Comments on: Good food in Chicago?

Question: Good food in Chicago?

ztdavis — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:41:42 -0800

Where are your favorite places to dine in Chicago? Romance is preferred, good food is a must, and I'd like to spend less than $100 for my wife and I.

We'll be in the loop, so near downtown but don't worry about that too much.

There were good answers back in February, but many of those were above my price point.

By: SpiffyRob

SpiffyRob — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:56:35 -0800

Hate to chime in so early with more remote locations, but I figure others will take care of downtown better than I can.

Va Pensiero in Evanston remains the finest Italian food I've had. It's quite cozy, but not particularly loud. Tables are far enough away from each other that you don't feel like someone's going to knock over you wine. Amazing menu, impeccable service, and reasonable prices. (Less so with the wine, though there are plenty of good inexpensive bottles as well. I just find it tough to stay away from some of their nicer bottles.) Plenty of parking, including valet if you want it, or just a few blocks walk from the Davis Metra or CTA.

If you can fudge the 100 dollar tab, go with The Stained Glass, also in Evanston. Possible to stay under 100 dollars, but not if you take in the best part, the wine flights. Given that you're looking for cheaper, I'll not tempt you and leave you to your own devices if you want to find out more.

By: true

true — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:05:27 -0800

Rose Angelis - you can probably keep it under $100, especially if you go on 1/2 price wine Tuesdays.

By: felix betachat

felix betachat — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:17:10 -0800

Lula Cafe has a range of menu choices and can easily and happily be enjoyed by two for less than $100. Also, it's got fantastic food.

Also, "price point" is a horrible turn of phrase. The English language is too beautiful to be marred by the argot of the stockroom.

By: gregchttm

gregchttm — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:24:25 -0800

Not super cheap (but much cheaper than the equivalents) is Rosebud Steakhouse. Just north of the Hancock, a quick walk or cab from the Loop. My wife and I were there last weekend and had a fantastic meal. Vegetarians need not apply.

By: irie1972

irie1972 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:26:24 -0800

Try this forum http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewforum.php?f=28&sid=a48a65753340aaa1ec45d4583cebb4cf

it has fantastic places to try and is read by many people in Chicago.

By: ISeemToBeAVerb

ISeemToBeAVerb — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:36:33 -0800

I Second Lula Cafe even though it was in your first post. If you can go on a Monday they have a prix-fixe dinner that is a very reasonable 28.00 per person, dinner should still be affordable any other night though.

By: Roach

Roach — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:46:25 -0800

Twin Anchors?

By: felix betachat

felix betachat — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:49:59 -0800

Twin Anchors?

Only if your vision of "romance" includes bibs.

By: the luke parker fiasco

the luke parker fiasco — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:37:33 -0800

I absolutely third Lula, but keep in mind that they're a small establishment that doesn't take reservations. After they got "outed" by news reports and 'Check Please!' they became considerably more crowded. That being said, for two people the wait shouldn't be too bad, and they have a nice bar where you can booze it up for a bit if you like.

Lula's not near downtown, but an easy jaunt on the O'Hare Blue Line to the Logan Square stop, and you can practically see the restaurant from the exit.

If you want someplace nearer downtown, Bistro 110 has good, reliable French food, a nice atmosphere, but can be a bit touristy.

By: MeetMegan

MeetMegan — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:41:04 -0800

Also, ask your concierge. For romance, I like Rosebud too. Quartino and Osteria Via Stato are beautiful, both on the near north side. You may also want to check out almost any of the myriad Lettuce Entertain You places.

I am on my palm so I can't link right but if you google you will find them.

By: me3dia

me3dia — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:36:51 -0800

Romantic near downtown: Vermilion, Aigre Doux.

By: dnash

dnash — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:37:50 -0800

One of my favorite places in town is Brasserie Jo. It's fabulous, but un-stuffy French food. I will say that between wine, starter, main and dessert I think it usually comes in around $60/person, which is slightly above what you asked.

If you like Mexican - by which I mean real authentic Mexican cuisine, not just Tex-Mex tacos - one of Chicago's most famous chefs is Rick Bayless who has two restaurants -Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. They're right next to each other. Frontera Grill is slightly less fancy than the other. But I loved it there.

By: nax

nax — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:39:44 -0800

Lula is great (and worth the wait). You might try the Fireside Inn on Ravenswood. It's also a bar, but it's got cozy and romantic out-of-the-way rooms and decent (if unexciting) food. A big plus is that it's really a neighborhood place, completely free of foodies and poseurs (I guess the foodies don't come out for the unexciting food, go figure). I've always thought the bar half would be a great place for a meet-up for us northsiders.

By: nax

nax — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:40:13 -0800

oops. sorry, not near downtown. my bad.

By: lester

lester — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:46:30 -0800

trattoria caterina was a small place where i met my wife for our first date. i think it meets your needs exactly.

By: sandmanwv

sandmanwv — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:06:11 -0800

I dont' go to nice restaurants, but I've heards tons of people talk about Le Colonial, a Vietnamese/French restaurant in the Gold Coast. Entrees are in the mid to low 20s.

By: MeetMegan

MeetMegan — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:28:18 -0800

And speaking of Trattoria, try Trattoria No. 10. And here are links to the ones I mentioned in my earlier answer.
Rosebud
Quartino
Osteria Via Stato
Lettuce Entertain You

By: slmorri

slmorri — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:59:50 -0800

Bistro Campagne is our favorite romantic place. It's in Lincoln Square, about 20 minutes from downtown via cab (except at rush hour - don't even try it then). My fiance declared it the best lamb he'd ever had; I've heard their signature chicken dish is fabulous; and I love the french onion soup.

By: crush-onastick

crush-onastick — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:37:48 -0800

Frontera and Topolambopo (whatever your opinion of the food) will not be romantic. They're very crowded, always, and you will get hustled to the bar if you linger over coffee and dessert. They're polite about it, but they have to turn those tables because of the crowds.

I don't know what defines romance for you, but I'm fond of the Atwood Cafe at the Hotel Burnham (they do a lovely sazerac at the bar). You'll need a reservation. I also rather like the The Tasting Room west of the loop, which has a really nice view of the skyline, and I think is romantic. I've snacked there, but never had any of the entrees.

By: felix betachat

felix betachat — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:18:16 -0800

Oh man, listen to crush-onastick. The Atwood Cafe is great. Paired with a visit to the symphony or at a show downtown, it makes for a near-perfect night. Even without those, its art deco interior is really splendid. You'll get better french food at Brasserie Jo, but the Atwood has a feeling that BJ can't match.

By: parkerjackson

parkerjackson — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:53:53 -0800

Cyrano's Bistrot is cozy and very French. The food was yummy. I was with my sister, but we agreed that with other company, it would be very romantic. We made it out under $60 with no wine, so I think it meets the price requirement. We made reservations through OpenTable.

+1 for Quartino for good food and atmosphere, but I wouldn't call it strictly romantic. It felt just like a European bistro, so I guess that in itself is romantic for most, but it was kind of noisy and family-oriented for my tastes. Again, I was with little sis, so I can't judge. The price was very reasonable.

By: AceRock

AceRock — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:28:29 -0800

Sweets and Savories, winner of a Great Neighborhood Restaurant award a couple years in a row, is excellent. Romantic, small, cozy, with exposed brick walls. Location is west Lincoln Park. They have great food (and great desserts), great wine, and have one of the best deals in the city: Their $60 tasting menu, which you could pay twice the amount for at another restaurant in the city of comparable quality. Pictures of the food can be found here (warning: these will make you extremely hungry).

By: garlic

garlic — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:25:09 -0800

Shanghai Terrace inside the Penninsula hotel is probably my favorite place to eat downtown.