<p>Go see Second City, and then walk down to Gino’s East for some classic deep dish. SO good. The walk is very pretty with some old Chicago houses and Second City is phenomenal.</p>
<p>I second Gino’s East, but Lou Malnati’s is up there. Also, be sure to visit Hot Doug’s near California and Belmont (3300 North area). And if you want to venture out of the city limits, visit Freddy’s in Cicero on 16th St. and 61st Ave. (1600 South). Oh, and Greek restaurants are a must.</p>
<p>We’re a food city. Go to Taylor street and get some classic Polish with fried onions and mustard.</p>
<p>MofSci&Ind is amazing too, and it’s right by the UChicago campus.</p>
<p>If one is on Taylor street stop by Al’s No. 1 Italian beef. It is my absolute favorite sandwich, and only found in Chicago.</p>
<p>I also recommend Millennium Park, “The Bean” is cool and definitely have some Chicago deep dish pizza at Gino’s East.</p>
<p>My kids loved Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum.</p>
<p>This is right by the edge of the campus. Follow the link to a review by Check Please on PBS.</p>
<p>From the Check Please website: "A family owned Mediterranean Middle-Eastern restaurant that provides flavorful dishes at a great price. Classic menu offerings include hummus, falafel, schwarma, and kefta, along with more interesting fare in large portions. The chicken schwarma is a perfected family recipe. The juice is fresh squeezed and Middle Eastern coffees are brewed. Alcohol is BYOB. "</p>
<p>link: [WTTW</a> - Check Please! | The Nile - Hyde Park / University Of Chicago - Chicago, Illinois 60615](<a href=“http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?erube_fh=cp&cp.submit.restaurantDetail=1&cp.id=351]WTTW”>http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?erube_fh=cp&cp.submit.restaurantDetail=1&cp.id=351)</p>
<p>No ambiance, but good food, and well-placed to people watch by the campus.</p>
<p>Thanks again everyone.</p>
<p>If you’re willing to fork out about $40 or so (a bit pricey to some college students), some of these restaurants are so, so worth it: </p>
<p>avec (please get the hanger steak, you won’t regret it)
cafe lula (suckling pig, anyone? good veggie options too)
the gage (gastropub, one of the best)
frontera grill (apparently one of the best mexican restaurants in the country)
rose angelis (they had really good pasta IMO, but I’m not exactly the best judge)
the girl and the goat
purple pig</p>
<p>Also, for less pricier options, Kuma’s Korner is the most obscene burger joint ever, and Pheonix in chinatown is pretty good. Honestly I don’t think Chicago’s chinatown measures up to New York’s. </p>
<p>Options in hyde park are limited after the tragic demise of Calypso Cafe. I would say the only other places worth trying there are harold’s chicken for the sake of familiarizing yourself with an institution and the sit-down. I know there are pricer restaurants but if you’re going to splurge you might as well get out of hyde park. </p>
<p>Also, try to avoid going to thai 55, the snail, the Nile, or any restaurants on 55th for that matter. You’ll probably end up at each of these at least once, and that’s plenty in my opinion. Explore the ethnic neighborhoods - chinatown, Pilsen for tacos, and Argyle for Pho. Good stuff.</p>
<p>Ok - here is our plan:</p>
<p>Friday lunch at Portillos or Ginos Pizza.<br>
Walk down to the Pier, sight see - either the Aquarium or Field Museum.
Dinner at Riva Crabhouse at the Navy Pier.
Saturday - tour campus. Stop at Oriental Museum.
Lunch at the Nile.
Football Game at 1pm.
Dinner at Topolobampo.
Sunday, Brunch at the Signature Restaurant at the Hancock Tower.</p>
<p>Any final thoughts or recommendations = let me know! Thanks everyone for your input.</p>
<p>A question - with that schedule - should we each get the … Hop-on-Hop-Off pass? $31 for three days. There are six of us. We weren’t getting a car.</p>
<p>Can this bus get us to the campus? We are at the embassy at 600 n. state street.</p>
<p>thanks.</p>