Chicago's trendiest restaurants and coolest bars?

[Mercutio]

Hi guys

I am visiting Chicago in March. I wonder if you can give me some advice on restaurants and bars? I would like a mix of places - some affordable restaurants for lunch and maybe one or two classy places for a treat. For instance give a good place to sample deep pan Chicago style pizza, a nice cheap bowl of Vietnamese pho, and maybe a trendy Japanese restaurant place for a special evening. For bars I want the sexiest cocktail bars frequented by the prettiest girls or perhaps a jazz bar since jazz is a Chicago speciality. I will be there Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights so bear in mind that I have only one busy weekend night (the Saturday) for somewhere lively.

Thanks....

[j korzeniowski]

Originally Posted by Mercutio

Hi guys

I am visiting Chicago in March. I wonder if you can give me some advice on restaurants and bars? I would like a mix of places - some affordable restaurants for lunch and maybe one or two classy places for a treat. For instance give a good place to sample deep pan Chicago style pizza, a nice cheap bowl of Vietnamese pho, and maybe a trendy Japanese restaurant place for a special evening. For bars I want the sexiest cocktail bars frequented by the prettiest girls or perhaps a jazz bar since jazz is a Chicago speciality. I will be there Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights so bear in mind that I have only one busy weekend night (the Saturday) for somewhere lively.

Thanks....

well, if your time is limited:

deep dish: go to where it was invented, the original uno's at 29 e ohio st.

trendy japanese: japonais which is located in the old (and massive) montgomery ward warehouse

pretty girls: luckily, you have a british accent, heh heh, and american girls love accents. to keep things central, you should visit rush st., though there are many good places for pretty girls in neighborhoods outside of the center like lincoln park, lakeview, wicker park, etc.

those are some quick answers, though i am sure you will get more. chicagoans love these types of questions, as i feel we, as chicagoans, feel our city is under-appreciated internationally, and thus love giving advice on our city to foreign travellers.

i hope you enjoy your time here, and i hope you get more answers ... i am short on time at the moment, but couldn't resist responding with at least a few answers.

cheers.

[Mercutio]

^ Thanks - that's a good start!

[Xing]

Check out Cabaret on the Near North Side, for some fine looking waitresses. I was only there for a short time though, it was Tuesday, and right after work... but honestly, with the waitress we had... I could have been there for days. Fishnet stockings and ... oh my goodness.

Overall though, I would look into Milwaukee Avenue (Wicker Park), off the Blue Line Damen Stop. You can just get off, and walk from the train station, and you'll probably find something interesting.

If you really want the Rush Street thing, then expect to pay a lot, long lines, crowds, tourists, and rich business people.

[brian_b]

For your pho, try out Tank Noodle (Pho Xe Tank Restaurant) at Broadway and Argyle, just a few steps from the Argyle stop on the Red Line El train on the north side of the city.

EDIT - you could make a little trip out of it. The Green Mill Jazz Lounge on Broadway is an easily walkable 2 or 3 blocks south on Broadway. Here's their schedule for March: http://www.greenmilljazz.com/phpBB2/cal_view_month.php?month=3&year=2007&category=

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by j korzeniowski

deep dish: go to where it was invented, the original uno's at 29 e ohio st.

actually, i would recommend NOT going to uno or due. i think their pizza is really unremarkable and bland. very overrated. i think things have changed since they've been bought out. their crust tastes like it came out of a pillsburry can. i would instead say go to a giordonos, or ginos east. both are much better pies IMO.

if you're looking for stuff to do and places to eat in the city, these are two good starting points
http://centerstage.net/
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/

[brian_b]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

actually, i would recommend NOT going to uno or due. i think their pizza is really unremarkable and bland. very overrated. i think things have changed since they've been bought out. their crust tastes like it came out of a pillsburry can. i would instead say go to a giordonos, or ginos east. both are much better pies IMO.

if you're looking for stuff to do and places to eat in the city, these are two good starting points
http://centerstage.net/
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/

Don't forget pizanos - I love their deep dish

[bnk]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

if you're looking for stuff to do and places to eat in the city, these are two good starting points
http://centerstage.net/
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/

You beat me to it. I would recomend metromix for vistiors and locals alike. Very useful site.

[trvlr70]

You're in for a culinary treat. Chicago currently has SEVEN 5-star restuarants...more than any other American city.

Alinea is the currect top, top choice.

[MNMike]

ginos east is awsome!, and you can usually get in fairly easily too. When in Chicago I think its necessary to get your deep dish with what I like to call the "sausage disk", and they do that well there. As a Frequent visitor I would definately put Ginos east at or near the top of my pizza list. But I am just a frequent visitor, not a local....

[Rykachet]

If you want a really good deep dish pizza, you have got to go to the Giordano's in Hyde Park. I'm not too up on the club scene though, the only bar i've been to is the teeny martini bar. And it definitely lives up to its name.

[Magnus1]

after you get your jazz buzz hit Soundbar.

[OhioGuy]

Is the bar at the top of the Hancock tower moreso a tourist destination or do locals also enjoy it? What a great night view it would have while you're sipping a martini.

[Mercutio]

Wow thatnks guys - some great tips there.

[hood]

I only know enough about Chicago to say Rush St, at least for the bar scene and nightlife.

Since there seem to be a lot of people who know about resturaunts in Chicago, what do all of you think about Lowrey's and the Chicago Chop House, next time I go there I want to try one or both.

[trvlr70]

Originally Posted by OhioGuy

Is the bar at the top of the Hancock tower moreso a tourist destination or do locals also enjoy it? What a great night view it would have while you're sipping a martini.

It is mostly a tourist stop. But locals quite enjoy going when tourists are in town. The views are some of the best in the world and this is not to be missed.

[Marcu]

For clubs, trying going to Weed Street. There are several that might interest you including the world famous crobar. It’s also a cool warehouse-like setting (being encroached by residential neighborhoods). Here is a link http://www.weedstreetdistrict.com/. Both Jet Vodka Lounge and Zentra are good clubs too just don't get there before 11 or 12. You can access the district off North/Clybourn red line stop (which is in bad need of rennovation).

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by trvlr70

It is mostly a tourist stop. But locals quite enjoy going when tourists are in town. The views are some of the best in the world and this is not to be missed.

plus its a better deal than going up to the standard observatory, which costs $11. its free to go up to the bar, even tho a beer will set up back around $8. you can pretty much sit by a window as long as you like and milk your drink and take in the views. just make sure you take the elevator to the 96th floor and not the 95th, which is the restaurant and requires a dress code, etc. the bar/lounge overlooks the restaurant.

[Flubnut]

Best steak house - David Burke's Primehouse, which opened just a few months ago. Chophouse & Gibson's are very good as well, and have been around so long they have major name recognition, but myself and my foodie friends think Burke's is the new standard.

Best deep-dish pizza - Lou Malnati's, because it has a completely unique taste to it. Uno's is the original, and the ambiance/service is better than Lou's, but the taste doesn't stand out. Gino's is probably as good as Uno's, but they're in the old Planet Hollywood space, so not exactly an old-world authentic Chicago atmosphere.

Best "attempt at an international dance club" - Soundbar. Huge space, uber sound system and lighting, but the crowd might not be exactly A-List clubgoers anymore. La Passage is still pretty happening as well.

Best High-End lounge - Reserve. Stupidly expensive and hard to get into, but that's the point. Underground is supposed to be quite the spot, when it actually opens.

Definitely hit the 96th floor bar in the Hancock, for just one drink. Totally worth the views. Just be warned that it's cloudy 95% of the time in winter!

Rush street is certainly the "more upscale" touristy area, as opposed to the Hard Rock area in River North. Tavern on Rush and Gibson's are the pinnacle of "seen and be seen", so grabbing a drink at either or both isn't such a bad idea.

I'm not sure I would recommend going to Wicker Park/Bucktown/Lincoln Park/Lakeview. Much of their character is lacking when it's cold out, and things are a bit more spread out.

OK, I've babbled more than enough...

[MNMike]

ginos was planet hollywood? When was that? Or maybe its a different location...the one I was at used to be a different italian place that closed last year(which was also good), and the ginos location just opened there within the past year or so. Its just east of Michigan, just south of the Hancock building...Anyway, tons of space so you can always get in

Another place I have found to be good is this little Italian place thats in the same building as the red roof inn(on the east side of the building, just off Michigan) believe it or not! Good food, atmoshpere, and not too expensive...can't remember the name though. Sorry, not to get off topic..I do love Chicago and eating in Chicago