Too many options and reviews - short list of where to dine?

I am sure there are posts in here to answer my request, but I dont have the patience to dig thru to find them.

Trying to get away from the kids (4 under age 12 between us) for our first weekend alone in two years.

We dont want to spend over $150. We like great food and good service. We dont care what our food looks like when it comes to the table, so long as it tastes good. Dont want a pretensious spot. Looking for great place to get a variety of food. If it can be romantic to boot that would be great.

Charlie Trotters and the like are above our budget. Thanks for the help!!

There are a plethora of restaurants in Chicago that would be a wonderful "treat" for two parents away from the kids, but in order to help focus our suggestions, perhaps you could provide us with some more details about what you're looking for.

Do you have any particular "types" of foods you enjoy? Ethnic? Italian, French, Seafood, Steakhouse, etc?

In the same vein, do you have any dietary restrictions or aversions?

Do you have a particular location or neighborhood in mind? Will you be doing any other activities prior to/after dining such as shopping, theatre, etc? Would you like to be close to a highway, public transport?

What restaurants have you enjoyed in the past?

Answering these few questions can greatly help us answer your inquiry.

Try Sweets & Savories' tasting menu. If you order wine by the glass or a less expensive bottle, you can probably pull that off for under $150, including tax and 20% tip for the bald guy.

Sweets & Savories

Guess that would help. Staying in the theatre district. Attending "Wicked" Friday night, nice dinner Saturday night. We like steak, seafood or italian. Staying away from mex, asian, etc. Dont know enough about french to say either way. Never had nice dinner downtown, always just pizza. No dietary restrictions. Been told 312, Chophouse, Lawarys, McCormick and Schmit, among some others. We dont know. Just looking for some help.
Thanks!!

Hi,

You need to study this thread by a lady from Indiana traveling with family on a budget. Joby had such a good time, she is coming back with teenagers for an all girls weekend.

Joby has also posted on budget travel.

Best regards,

Oh - neither of us drink - so we dont care about the wine list. Thanks!

downstater2 wrote:Attending "Wicked" Friday night, nice dinner Saturday night.

So, are you looking for dinner Friday before curtain, or is it the "nice dinner Saturday" you are asking about? If Saturday (and time is not object), I would suggest walking up to Keefer's or even Smith & Wollensky (which you could do for $150 if you didn't order wine or cocktails). Otherwise, if you want to stick close to the theater, consider the Atwood Cafe at the Burnham Hotel. Good food, great service (in my not so recent experience) and excellent people-watching if you get a window table.

Focusing on Saturday night. Thanks

Trying to get away from the kids (4 under age 12 between us) for our first weekend alone in two years

I guess I read your mission a bit too quickly, then jumped on the kid detail. If sometime you do come with the kids, then joby's ideas may come in handy.

Regards,

I second the Atwood Cafe' rec. with one caveat. You are in the heart of the downtown action..such as it is. It's very affordable, approachable cuisine with a few twists to keep it interesting. The caveat being..and this could easily be simply a rogue server issue...is that the last time I brought a group of visiting old tyme school chums we were just popping in for a drink and the "hostess" virtually refused to seat us..."just for a drink." Point being...I've been there plenty of times..."just for a drink." Fact that the room was half-empty just compounded the *insult*. Thing is...once we *convinced the server*...we all sat for cocktails AND decided to order lunch. It was house special of okay "Carribean" chicken soup...not terribly "Carribean" as I recall...mainly a solid chicken soup with some black beans thrown in...but good, mind you. Some pureed squash soups for the others...very tasty. And, well-prepared sandwiches. Their cocktails are thoughtful...the food(I've never done dinner) is always fresh, and, though not challenging in the slightest, definitely well-constructed. You get the bonus of dining in the beautiful Burnham Hotel...one of the world's first skyscrapers. I'm too lazy to scan back up and see if you mention where you'll be staying on your visit, but I highly recommend The Burnham. The s/o and I stayed there as a treat for New Year's 2000. Just lovely.

Hi downstater2, I can't help you in regards to your dinner quest, but I CAN attest to the fact that whatever info you get from this site and these VERY knowledgeable people is worth its weight in gold!

This past summer we spent a week in the city and couldn't have eaten any more diversely, cheaper or better than we did without the help of all the folks on this board.

As Cathy2 says, we are now planning a girl's weekend soon and needed help. Not only did these fine people give us dining help, but they are a wealth of local info such as theater, shopping, directions, transportation, etc.

Listen to them, you won't be sorry!

Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy your time alone and have fun going to "Wicked"!

I'd recommend a 10 minute cab ride to a Tavola, which is a small, romantic Italian restaurant in what looks like someone's private home. The food is elegant, with the gnocchi perhaps being the best in the city. Service is knowledgeable and friendly, music is usually soft jazz played at just the right volume, and the place just has a certain vibe that makes you want to stay and hang out all night.

NB - the place is very easy to miss, as the signage is subtle and the block/ neighborhood is one that doesn't necessarily look like one with a fine Italian restaurant.

A Tavola
2148 W. Chicago Ave.
773-276-7567
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Oh well, I quit being lazy and looked around the forum abit.

I think I will save up pennies (us cops dont make much more than that) and take my wonderful lady to North Pond. She deserves it!!!

Sounds like a romantic, serene atmosphere, with great food and nice view??

downstater-

A fine decision, i think!

I took my wife there for a Sunday brunch last summer. The details are hazy, but i remember having the tasting menu sort of thing and enjoying it. We enjoyed a stroll around the park beforehand, watching the ducks frolic in the namesake pond. the atmosphere inside is classy without being too self-consciously hip.

Are there better meals to be had around town? Sure. But whenever anyone asks 'where to go for a special meal without pulling out all the stops, i think 'North Pond.'

We went during the day (obviously) and the views were great. I'm sure the views at night would be wonderful too - and if you're not averse to eating slightly earlier, it might be cool to show up around dusk to let the evening darken around you.

You are sure to get other recommendations on this board. Most (if not all) of them will also be wonderful too!

have a fun trip!
-jim

downstater2 wrote:Guess that would help. Staying in the theatre district. Attending "Wicked" Friday night, nice dinner Saturday night. We like steak, seafood or italian.

On Friday, you might want to try Catch 35, an excellent seafood spot in the Theatre District.

Catch 35
312/346-3500
www.catch35.com
Leo Burnett Building
35 W. Wacker Drive

I think North Pond is a great decision. You'll enjoy it.