OT: Chicagoans....any dining recommendations?

[DavidandLeahZ]

Any ideas on nice little/quaint places to eat downtown?
We got a deal on priceline for the Palmer House - so we'll be near a Blue Line stop.

 

[A.Mickey]

I don't know very many little/quaint places to eat in Chicago. But we like to frequent the Walnut Room at Macy's....(although we don't like going there as much now that it isn't Marshall Field's anymore). We also like to go to foodlife, but foodlife is much more of a food court atmosphere.

Rick Bayless' Frontera Grill is an option, although I have never been. There is also the famous Berghoff. You could always just use metromix or zagat, or tripadvisor.

I have always wanted to try Russian Tea Time... I have heard many great things about it.

moto is suppose to be really cool too! Pricey but cool.

Like I said I am not sure of too many little/quaint places to eat as we tend to go to the popular high traffic areas, but I hope this helps!



When are you coming?

 

[Michele]

If by quaint you mean, awesome food, but high priced and adult, then I recommend Wildfire.

 

[LeahZ]

When are you coming?

We'll be there this weekend. He surprised me with a birthday trip! We're dropping the kids off at his parents and taking the Orange line downtown. We try to get down there by ourselves a couple times a year. We're not looking to do anything too fancy, just hang out and relax. Not even sure that we want to dress up for a fancy dinner, we may just want someplace casual. It's just nice to try somewhere new.

 

[SamIAm21]

Miller's Pub, which should be just out the "back door" of the Palmer House under the L tracks! Miller's Pub is at 134 South Wabash. Great food, fun atmosphere, sort of "old" Chicago! I highly recommend it!

http://www.millerspub.com/

You have access to all the CTA train lines both subway and elevated from the Palmer House! Just be careful of your purse and wallets on State Street. I can tell you from experience, there are a ton of pickpockets out there, especially during the holiday season. This weekend is expected to be sunny in the low 50s! Have a blast!

 

[mama23babies]

I will second Miller's Pub. I also used to go to a place called Exchequer Pub right on Wabash. DH and I loved it. I don't know if it's still there, though. There's also Heaven on Seven. That's supposed to be wonderful if you like Cajun type of stuff. I know that's right in that area too. I heard the Walnut Room isn't so great anymore, since Macy's took over, although I haven't been there since so I can't speak to it personally.

DH used to work right around there so I'll ask him too if you need more suggestions.

It's cold...bring layers.

deb

 

[mama23babies]

Oooh, I just thought of another place. On Michigan Avenue, near Millenium Park, there's a place called Park Grille, my husband's friend is the exec. chef there. We ate there over the summer and it was very good. Especially on the weekend, if it's in the 50's as they say you could check out Millenium Park , it's very pretty, and it's walking distance from where you'll be. And it is pretty casual. We strolled in with three kids off the streets and definitely were not dressed up.

I think the Macy's windows are decorated too, that would be fun to see.

Don't be too afraid of the pickpocketing stuff. Yes, you need to be aware of your surroundings, as you are anywhere, but don't think that people are going to jump out of the alleys and grab your stuff.

Have fun!

Deb

 

[alexb]

Our new favorite restaurant is Naha and it is north of the Chicago river. Dress is business casual and we have yet to have a bad meal or poor service. We went there for our anniversary and had a 2-3 hour dinner. It was just the way Kevin likes it too.....they don't take your order for the next course until you receive the last course your ordered. If you Google Naha Chicago you'll find their site.

 

[dkostel]

When I think quaint downtown I think Italian Village. Its been around for 80 years, and is actually 3 restaurants in one. My fav (and the most reasonable) is the Village. It is decorated to look like you are sitting in a courtyard of an Italian Village under a starry sky. The food is very good as well. It isn't all that far from your hotel.
Have a great time!

 

[kevrab]

Ed Debevics Is a 50's themed restaurant where the waiters/waitresses insult you and dance all over the restaurant. Just a few blocks east of the Michigan Mile. Cheesecake Factory in the John Hancock Tower, Gino's East---great pizza downtown.

 

[A.Mickey]

I second the Italian Village!

I have never ate in the middle restaurant but I have ate at the Village and the bottom one, both very good!

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

I second the Italian Village!

I have never ate in the middle restaurant but I have ate at the Village and the bottom one, both very good!

How close is this to the Palmer House?

 

[dkostel]

They are only a couple of blocks apart. Your are at 17 E monroe, the restaurant is at 71 w Monroe.

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

When I think quaint downtown I think Italian Village. Its been around for 80 years, and is actually 3 restaurants in one. My fav (and the most reasonable) is the Village. It is decorated to look like you are sitting in a courtyard of an Italian Village under a starry sky. The food is very good as well. It isn't all that far from your hotel.
Have a great time!

I called and tried to make an ADR...I mean reservation for The Village restaurant and they don't accept them. Will it be (as Kevin puts it) "carnival-ape crazy" on Saturday night?

 

[kevrab]

It could be crazy because they have all the Christmas lights and decorations up.

 

[geffric]

There are alot of fun places on North Michigan Av.. just a short walk away..there is a weber Grill, but downtown there is a nice place in the W and Boston Blackies for burgers.

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

So, we just checked into the Palmer House and because I mentioned that it's my wife's birthday - we got upgraded to the Executive Concierge level! Our floor has its own elevator and it had a bench in it! So of course, we sat. We get robes, a multi-head shower and a great view. We are now sitting in the concierge lounge enjoying our complimentary snacks and sodas. Tomorrow we will enjoy our complimentary breakfast. We are value resort people, so this is fantastic! We also found out that there the Festival of Lights is this weekend, so we are going to do that tomorrow night and maybe go to the Italian Village for lunch.

 

[SamIAm21]

Festival of Lights is a must do! The Disney crew will be there! Congrats on that upgrade, sounds wonderful! The Palmer House is vintage Chicago.