The obvious answer is Chez Quis

July 7, 2010 10:28 PM

Looking for downtown chicago dining recommendations

Criteria:
• Walkable from the Palmer House Hilton (E Monroe St & S Wabash Ave)
• Reasonably nice, but not crazy fancy ($15–20 entrées)
• Not too loud to converse with a couple friends on a Saturday night
Bonus points:
• Good drink specials
• Unique cuisine or atmosphere

posted by Cogito to Food & Drink (10 answers total)

The Grand Lux Cafe is not too bad. It's owned by Cheesecake Factory, but is RIGHT on Michigan Ave. The food is NOT bad at all. (I used to end up there often, as an ex worked there).

Elephant and Castle (reccomended by my boyfriend.)

Cafe Iberico. EXCELLENT tapas.
posted by bibliogrrl at 11:55 PM on July 7, 2010

Berghoff is right around the corner from Palmer House, is quintessential Chicago (the oldest restaurant in Chicago, they claim; the restaurant was rebuilt after the great fire), has classic German/Armenian food - not so great for vegetarians - and is generally great. They also brew their own beer and root beer. The beer isn't what you might expect from a modern brew pub, but the "Berghoff dark" especially is a perfectly acceptable, drinkable beer.

Full disclosure: I had my wedding there, so it holds a special place in my heart. I love Berghoff. You have to go there if you're staying at Palmer House. Really.
posted by misskaz at 12:41 AM on July 8, 2010

The Purple Pig meets all of your criteria, except I don't think they have drink specials. Good food. Fun place. Popular. They don't take reservations. Location is across the steet (sort of) from the Tribune Tower.
posted by Short Attention Sp at 4:12 AM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Friends of mine like the Gage, which is practically right outside your hotel. They have good drinks apparently too. Berghoff and Purple Pig are good recommendations too.
posted by kickingtheground at 6:45 AM on July 8, 2010

You're not doing yourself any favors with those location requirements. The best you're going to get around there is 'not bad'.
posted by mike_bling at 7:16 AM on July 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Berghoff closed and reopened recently and it's not what it used to be. The Gage is probably your best bet. Lockwood is in the Palmer House and might be a little too pricey, but it's pretty great. For something more unique, maybe Russian Tea Time.

On preview, mike_bling is right. There are SOOO many great restaurants in Chicago just steps away from an el stop.
posted by Xalf at 7:20 AM on July 8, 2010

I love the Gage but damn, is it noisy. Especially on weekends. I only go the Gage when I don't mind only being able to talk to the person next to me and not across the table.

I think Atwood Cafe is just above your price range but it's quiet and has good drinks. If you like Italian, Trattoria 10 is nearby and also quiet. Full bar, but no drink specials. South Water Kitchen is one of my favorite restaurants in the Loop--they have special drinks which rotate, but they are not drink specials in the sense of "half-price martinis on Friday". I don't know the price range, but Fulton's on the River has interesting cocktails and if you can sit on the river, has a really nice view.
posted by crush-onastick at 7:34 AM on July 8, 2010

I had a great Sunday brunch at The Gage right across from Millenium Park. It gets pretty good reviews.

For lunch, I also really liked Terzo Piano right in the Art Institute... run by Chef Tony Mantuano, of 4-star Italian restaurant, Spiaggia fame. You don't have to eat at the museum to dine there.
posted by madamjujujive at 9:49 AM on July 8, 2010

I'll second Cafe Iberico, but it ain't that quite. Great food and fun atmosphere. And who doesn't like tapas?
posted by qwip at 2:18 PM on July 8, 2010

Another tapas place that my husband and I like: Mercat a la Planxa, 638 S. Michigan Ave. Maybe a little above your price range.
posted by Joleta at 6:05 PM on July 8, 2010