Chicago,IL

I'm planning a long weekend in Chicago in February and would love a couple of suggestions on places to eat.  We are staying downtown, so we'd prefer most be there.  We won't have a car, but will be taking the train most places.  I've been many times to Chicago and have some favorites already, but would love to try some new places!!
 
Thanks!!

Not that I've traveled much of the world, but my favorite restaurant anywhere is Harry Carey's, I think it's at Dearborn and Kinzie.  Don't fill up on the fantastic freshly made Saratoga chips in the bar, you'll want to leave room for the Lamb Chops Oreganato or anything Vesuvio-style.  I also like Lou Mitchell's for breakfast, right by the train station.  Long, communal tables, all the eggs are double yolks.  You should try a steak house while there, I like Chicago Chop House or Gene and Georgetti, but Morton's also was good, and the Weber Grill restaurant kinda fun.  Next visit, I want to try Lawry's, as I've seen a lot of good reviews.  Don't forget to check out the popcorn shop on Michigan Avenue, I think it's Garret's.

Pizza...Uno's deep dish, right downtown close to Michigan Ave.

Back in July, nocarolina took me to Al's #1 Italian Beef in downtown Chicago.  I'm a stickler for good food and won't make a restaurant recommendation unless it passes my litmus test of it being worth a 200-mile drive to get there.

Al's met that test with flying colors.  It is rare that I have had anything so good.

Here's the link so you can check it out and get all the appropriate information you need:

http://www.roadfood.com/R...629/als-1-italian-beef

On the weekends there is alot less to choose from "downtown" in Chicago. Alot of places are closed, not all but quite a few. IF you are staying on Michigan Ave. everything is open. They are only a couple of blocks away, but "downtown" and Michigan Ave. are different locations, I mention this as most hotels are on Michigan Ave.

That said there is lots of good food to be had, espically if you venture a few miles away from downtown area. Taylor St (Italian food), Pilsen (Mexican) Chinatown and Greektown are near by. A little further you can go to Ukrainian Village or even Little Viet Nam.

What type of food do you desire, I can make some inexpensive recommendations from that point.

Garret's popcorn, Roddity's in Greektown, Anne Sather's for breakfast.

Ed's Potsticker House on S Halsted across from CPD District 9. Get the smoked pork pancakes & the eggplant thing.

Love all the suggestions so far. Perhaps not in the works for transportation reasons but I'd add Ba Le, Hot Dougs, Bourinqua, Little Three Happiness, Freddies Pizza & Pasta Parlor ( perhaps Chicago's Cicero's most misleading name), Mr. Beef and any of the Chinatown bakeries.

Thanks for all the suggestions!  yes, Garretts is always a must.  And I've heard Ann Sather's is good, just have never made it.  Of all the times we have been, we have never been to China Town.  Anyone have any suggestions in that area?  Can I just blindly pick one and it'll be good?  I find it hard to tell good Chinese just from the store front!

If I was headed to Chinatown, I would eat at Joy Yee Noodles (in the new Chinatown Mall). The food is excellent. You can get to Chinatown from the train.

A trip up to "Litltle Viet Nam" on Argyle is also doable by train and Ba Le, one of my fav's is 1 block from the train.

Lou Malnati's for deep-dish and Billy Goat Tavern for double cheeseburgers.

firecommander3565


A trip up to "Litltle Viet Nam" on Argyle is also doable by train and Ba Le, one of my fav's is 1 block from the train.

i agree!get on the northbound redline and stop at the argyle station.
ba le is fabulous so is tank noodle and sun wah just reopened in their brand new location across the street on broadway!

Damen & Archer, La Palapa. it's got a huge shark on the roof. Get the Shrimp Palapa.

I was just in Chicago and enjoyed the following:
Hot Doug's
Superdawg
Al's #1 Roast Beef
Uno
Sally's Waffle Shop. The large German pancake was great and HUGE. Literally, almost the size of a manhole cover.

Born and raised in Chicago and still travel there alot on business and for family reasons, Some suggestions not found here might include:

The Parthenon in Greektown
The Frontera Grill for truly wonderful Mexican food
Gene and Georgettis for steak and various Chicago specialties including Chicken Vesuvio and Shrimp de Jonghe

The last two are not cheap. nor perhaps typical roadfood. But like WJ says about sushi in LA. for me it is a matter of what is regional and unique and exciting and not just about hot dogs and pizza etc.

Mrs. Roadhouse and I had dinner at The Parthenon just this past evening.  Great taramousalata (salmon roe spread), excellent pastitsio (sort of a Greek mac & cheese made with a layer of ground beef and served with a bechamel sauce, and a lovely second entree which I have forgotten the name of, but can describe as chunks of roasted lamb with melted feta cheese and vegetables all wrapped up in a crispy phyllo dough crust.  Fantastic!

Very good service and free valet parking to boot.  This was our first experience at The Parthenon having favored Pegasus, Santorini, and Greek Islands over the years.  I can't say for sure that we would go back to The Parthenon only because there are so many other choices in a very small area and we already have our faves.  BTW, there are almost no bad restaurants in Greektown.  Competition is fierce on south Halsted Street and you need to put out a quality product if you want to compete.

Buddy

After seeing today's (11-9) photo on the RF home page I think a stop at Gino's East would be a good idea!

Brad

SO many excellent places, do you have anything in particular you are looking for?
Chinese?
Japanese?
Thai?
BBQ?
Steakhouse?
More info will help us tailor our reccomendations...

Red Line to the Purple Line...off at the Dempster Stop

Wiener and Still Champion

802 Dempster

Easy to get too