter. While I didn't eat at either place regularly, they were in my rotation and I go there once or twice a year. Consider how long each place had been open and how successful each seemed to be, I'm very surprised to hear that both have closed. Thanks for the update, and welcome to LTHForum!

MariaTheresa wrote:I attended a conference at a Gold Coast hotel and had to find lunch for some grad students who were counting their pennies. I took them to Big Bowl, where they got nice, freshly cooked bowls of noodles and vegetables for a reasonable price. It's not exciting or memorable, but it is lunch at a better price than you'd expect.

Big Bowl is actually much more exciting than it used to be. Lots of good, spicy dishes; house-made sauces and soup; and oh, that ginger ale!

pizzicato wrote:Cru is closed. From what I remember reading on their window, another grocery/deli type shop will be replacing it. I was at 900 N Michigan last month and also noticed that Oak Tree was closed, although I've never eaten there. Baisi Thai restaurant on the same level in 900 N Michigan has reasonably priced Thai food. Quality is a bit above average. I still need to try some of these other mentioned places, Spoon, Silver, TAC.

Just a little more info about Cru. According to Metromix: "Cru closed for expansion in early February 2006. Target reopening: May of 2006. In addition to the Cru expansion, Owner Debbie Sharpe will be adding a spin-off of her popular Bucktown spot The Goddess and Grocer. "

pizzicato wrote:I was at 900 N Michigan last month and also noticed that Oak Tree was closed...

When you say "last month," do you mean, like, 7 days ago (April 30)? Or do you mean more like "a month ago"? Because I was there not more than two weeks ago and had breakfast. I hope they're still there.

While I've never been to Cru, a foodie that I work with recommended it to me very recently, noting that they were undergoing a major expansion. If someone catches sight of the reopening, please post, since I'm now anxious to try.

Oak Tree was in my rotation of decent food, decent prices, downtown. Funny how I got to it...My mother used to go there when she lived downtown in the early 70's, but at a different location. Interesting to see what happens there.

Regarding Oak Tree: Since I hadn't been in the neighborhood in the last week, and we hadn't gotten any definitive answer on their closing, I put my crack investigative skills to the case this morning. I picked up the phone, called them and asked what their hours are today. They're open 8:30 a.m. til 6:30 p.m. So I think that quashes the rumor that they've closed (unless Pizzicato happened to wander by after hours one night).

Not that the unfounded rumor of the Oak Tree's demise needs debunking again, but I had lunch there yesterday.

The real reason I feel moved to post is that, in the words of Willy Loman's wife, attention must be paid to how much better-than-it-has-to-be this all-purpose restaurant is. On the surface, it seems to fill the same something-for-everyone niche as the average diner or coffeeshop. But the menu is far more interesting, and the execution is well above average. I had a chicken-papaya salad yesterday that went beyond "fine" to truly excellent. The split pea soup I had as a starter was individualistic, terrific, clearly not from the same institutional can as everybody else's. The prices are a little higher than at your average diner, but, given how much better the food is, the value is exceptional. This is a near north side treasure that I hope prospers forever.

*and I know this info's late for the o.p---I'm just adding to the database*

Been away for a bit(b.s. transferring internets issues). To chime in on P.J. Clarke's(since I live just a bit east of there)---bottom line, I've always enjoyed it. S/o 'n I aren't regulars(the "regular" crowd's a bit too trixie/chad---black blazer'd bleach blonde forty-ish Estee' Slaughtered to bear), but when we do wander over we typically make a meal of their appetizers and beer.

menu highlights:

ahem..."famous" mini cheeseburgers
margherita cracker crust pizza
crispy crunchy tangy assertive buffalo tenders(mild or spicy)

an order of the above should satiate two

PJ Clarke's has this almost not quite vibe of a true tavern we patronize in Manhattan 'round the corner from ABC Carpet & Home...we originally stumbled into it 'cuz a Veteran's Day Parade made the street impassable.

of course...I'm not entirely sure they serve food...that's not why we go...

PJ Clarke's caveat:

I guess I'd never been on a Sunday: the weekend prior to our move(within our building...but why should that expedite Earthlink?) we took some friends over to the eponymous.

Apparently, they do "brunch" on Sundays. Now, I've always been under the impression that brunch falls between breakfast and lunch. Following this rationale by 2 pm you'd think brunch'd be long gone. Nope.

I've since learned "brunch" is a catchall for "B" staff. No one ever wants to work "brunch." Poppy Brite has a great acerbic riff on just that.

Anyway...

food was "good"

only two of the *divers* usual suspects were available(tenders and mini burgers) + soups and breakfast menu---I haven't explored either...

-disappointing that they push brunch, but understandable if the "A" staff wants Sunday off-