[ot] Weekend trip to Chicago-restaurant reviews as requested

[Buttercup]

My husband & I are going to Chicago in a few days for a long weekend. Mainly, we're going to the Art Institute to see the Michelangelo exhibit, but we will have lots of time to do other stuff. We're staying at the Omni on Michigan Ave, and although we have a car, we'd rather not drive around too much, since we consider Chi-town traffic a nightmare. A cab is possible though.

Do any of you have recommendations for two gamers? Is there a good gaming shop around the center of town somewhere? Nifty museums or places a gamer would like? Heck, what restaurants do you recommend? We've been there several times before, but we know we've missed lots of good stuff.

 

[Enforcer]

Restaurants:

-Ben Pao's--great pan-Asian (though mostly Chinese) food and the top of my list for a reason. Best scallops I've ever had.

-Heaven on Seven--excellent cajun food.

-Frontera Grill (I think that's the name)--good Mexican.

-Italian Village--actually three separate restaurants, varied by price range. All are good, though Vivere (the priciest) is obviously the best.

-Shaw's Blue Crab House--freshest seafood you can get in Chicago, flown in daily. Their crab legs are worth every one of the roughly 5000 pennies they charge, though they have entrees in the $20 range as well. If you like oysters, Shaw's is your place.

-Beinlich's--actually in a suburb of Chicago near where I'm from (Northbrook, I believe). It's a "bar that serves food for the convenience of its drinking patrons." Still the best hamburger anywhere.

-Weber Grill--Uh, they grill meat there. And it's damn tasty.

-Cafe Babareeba (spelling?)--a Spanish tapas bar, though they also cook a mean paella. A word of advice, they have a cold sausage tapa that has both red-looking and black-looking sausage slices on it. I hated the black kind. Emilio's is also quite good for tapas.

There are plenty more; Chicago is freaking huge! But those I can vouch for personally (I can vouch for others too, just ask me). You're also staying at a pretty nice hotel, I think, ask your concierge.

As for museums and such, the Art Institute also has a fabulous arms and armor gallery, don't miss it! The Field Museum can't be beat for dinosaurs and bugs and such. I haven't been to the Shedd Aquarium in a long while, but I remember it fondly. The Adler Planetarium can be fun too. The Museum of Science and Industry has an Omnimax (or maybe Imax, I can't recall) theatre, which is pretty cool as well.

 

[William Ronald]

Here are some of a life long Chicago area resident's recommendations. Mind you, my tastes are varied.

Tecalitlan: Incredible Mexican food. Order a liquada (fruit based drinks reminiscent of old fashioned fountain shop shakes.). Everything, especially the steak and the world class salsa, is excellent.

Little Italy: Stretching from Morgan to Ashland on Taylor Street, there are many fine Italian restaurants here and nearby. If you go north about two blocks on Morgan and about two blocks west, you will find Tuffano's which is reasonably priced and quite good.

Lindy's Chili/Gertie's Ice Cream: Various neighborhood locations. Great chili. Terrific home made ice cream.

If you visit the Museum of Contemporary Art, Puck's (owned by Wolfgang Puck) is inside the museum and has a great brunch.

Of course, there are many fine ethnic restaurants. Choose a cuisine and you will find someone making it in Chicago.

Mark knows the downtown gaming shops better than I do. There is a Gamer's Paradise in Century Mall (2400 North Block of Broadway.) If you can drive to Mount Prospect, you might want to visit Games Plus, the site of all 3 EN World Chicago game days.

If you go to Oak Park, there is a Hobbytown USA at Lake Street and Forest Avenue.

You might want to visit www.metromix.com for some restaurant information.

 

[johnsemlak]

I'm not/never was a Chicago resident, but...

Go to Hyde Park, for interesting Humanities bookshops/museums/'feel'. It's the U of Chicago campus.

on 57th street, IIRC, there is a good Italian/Student place called Medici. In my experience, the food is good and the service is less so.

The Seminary Coop bookshop, actually a U of Chicago student bookshop, is the best academic/humanities oriented bookshop in the Midwest. It's literally an underground labyrinth of books.

The used bookshops are definitely worth a tour. Great place to look for old fantasy novels or anyting history-related. Start at 57th street and work around.

And finally, visit the Oriental History Musuem. It's one of the best/the best Near-Eastern history museums in the country. It's largely exhibits of University of Chicago archeological expeditions.

That's my advice. If someone has been to the area more recently than me (I was last there in the mid 90s but plan to go this xmas ), please add.

edit: Hyde Park is adjacent to the Museum of Science and Industry, so it's a convenient combo.

Also, drive up or down Lakeshore drive at night. One of my favorite drives.

 

[Buttercup]

Good suggestions, all! Any others?

I'm going to print out this thread and take it with me.

 

[Tsyr]

If your going to be anywhere in the vicinity of the Sears Tower or similar, you owe it to yourself to try Gino's East of Chicago pizza... eaten at any of the other "Gino's", so I can't speak to what they are like (I assume similar, but I could be way off)... Yeah, it's just a pizza place, but it's amazing pizza.

My chicago experience is limited, though, I'm afraid... only been there twice now. Enjoyed it both times, though.

 

[kobold]

For the best eating experiance in Chicago you must go to Fogo de Chao. Its a Brazilian steak house that just recently opened. The service is out of this world and the food is even better, there may be a bit of a wait- its located at 661 N. Lasalle so its a short cab ride from where your staying. For 2 expect about $100 for food and drinks and tip -a bit pricey but well worth it-as long as your still eating they keep bringing you meat.
There hasn't been a good gaming store in Chicago city limits in years-sad but true. Mt Prospect has the best game store in the state.
Navy Pier is also a fun tourist trap with Dinosaurs and a giant Farris (sp?) Wheel that should still be open.

 

[Dinkeldog]

Hey Buttercup. My recommendation is the Museum of Science and Industry. Great hands-on place.

 

[Buttercup]

-as long as your still eating they keep bringing you meat.

My husband is just gonna love this.

 

[Tsyr]

Hey Buttercup. My recommendation is the Museum of Science and Industry. Great hands-on place.

Been there. I'll second that. Awsome place.