What to Eat in Chicago:
Sandwiches & Pizza:
Pequod’s
Chicago’s Best Deep Dish Pizza. The year was 1970. Hidden away on Fernald Avenue in Morton Grove, Illinois, Pequod’s Pizza started a cult following for its pan style pizza with a “caramelized crust” edge. So good even the guys from The Scathing Atheist loved it.
- Cecil says: “Seriously great pizza, Excellent ingredients. Well crafted. Worth a wait.”
- Tom says:
Spacca Napoli Pizzeria
For a decade, Spacca Napoli has made pizza faithful to the authentic Neapolitan style. Dough is tended daily as a blend of love and craft and baked in an oven built by third and fourth-generation artisans from Napoli.
- Cecil says: “For pizza puritans. This is what thin crust pizza should taste like.”
- Tom says:
Branko’s Sandwich Shop
Amazing sandwich shop!
- Cecil says: “Local Lincoln Park joint. Excellent gyros, Italian beef, and a great chicken sandwich. The owner — who is a lovely lady — who will strike up a conversation with all the customers.”
- Tom says:
Portillo’s
Beef, burgers, and salad!
- Cecil says: “Chicago standard. Hot dogs, burgers, Italian beef. It’s all good. I am not a fan of the Chocolate Cake Shake, but people love it. Get a Big Beef Combo with mozzarella cheese and hot giardiniera.”
- Tom says:
Niko’s Gyros
Specializing in gyros, traditional American favorites, and ice cream. Enough said right?!
- Cecil says: “Gyros made right. Dee-lish.”
- Tom says:
Mr. Beef on Orleans
Beef. It’s in the name.
- Cecil says: “This place is a great 3rd place beef joint in Chicago.”
- Tom says:
Carbon Live Fire Mexican Grill
Mexican food in Chicago. It’s good, trust us.
- Cecil says: “We order from this place about twice a month. The steak burrito or the steak quesadilla are amazing.”
- Tom says:
Beer:
Revolution Brewing
Their brewery has been a labor of love. You can see it in everything they do, from the beautiful details of the mahogany bar at the brewpub, to the massive beauty of their eight 800 barrel fermenters at the brewery, to the commitment to quality in each beer that they put in a can or a keg.
Lagunitas Tap Room
The Chicago Tap Room is nestled in the massive brewing facility and to get to the Tap Room, you’ll walk through a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-themed hallway. Great for groups and tours are available – be sure to book a tasting tour if you’re in Chi-town.
Goose Island
Visit the Goose Island production brewery where they celebrate craft, urban heritage, innovative spirit and their dedication to making great beer.
Fancier:
The Publican
The Publican’s eclectic menu is inspired by simple farmhouse fare in a space evocative of a European beer hall. Executive Chef Paul Kahan and Chef de Cuisine Cosmo Goss have developed a network of purveyors to supply the restaurant with hand-selected, sustainably-harvested fish and seafood as well as sustainably-raised heirloom pork to anchor a rustic menu of simple, eclectic fare.
- Cecil says: “We love the Publican. Gastropub feel. Loud. Great beer menu. Amazing meat. Try the flight of ham. And the fries with the egg on it. With a group of 4? Request to be seated in one of their stalls.”
- Tom says:
Bavette’s
A stylish departure from a traditional steakhouse, Bavette’s embraces French flair without the formality, blending fine dining with unabashed fun. Guests can indulge in timeless steakhouse fare, including seafood towers, richly flavorful ribeyes, classic side dishes, and house made desserts, paired with strong cocktails and a well-curated international wine list. The gilded space features red leather banquettes, glowing chandeliers, and lively jazz, with a speakeasy feel.
- Cecil says: “This place is astounding. Every dish was outstanding and the cocktails were out of this world. The service was top notch. Cool, dark, trendy place to have a nice drink and eat great food.”
- Tom says:
Piccolo Sogno
Piccolo Sogno (“little dream”) features a menu of fresh, seasonal rustic Italian cuisine with an impressive all-Italian wine list.
- Cecil says: “One of the best Italian places in town. Try the wild boar pappardelle. And the focaccia.”
- Tom says:
Merlo on Maple
The most sophisticated cuisine of the Bolognese region. Each item is homemade and prepared in the “slow food” method, using the highest quality products. Experience handmade pastas, sauces, grass-fed meats and wild, fresh-caught fish.
- Cecil says: “A great Italian place in an old mansion. Quality food, great service, and it is in a wonderful part of town.”
- Tom says:
Tortoise Supper Club
A Metropolitan Supper Club, serving Steaks, Chops and Seafood.
- Cecil says: “Everything was worth eating. Nice meal, great space. A very ‘Frank Sinatra’ atmosphere.”
- Tom Says:
Pelago
Redefines upscale Italian dining with a focus on homemade pastas and seafood. For every guest, Italian cuisine will be redefined. The traditions of Italian cooking from the North to the South of Italy have been translated with a local twist and modern cooking flair to create a contemporary menu for an outstanding culinary journey.
- Cecil says: “Really high end Italian. Excellent meal in a very nice part of town.”
- Tom says:
Girl & the Goat
Family style menu of tasty, bold flavored foods with global influence in a fun and lively setting that makes guests feel at home from the moment they walk in the door. To enhance the experience they offer a selection of wines from around the world.
- Cecil says: “If you can get a seat here you should. It is a great meal. Always packed but worth the crowds.”
- Tom says:
Purple Pig
Experience the exquisite cuisine of James Beard, Rising Star Chef 2014 – Jimmy Bannos Jr. As a fourth generation restaurateur, he was mentored by his father, Jimmy Bannos (Chef/Owner of Heaven on Seven) and catapulted his expertise through training by nationally renowned chefs.
- Cecil says: “Best roasted bone marrow in town. Very much like The Publican, a place that prides itself on good meat.”
- Tom says:
What to see in Chicago
Magnificent Mile The eight-block stretch of downtown North Michigan Avenue is Chicago’s premier shopping destination.
The Sky Deck Step outside the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. At 1,353 feet in the air, the Ledge’s glass boxes extend out 4.3 feet from the Skydeck.
Art Institute Museum
One of the oldest museums in the U.S., the Art Institute includes iconic works such as Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte — 1884, Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist, Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, and Grant Wood’s American Gothic. Its permanent collection of nearly 300,000 works of art is augmented by more than 30 special exhibitions yearly.
Adler Planetarium Within walking distance of The Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium and founded in 1930 by Chicago business leader Max Adler, the Adler Planetarium—America’s First Planetarium—is more than a museum; it is a laboratory, a classroom, and a community exploring the Universe together. Each year, nearly 570,000 visitors experience the museum’s interactive exhibitions, live planetarium shows, hands-on, minds-on STEM education programs, and world-class collections.
Field Museum – The Field Museum of Natural History, also known as The Field Museum, is a natural history museum, and is one of the largest such museums in the world. The museum maintains its status as a premier natural history museum through the size and quality of its educational and scientific programs, as well as due to its extensive scientific specimen and artifact collections. The Field Museum was primarily an outgrowth of the World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893. Within walking distance of The Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium
Transportation:
Chicago Transportation Authority – Save some dough and take the “el” (elevated train) or subway around town. It’s easy, cheap, and the trains run every few minutes.
City Pass – Save some money while touring all the hottest sites in Chi-town.