Where to Eat in Chicago?

Posted on August 27th, 2008 3:01pm by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Restaurant News, Travel

Whoa, dude. Where NOT to eat in Chicago–it’s my kind of eating town. Anywhoo, a busy, business-type Disher is heading to Chi-town and wants us to steer him to the finest plates in town. Of course, I love Rick Bayless. (BTW, so does Obama.) Bayless’ bar makes the best margaritas in the world. I can’t remember the name of the teeny Vietnamese place I tried but any on the ones on Argyle Street in the Little Vietnam neighborhood of the city will do the trick. Sarah Eveans sez she loves Merlo on Maple. Et tu, Nation?

34 comments

  1. Spiaggia. Best.

    @ 3:07 pm on August 27, 2008

  2. Le Colonial is an awesome place! French-Vietnamese cuisine in a beautiful setting.

    @ 3:11 pm on August 27, 2008

  3. Mia Francesa on Clark – the ultimate, never had anything better.

    @ 3:22 pm on August 27, 2008

  4. My bad with the spelling:
    http://www.miafrancesca.com

    3311 N Clark St
    Chicago, IL 60657
    (773) 281-3310

    @ 3:23 pm on August 27, 2008

  5. Gino’s East at Ontario & Wells. Best pizza on the planet. Seriously.

    @ 3:39 pm on August 27, 2008

  6. Breakfast – Tempo Cafe on Chestnut( 24 hours/cash only)

    Lunch – You have to have to have to go to Rockit Bar & Grill and get the Rockit burger, but get the sweet potato fries in lieu of the truffle fries. Best burger and fries I’ve had in a long time in a cool space with a good crowd. I kept telling the guys I ate with that that place would make a killing in Uptown.

    And the local beer, 312, is pretty good and summery if you can find a table outside and enjoy the weather this time of year.

    @ 3:55 pm on August 27, 2008

  7. weiner circle. after 3AM only.

    @ 4:08 pm on August 27, 2008

  8. If you can afford it, i think everyone should try Charlie Trotters at least once in their lives. :)

    @ 4:11 pm on August 27, 2008

  9. hot doug’s.

    gourmet hot dog place that fires the french fries in rendered duck fat on the weekends.

    @ 4:22 pm on August 27, 2008

  10. Japonais

    http://www.japonaischicago.com/

    really nice ambiance and food was great!

    @ 4:33 pm on August 27, 2008

  11. For Italian Beef – The Patio on Taylor Street on the near West side.

    John Barleycorn’s on Lincoln Avenue for Beer and food.

    Goose Island Brewery for micro brew and good food.

    @ 4:44 pm on August 27, 2008

  12. I agree with Brandy, Japonais is great and is a celebrity hot spot. Tru Restaurant is a favorite, but be ready to spend some $$$. It’s received high ratings on TripAdvisor.com

    http://www.trurestaurant.com/info/info.cfm

    @ 4:45 pm on August 27, 2008

  13. Love Kiki’s Bistro – and as others have mentioned: Frontera and Spiaggia. Rose Angelis is more off the beaten path but really wonderful Italian.

    Can’t forget pizza, too. Even as a former resident – I like to wade through the tourists at Giordano’s for deep dish.

    @ 4:48 pm on August 27, 2008

  14. Fine Dining; Les Nomads
    Pizza; Lou Malnati’s, Ogden & Cermack[?]
    Italian Beef; Mr. Beef on Orleans
    Hot Dog; Gold Coast Dogs, Wabash Ave.
    Ribs; Twin Anchors Tavern, Sedgwick St.
    Luke Warm Old Style [naturally kraeusened in God's country] in a Paper Cup; Wrigley Field, corner of Clark & Addison

    @ 4:48 pm on August 27, 2008

  15. You are all wrong. Avec on West Randolph, be sure to sit at the counter and watch the cooks in action and eat what ever they tell you to.

    @ 4:53 pm on August 27, 2008

  16. oh goody! i love it when people agree with me!

    @ 4:55 pm on August 27, 2008

  17. website for Tru… awesome. loved exec chef’s philosophy.
    and Gale Gand? hellllo!

    @ 4:56 pm on August 27, 2008

  18. rusty,
    good call, “my friend”.

    @ 4:59 pm on August 27, 2008

  19. can’t…stop…out..of…control
    szechuan house; Michigan Ave
    Bobak Sausage Co.; off Cicero [in Berwyn?]
    Polska Kielbasa/Maxwell St. polish;Maxwell St
    Gryro/Saganaki: Parthenon Greek Town

    @ 5:29 pm on August 27, 2008

  20. Quartino for great Italian small plates, salumi, and great value on a nice selection of wines.
    Good press for Graham Elliot. I’ve not been there but was fortunate to have dined at Avenues in the Peninsula Hotel when he was leading the kitchen. He has a deft hand when it come to ingredients, taste, and texture.
    Alinea if you want to have the meal of a lifetime. A bit of super fine dining meets Alton Brown. Go with an open mind.

    @ 5:41 pm on August 27, 2008

  21. Brian!

    Oh course if The Grape was in Chicago it would top the list!

    @ 5:47 pm on August 27, 2008

  22. Ed Debevic’s

    @ 5:48 pm on August 27, 2008

  23. Rusty is correct. Avec IS the place. http://www.avecrestaurant.com. they also own a spot next door called Black Bird and a pre-
    Prohibition joint called The Violet Hour in Wicker Park.

    @ 6:11 pm on August 27, 2008

  24. yah, yah, Fenton, The Grape in Chicago…
    polish bakery; Fingerhut
    seafood; Shaw’s
    Steak; Gibson’s
    Italian; Italian Village
    German; Berghoff [R.I.P. Golden Ox]
    Breakfast; Lou Mitchell’s

    sorry, all that just slipped out

    @ 6:17 pm on August 27, 2008

  25. Spaccanapoli – rachets it up a notch past all the “authentic” Italian pizza spots in the DFW area, and I do know what I am talking about. On a par with Luzzo in NYC and Pizza Bianco in Phoenix.

    @ 7:02 pm on August 27, 2008

  26. Brian,

    It seems you’ve been to Chicago a couple of times…

    @ 7:13 pm on August 27, 2008

  27. Luscher: let’s go. You are so ON.

    @ 7:21 pm on August 27, 2008

  28. “inspiration trip”?
    after reading about you’re little junket with Bad’s, I’m not sure if you could keep up…

    @ 7:45 pm on August 27, 2008

  29. Next chef up, dude. Book it.

    @ 7:57 pm on August 27, 2008

  30. AC has got it right…skip that nasty deep dish pizza and hit up Spacca Napoli http://www.spaccanapolipizzeria.com . Jonathan knows what he is doing!!

    @ 8:03 pm on August 27, 2008

  31. Not sure about food, because I’m terrible with names, but I do know you should go to one of my favorite bars in the country: The Matchbox.

    http://centerstagechicago.com/bars/articles/matchobox.html

    @ 11:07 pm on August 27, 2008

  32. Shaw’s Crab House is great, try the oyster bar side for a more affordable experience.

    Spago is fantastic

    Joe’s Stone Crab is an old favorite

    Osteria Via Stato has come on strong

    For the best “Mall Food” in the country, try Foodlife in the Watertower: http://www.foodlifechicago.com/

    @ 9:13 am on August 28, 2008

  33. When in Chi-town, you’ve gotta get deep dish pizza, and the best deep dish is at Pizzeria Due’s on Wabash.

    @ 11:02 am on August 28, 2008

  34. Orange for Brunch. Great pancake flight and the best grilled cheese EVER.

    @ 11:52 am on August 28, 2008