<p>Well, I figured the Chicago unifieds needed a thread like this too. Gonna be staying at the Palmer House, it would be nice to know what decent, not too expensive restaurants are within walking distance to the hotel, or at least a short cab ride.</p>
<p>You'll love the famous Italian Village on Monroe</p>
<p>Ok, maybe this is too cliche', but where's the best deep dish pizza... ?</p>
<p>The original is by the Tribune and Wrigley building, lower level. You can't go to Chicago without going there. Definitely not expensive. And the food was great!</p>
<p>What we loved about Chicago, you could get a cab easily, and the fare was so cheap!</p>
<p>There was also a great restaurant between our hotel, the Blackstone, and the Field Museum, that I think was called Yolks. It was on Michigan Avenue, so probably an easy cab ride. It had great omelets and was so good. </p>
<p>And of course, there's always pizza!</p>
<p>Gino's East deep dish is by far the best. Don't think you will want to walk, but it's a quick cab ride</p>
<p>Oh, Katie's Dad, you beat me to it! We went to two different pizza places, and we're still arguing over who was the best.</p>
<p>Lou Malnati's versus Giordano's. Both multiple locations. We loved both of them!</p>
<p>We also went to First Street Diner (not sure of the name) and Wabash Tavern (also not sure of the name, open late and we were hungry). Didn't have pizza there, but got a great breakfast at the diner and great burgers at the tavern.</p>
<p>Also went to a place I think called Cio's, an Italian restaurant whose back room had a history as a speakeasy. Found out about it in a guidebook. Don't know where it was. Had a cab take us there. </p>
<p>All our cab rides for eating out were less than twenty bucks, with three people. It costs us that to get to the New Orleans Airport that's only ten minutes away. We got so spoiled by the cabs, we didn't even take the free trolley or the el.</p>
<p>We didn't make it to Gino's East. Ran out of time and still had leftovers from previous pizza excursions. </p>
<p>Thanks for reminding me of that one!</p>
<p>If you're planning on staying at Palmer House, I would also suggest buying breakfast foods to keep in the hotel room because breakfast at the hotel restaurant cost upwards of $20. And it will be SOOOO cold that a trek out in the morning might not be the best idea.</p>
<p>And the "The Gauge" was the most amazing restaurant I've ever eaten at. Ask the concierge, they suggested it!</p>
<p>I live in the suburbs of Chicago. We like Lou Malnati's for pizza or Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due are good also. Fado is an Irish pub that serves good food. We really like Heaven on Seven (not Chicago style food though New Orleans). Wildfire is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant but still one of my favorites. I have heard wonderful things about RL Cafe. If you're adventurous and go up to Bucktown, we ate pizza at Piece last weekend (featured on Check Please - Barack Obama went there) and the pizza and microbrew beer was great. I'm a big fan of Dunlay's (both in Lincoln Park and Logan Square). Enjoy - you definitely won't go hungry in Chicago.</p>
<p>I agree with eating breakfast in the room. Besides the $ savings, it makes the mornings (which can feel stressful as the kids warm up and get ready for their day) easier. We brought instant oatmeal (and plastic bowls and spoons) with us, and ran water through the coffee maker to heat it. There is a CVS just around the corner, so we bought OJ (which we kept cold in the room) and bananas to have for breakfast as well.</p>
<p>If you are staying on the Tower floors there will be plenty to eat for breakfast. Also great fruit, appetizers,veggies, and snacks. Water out 24/7.</p>
<p>yeah, at several poster's recommendations last year, we reserved an executive level room for our stay, so our breakfasts should be covered.</p>
<p>but now the important question.... where's the closest starbucks!?
edit - nevermind, just checked starbucks website and found there's one in the hotel - nice
Starbucks</a> Store Locator</p>
<p>Lots of good suggestions though, thanks! I'll have to make a list and google them all</p>
<p>Well, Started a list from all your suggestions, feel free to add and comment further. thanks!</p>
<p>Italian</a> Village Restaurants</p>
<p>Billy</a> Goat Tavern - Enter at Your Own Risk</p>
<p>[Home[/url</a>]</p>
<p>[url=<a href="http://featuredfoods.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/a-store/c-GinoAns_East.shtml?E+scstore+ginos%5DGino's">http://featuredfoods.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/a-store/c-GinoAns_East.shtml?E+scstore+ginos]Gino's</a> East](<a href="http://www.yolk-online.com%5DHome%5B/url">http://www.yolk-online.com)</p>
<p>Lou</a> Malnati's Pizzeria - Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza</p>
<p>Giordano's</a> World Famous Stuffed Pizza</p>
<p>Wabash</a> Tap : Your Neighborhood Bar in the South Loop</p>
<p>Welcome</a> To The Gage!</p>
<p>Heaven</a> on Seven</p>
<p>Wildfire</a> Restaurant Home</p>
<p>Piece</a> Brewery & Pizzeria | Dine In or Carry Out :: Chicago</p>
<p>Dunlays</a> On Clark</p>
<p>For a quick breakfast or coffee there is also a Corner Bakery Cafe - it's just out the front door of the Palmer House and on the corner (!)</p>
<p>We like Russian Tea Time, right around the corner from Palmer House, on Adams just off Michigan Ave, especially in cold weather. Black currant tea, beef barley soup, great ladtkes, beet/carrot salad, numerous vegetarian options like buckweat stuffed cabbage, also many big hearty entres like Chicken Kiev.</p>
<p>BEST PIZZA: GINOS PIZZA
BEST ITALIAN: Little Village or something. Whatever its called. Down the street across from Jersey Bous.
BEST MCDONALDS: Around the building across from the 711.
BEST ICECREAM: Giradelli Chocolate Factory Shop Place.</p>
<p>GREAT CLASSICAL FOOD: Bistro...ah crap. It's a good place near the Wicked Theatre.</p>
<p>Two more recommendations: Chicago has GREAT Greek restaurants. Ask the concierge for a recommendation in "Greek town." Also, there is a well-known restaurant called Ed Debevic's--sortof a Mel's Diner place with huge portions and waiters/waitresses who like to tease, make fun of, and engage with their customers. I imagine they might be acting students....My son and I enjoyed both excursions last year.</p>
<p>Tom are you thinking of Pellegrino's on the corner? Really liked that restaurant. Also in one week we ate 3 or more times at Italian Village. Giordano's deep dish was amazing! Did not care for the Rosebud on the main street.</p>
<p>I love in Chicago and on Rush street there are a bunch of good restaurants. Hugo's Frog Bar and Gibsons. Tavern on Rush and Rosebud. Greek town is great. Greek Islands is wonderful. Coco Pazzo for Italian. Joes seafood and steak is my favorate restaurant. Carnivale is latin and fun and they have music and you can salsa. I hope this helps</p>