Chicago Biz Trip Sept : Need Advice

[Lancer]

Going on a business conference to Chicago in Sept for a few days and would like some advice from you on where to eat and what to do.

I'll be in the Northbrook area which is a suburb but I've been told not too far from Downtown by car.

Basically I'm looking for a good place to get some pizza, hot dogs, ribs, food Chicago is known for.

Won't have time to fit in say something like a Cubs game or Museum.

[F308GTB]

http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/A ... hicago.map

[Danimal]

Northbrook not too far to the city by car...hahahaha!

Yeah maybe not in miles, good luck with traffic.

[sportdan30]

I guess it depends on what time of the day you leave Northbrook for downtown. On average, you're looking at around 45 minutes. If there's traffic, add another 15-20 minutes. It just depends really. Weekend nights are worse and rush hour traffic obviously is no picnic.

As far as sites, the obvious ones are Michigan Ave, Navy Pier, Lake Shore Drive (beach), Wrigley Field, John Hancock Building (great view of the city). Those are the ones I'd see if you don't have time to see the museums. I'd also recommend perhaps parking somewhere in Lincoln Park and just walking around. There are some great eateries, shops, quiet neighborhood style streets, and people watching.

Enjoy.....and be prepared to drive aggressively!

[Brando70]

Lancer, I leave near Northbrook -- if you leave to go downtown during the week around rush hour, it'll take about 60-90 minutes.

If you want the traditional Chicago deep-dish pizza experience and you're going to be downtown, I'd recommend Gino's East. It's a popular tourist destination, and it may not be the best pizza in the city, but it's very representative of the style and the place is an institution.

For hot dogs, I'd go with Portillo's, and there's one right on Michigan Ave. Bonus is they have an amazing chocolate cake, too.

For pure atmosphere, you could also check out the Billy Goat Tavern, home of the famous Cubbie curse.

Hope you have a good trip.

[Spooky]

Hey Lancer,

I actually work in Northbrook and live in the city.

If you're not staying 'downtown' then you should avoid it for anything food related. The "real deals" are actually closer to Northbrook (North side of the city). Downtown is great for touristy stuff and some sight seeing (Michigan Ave, Grant Park, etc...) but for the best food, bars, shopping, etc... you need to go into the neighborhoods.

For Pizza - Pequods. Best deep dish BY FAR.
http://www.pequodspizza.com

For Hot Dogs (Burgers, Italian Beefs, etc...) - Josh's (actually in Northbrook) or any Protillo's. There is also a palce int he city called Hot Dougs that is supposedly amazing but I haven't been there. An amazing burger place and kinda fun too is Kuma's Corner.
http://www.joshshotdogs.com/
http://hotdougs.com/
http://www.kumascorner.com/

[AJColossal]

Good suggestions by Brando.

Northbrook is not far from Des Plaines, home of probably the best fast food place I know of, Paradise Pup. A lot of the Food Network guys have had visits there. Andrew Zimmern said it's his favorite burger place or something to that effect.
Expect a line -- although maybe you don't wnat to spend what little time you have here in a fast food line, lol.

Along with Gino's for deep dish is the outstanding Lou Malnati's. There are several locations. I know there is one in Lincolnwood, which is really close to you.

Have fun. Chicago is a world class city.

[Danimal]

In all honesty you have so much food that is better then what you can find in the city near you that I wouldn't go into the city to eat. You've gotten a lot of good suggestions already. Is there a certain type of food you prefer?

[Lancer]

This is terrific! Thanks guys!

I'll stick around the conference area then and just roam with co-workers around where you all recommend.

I would like to visit the city one night and we may do so probably our last night there, but I am really eager to try some of the local food since that is what I usually do when traveling to other cities.

[RobVarak]

Skip the hot dogs and get a good beef. Portillo's is an ok option for that as well. Not nearly the best in the city, but certainly the most ubiquitous and like Brando said about Gino's, representative of the dish. Get it dipped (with or without cheese) and sweet peppers and you'll be having something that you can't get outside Chicago. (I wish I had a nickel for every place in LA or Phoenix that tried to "import" beef for their place and failed comprehensively).

I'd suggest trying some of the simple ethnic cuisine, but covering more than 1-2 neighborhoods is tough. I usually take visitors to Pilsen for Mexican, Taylor St. for Italian or to the Uptown/Rogers park for Vietnamese. Return visitors always want to go back to eat Vietnamese and catch a set at the Green Mill. Chinatown here is spectacular, but not notably different from those in a few other major cities. Greektown is great if you hit the right places, but again it's not an ethnic cuisine particularly special here when compared to other large cities. Good delis in several of the traditionally Jewish neighborhoods and suburbs, but can't touch NY in this respect (I'll give them the culinary edge in this alone...and slightly in the fine cuisine category, although that's a matter of quantity versus quality).

Chicago has the best Czech/Bohemian food in the country, but it's a wildly under-appreciated cuisine and as un-trendy as can be. Most of the best places for that are in the suburbs.

[XXXIV]

Along with Gino's for deep dish is the outstanding Lou Malnati's. There are several locations. I know there is one in Lincolnwood, which is really close to you.

Have fun. Chicago is a world class city.

I am a huge Lou Malnati's fan. The one in Lincolnwood is the original and the one I used to go to at least once a week back in my 20s. Luckily they have one in my current area as it is my favorite pizza. Though lately I have had to give up their signature thick crust for their thin crust version to try and stem the tide.

Greektown is great if you hit the right places, but again it's not an ethnic cuisine particularly special here when compared to other large cities.

Interesting take as I stick to Mykonos in Niles. The place my family would go to in Greek Town, Costa's, got "torched" a couple of years ago so I cant really speak for the rest as I havent been to them in many years. Though I do remember Greek Islands and Santorini on Halsted st. as being pretty authentic and pretty good.

Pretty much everything you want Chicago style food wise can be found outside of the city. If I were you I would find my way into the downtown area just to see it.

[TheGamer2]

Some of the best rib joints would be on the south or west sides, but also well out of your way. Though Ribs Unlimited on 79th near Racine would be worth the trip if you're feeling brave and adventerous. Definitely check out Portillo's and get an italian beef, italian sausage combo w/cheese and sweet peppers dipped. You will then know what heaven is like

[Zlax45]

I loved Gino's East....

[ScoopBrady]

Interesting take as I stick to Mykonos in Niles. The place my family would go to in Greek Town, Costa's, got "torched" a couple of years ago so I cant really speak for the rest as I havent been to them in many years. Though I do remember Greek Islands and Santorini on Halsted st. as being pretty authentic and pretty good.

The owners of Costa's opened up a new restaurant in Naperville and it is outstanding. It's close to 59 and 95th.

All good suggestions in this thread, Lancer. In all honesty it's hard to go wrong with food in the Chicagoland area. We should be called the city of big asses.

Definitely make sure you get pizza and an italian beef. The hot dog isn't completely necessary so don't feel you missed out if you don't get to it. Focus on the beef and pizza.

[Macca00]

My wife is going to a medical conference late next week in Chicago and I'm tagging along (daughter is going to spend a few days with the grandparents). We'll be staying downtown. This thread has been super useful for a good eats guide. Any suggestions for Museums and Galleries to check out?

Cheers,
L

[MizzouRah]

Gino's East and Giordonos are my two favorite pizza places in Chi town.

[RobVarak]

My wife is going to a medical conference late next week in Chicago and I'm tagging along (daughter is going to spend a few days with the grandparents). We'll be staying downtown. This thread has been super useful for a good eats guide. Any suggestions for Museums and Galleries to check out?

Cheers,
L

None of these are exactly insider info, but you can't go wrong with

http://www.msichicago.org/

http://www.artic.edu/

The Shedd Aquarium is also fantastic.

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/

Science and Industry is not in the Loop, but it's worth the trip. The Art Institute is one of my favorite places. I've been going for years and never get jaded about it. The place amazes me every time.

I'm not much for the art scene in the smaller galleries, but http://www.chicagoreader.com/ is the resource for the smaller events in music, art etc.

If you like jazz at all, I'd suggest planning a night around seeing a set at the Green Mill in Uptown. There are lots of cool little restaurants (check Zagat's or Citysearch) in the neighborhood and you can get a nice feel for a slice of the less touristy aspects of the City while seeing one of the world's legendary jazz venues.

I'd pick some neighborhood like that and try to get a mix of drinks/dinner/entertainment in one little spot. You can do the same sort of thing in Wicker Park, Ukrainian Village, Lakeview etc. and get out away from the Navy Pier/Millenium park vibe for a while. That's how I usually attack world-class cities when I travel, as I hate the feeling that I'm only seeing the same thing that 99% of visitors are seeing. It's so much easier to plan these little side-trips within the trip now that we have the internet at our disposal.

[Macca00]

Just wanted to say thanks for the suggestions - had a great time and ate like a king. You guys were right about Italian beef....I think I'm going to start drooling on my keyboard.