Suggestions for Chicago eats
My friend and I are visiting Chicago soon (from California) and want to make sure to hit up some really great restaurants. Deep dish pizza is definitely on the list, and we also love burgers, Indian food, and Mediterranean food, but are open to all suggestions. Where should we go?!
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12 Comments:
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I've already noted Jaipur and Oasis Cafe from previous Serious Eats reviews.
slindstedt at 9:32PM on 06/01/09
Here's my recent thread on Chicago eats!
http://www.seriouseats.com/talk/2009/05/favorite-chicago-foods.html
misterhee at 9:47PM on 06/01/09
misterhee: Oops, during all my research I completely bypassed previous threads! Thanks for the link, I'm perusing all of the comments now, and added San Soo Gap San to the list!
slindstedt at 10:00PM on 06/01/09
when i go back to chicago i have to go to walker brothers for pancakes and pizzeria due for deep dish.
cybercita at 12:30AM on 06/02/09
I was just in Chicago last weekend. Seriously, not enough time to eat everywhere I wanted to.
I will be updating my blog on different places I visited, but so far, here's a recap of pizza at Marcello's.
orchidgirl at 10:20AM on 06/02/09
@slindstedt: I'm jealous! Definitely get the wang kalbi at san soo gap san.
misterhee at 11:13AM on 06/02/09
Fine dining: Alinea, Tru, Schwa (if you can get a rez)
Casual dining: Publican, Shaw's Crab House, Frontera Grill
Ethnic and native Chicago eats: Double Li (Schezuan), Spacca Napoli (Neapolitan pizza), Hot Doug's (best hot dogs ever)
Mizbee at 11:25AM on 06/02/09
I agree with the fine dining from mizbee and shaw's crab house is delicious but very pricey.
Whatever you do, don't eat deep dish at Gino's East. Well know, but not only does it take 45 mins to bake but it is so mediocre. Maybe I am spoiled by NY pizza but it was definately not worth it. Try someplace else for it if you want deep dish.
Other delicious places are Le Colonial and Cafe Spiaggia (one of my favorites) and for breakfast or lunch, Pierre Gourmet at the Penninsula Hotel. The chocolate caramel cake is fabulous but so is everything-golden beet salad, the flatbreads....
Enjoy!!!
suschef at 1:14PM on 06/02/09
Hot Doug's!
Sigilum at 1:20PM on 06/02/09
It may be sacrilege to recommend an Indian restaurant away from Devon, but I really dig India Garden on Ontario. Man, I could eat that fruit-stuffed naan all day, and I normally hate fruit in baked goods.
As for Mediterranean, Artopolis is my favorite place in Greektown, but it's more a bakery/diner than a full-on restaurant. If you want more restaurant-y selections, I'd recommend Venus. Or if you want to sit outside while eating your flaming cheese, there's Athena or Pegasus.
skizziks at 1:35PM on 06/02/09
Oh, I forgot to mention: Blackbird. Doesn't fit any of the categories you listed, but it's wow.
skizziks at 1:39PM on 06/02/09
For deep dish you should check out Lou Malnati's. we ordered ours with a butter crust, but, compared with the local New Haven–style pizza, it was kinda disappointing. The cheese, tomatoes, and spinach were great though.
If you're into vegetarian food, the best meal of our trip was at Green Zebra, a small plates place that was beyond delicious. They have a spectacular gewurtraminer there.
We didn't have any Indian food, but we had some amazing Ethiopian food at Demera. They had very similar taste profiles to certain Indian dishes, AND you eat with your hands (and injera, of course).
Stufsocker at 1:51PM on 06/02/09