Leaving for Chicago on Monday

Hello All,
I posted this on the travel board as well but I'm afraid it wont get much traffic before Monday...

The BF and I are leaving for Chicago on Monday for a week-long vacation. We plan on eating very well... what are the Cant-Miss Restaurants we need to hit up? Already have reservations at Frontera.

Especially looking for:
-One Over The Top Fine Dining Experience
-Breakfast
-Late Night Option
-Several Lunches In the Downtown Area

Also, does anyone know of a Chicago-based restaurant forum I could check out? I like to do my research
Thanks in advance for your help!

Madi,

There was a similar discussion awhile back. Here's the thread......
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4749&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=chicago

Try this forum.
They have been very helpful to me in past trips. It's a very active forum - you should get quick response.
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/index.php

Al's Beef

http://www.alsbeef.com/company/menu.asp

For the fine dining, you might consider Charlie Trotters. One of the best.
http://www.charlietrotters.com/restaurant/

I'd grab some pizza. Lou mallinotti's (sp?) is classic.

There are some great little mexican places like La Pasadita (on Ashland, I think). Probably 20 minutes from downtown.

Pub grub at Goose Island brewpub is another good idea (near North and Clybourn)

Chicago Diner is a great vegetarian diner on the near north side.

Wishbone is great for breakfasts, quite reasonably priced, and they even have a loop location now.

I'm not sure where to get the classic chicago hot dog, because I don't eat that kind of thing, but it should be everywhere...

Hmmmmmmmm....there is some cool restaurant on the 95th floor (or something) of the John Hancock building. It has a nice restaurant and a lounge on the floor above. AMAZING view. Once just went up there for a beer (or was it for coffee). I'm sure a full meal would get pricey, but for a drink and maybe an appetizer it is well worth it. http://www.signatureroom.com/ open til 12:30, or 1:30 on weekends, so pretty late night. Here's the lounge dining menu http://www.signatureroom.com/Signature- ... ing-Menus/ ...It looks like they require one main course if you sit in the dining area (95th floor). But like I said, quite an experience to go to the lounge for a desert, appetizer, and/or a drink. And great downtown location.

Have fun!

Yolk is wonderful for breakfast. Really great food (especially eggs benedict) also one of the cleanest restaurants I have ever seen. I have always gone to the one on N. Michigan Avenue.

I second Charlie Trotters, definitely over the top!

It's a little bit on the north side but if you want some place casual with an eclectic vibe I'd try the Heartland Cafe. Great food and usually there is a band. Last time I was there one of the guys from the Bay City Rollers was playing.
http://www.heartlandcafe.com/hc_index.htm

I'd suggest either Lucky's in Wrigleyville or The Big Bowl in River North. Big Bowl is owned by Lettuce Entertain You, and is sort of like a bigger, more urban Yang Kee Noodle. Great food. Try the Orange Chicken. LOVE it. Lucky's is a couple blocks south of Wrigley Field. They feature Primanti Bros-style sandwiches (i.e. grilled meats, tomatoes, slaw that has an oil and vinegar dressing, and, most importantly, french fries, all stuffed in between two slices of fresh, untoasted Italian Bread.)
For dinner, try either Topo Gigio in Old Town or my personal favorite, Piece. Piece is a micro brewery with some of the best pizza and beer I have ever had...

A place I keep going back to is Fonda del Mar on Fullerton. It's in a mostly Latino area, and it specializes in Mexican seafood. They also have non-seafood items, including cricket tacos. Mostly, you'll find very fresh, very complex food of the non-insect variety. Mole, and other sauces I'm less familiar with, show how sophisticated Mexican food can be. They have a lovely patio. Overall, it's a relaxed, fairly upscale place with good prices.

For breakfast, the all-time classic is Lou Mitchell's (http://www.loumitchellsrestaurant.com/). It looks like a plain, standard menu, with everyone sitting in long semi-communal tables, but:

--everything is home made, including some of the buns, et al

--water is triple filtered for coffee

--eggs are double yolk, butter is AAA, bacon is hand-sliced, etc etc etc.


The other option I'd recommend is to go to a hotel on the weekend, be prepared to break the bank (pricing for Sunday brunch from $50-70 range), but just incredible food (and well-preared, not just pretty leftovers for the week), in places like the Drake, Peninsula, etc.

For over the top, you might also consider TRU, overseen by Rick Tramonto and Tim Graham.

http://www.trurestaurant.com/

I should add that it is truly over the top, with the minimum, exclusive of alcohol, being $95/person for a 3 course meal, and rising as high as $145/person for the Chef's Collection tasting menu.

Alinea - with its 24 course / 5 hour tasting menu - would be my choice for an "over the top" dinner!

Their basic 12 course tasting menu is $145 (not including liquor, tax, or tips), and the 24 course is $225 (check out http://www.alinearestaurant.com/pages/m ... s_top.html)

It's a little bit on the north side but if you want some place casual with an eclectic vibe I'd try the Heartland Cafe. Great food and usually there is a band. Last time I was there one of the guys from the Bay City Rollers was playing.
http://www.heartlandcafe.com/hc_index.htm

I like Heartland, but it is really far north. Half an hour from downtown. I used to go there in High School (dates).