Eat Drink Chicago!
A few years back, a friend was visiting Chicago and asked me what to eat.
Venteux Brasserie
A French brasserie in the Art Deco Carbide & Carbon Building on Michigan Avenue, with a cafe counter for pastries and coffee.
Luke's Italian Beef
An old-school Loop grease joint feeding the office lunch crowd for more than 30 years. Well-seasoned gravy on a bun that holds up.
Pizano's Pizza & Pasta
Opened in 1991 by a son of Pizzeria Uno's founder. The buttery, crackly thin crust with caramelized edges is the draw.
Exchequer Restaurant & Pub
A family-owned Loop pub serving deep dish since 1969, in a space said to be a former Capone speakeasy. An easier table than the big-name deep dish spots.
Cindy's
The rooftop bar atop the Chicago Athletic Association hotel, looking straight over Millennium Park and the lake. The Loop's drink-with-a-view.
Momento Cantina
A big, pink, high-energy cantina pressing its own blue corn tortillas. Some of the best Mexican food in the Loop and an easy pre-theater pick.
The Gage
A gastropub across from Millennium Park whose venison burger, piled with grilled onions, has been a downtown favorite for years.
Gino's East (Superior St)
A deep dish name since 1966. The golden cornmeal crust is what sets it apart from the other big deep dish houses.
Butch McGuire's
The Division Street saloon that opened in 1961 and calls itself Chicago's original singles bar. A proper Irish pub with a solid burger and famously over-the-top Christmas decorations.
La Fournette
A French bakery on Wells run by a Strasbourg-born baker, known for flaky croissants and baguettes that taste like the real thing.
Nookies on Wells
A no-frills neighborhood diner from a Chicago brunch family going back to 1973. Big plates, a long menu and a line of locals.
Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern
An Old Town tavern serving slow-cooked ribs since 1932, in an 1881 building that was a Sinatra hangout. The old corner-bar feel is half the reason to go.