Chicago Restaurant Tips by shrimp56

Restaurant Name: NoMi

One of the finest restaurants in Chicago -- NoMi stands for North Michigan. The chef has recently changed to Christophe David and the Chicago Tribune responded by upping the "stars" to 3 1/2. It remains a really special dining option in Chicago.
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The food is excellent and the service classically unobtrusive. If you get lucky you will get a table in the protruding curved window with a view of the Water Tower.

Favorite Dish: This was before my picture-taking days -- I just remember wonderful tastes, including some asparagus that was divine!

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Address: Park Hyatt Hotel, Michigan Ave.
Directions: Just west of Water Tower.

Restaurant Name: The Berghoff Restaurant

The main restaurant of Berghoffs is closing on February 28, 2006.
The bar will reopen under another name and the cafe will remain open, but the old panelled dining room will become a space for private catered parties.
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You miss German food and beer? You want to get service on the grumpy side? This is the place.

Favorite Dish: The pictured salmon dish was typically Berghoff -- fruit yes, but check out the sauce!

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Theme: German/Austrian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: (312) 427-3170
Address: 17 West Adams, Chicago, Illinois
Website: http://www.berghoff.com/

Restaurant Name: Atwood Café

Excellent seasonal dishes, crisply prepared & presented, served in the modern and elegant lobby restaurant at the Burnham Hotel. This hotel is a stunning renovation of the old Reliance Building designed by ... Daniel Burnham:)


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Theme: American
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 312.368.1900
Address: 1 West Washington St.
Directions: "catty-corner" from Marshall Field's on State Street.
Website: http://www.burnhamhotel.com/html/AtwoodCafe.htm

Restaurant Name: The Atwood Café

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Favorite Dish: In the foreground is a bagel with cream cheese, salmon and all the fixings. Behind is a roasted vegetable sandwich

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Theme: American
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: Ben Pao

This is a strikingly decorated space -- in lacquer red and black & grays. When the two water walls are working there is a surprisingly calm atmosphere for a restaurant that attracts families and groups. The name means "fireworks".

Favorite Dish: The 7 flavor chicken and any of the soong appetizers where you wrap stuff in lettuce!.
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They also do "satay" with just about everything you can imagine from the expected meat to Portobella mushrooms!

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 312-222-1888
Address: 52 W. Illinois St.
Directions: Only a couple of blocks off Michigan Ave and very near NORDSTROMS!
Website: http://www.benpao.com/

Restaurant Name: Ben Pao

The bar at Ben Pao is as elegantly decorated as the restaurant and makes a great place to wait for friends. It's right next to the very soothing "water pillar" and just across the way from the "satay bar", where you can get just about anything marinated and grilled on a stick with a nice sauce:)
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UPDATE: The satays remain on the menu, but the Satay Bar as been replaced by an area where they are serving "hot pots"


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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum

Address: 52 W. Illinois St.
Directions: Corner of Dearborn & W. Illinois

Restaurant Name: Cafe Iberico

A very popular restaurant just east of the River North gallery scene. The tapas are excellent and fairly priced. There are several rooms -- some very big indeed! It's noisy and bustling -- a great place for a VT GTG :) [The sangria's on me:)]

Favorite Dish: PINCHO DE POLLO Chicken brochette with caramelized onions and rice ... mmmmmmm

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Theme: Other
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 312 573 1510
Address: 739 N. LaSalle
Website: http://www.cafe-iberico.com/

Restaurant Name: Allen's - The New American Cafe

Open just since Nov. 2002, Allen's is a lovely simple Prairie-style space with tasty fresh food that is well presented and served. In the summer there is a very nice outside eating area.


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Theme: American
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 312.587.9600
Address: 217 W. Huron
Directions: It's on one of the 2 main River North gallery streets, just a block before the main cluster.
Website: http://www.allenscafe.com/

Restaurant Name: Allen's - The New American Cafe


Favorite Dish: Essentially a yellow tomato gazpacho with drizzled vintage balsamic vinegar. It was garnished with small bits of red tomato and cucumber. DELICIOUS!

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Theme: American

Address: 217 W. Huron

Restaurant Name: The Weber Grill Restaurant

Guess what -- this restaurant features grilled food -- the ubiquitous round kettle grill is more of a decorative element outside than inside the restaurant, but almost everything on the menu spends some time on one of the charcoal grills.

It's a very popular restaurant, with reason. The food is good and the prices are relatively low. A reservation is a must on the weekends. I do need to note though that the noise level makes it impossible to hold a conversation. So it's a great place for children. No one will hear them.

Favorite Dish: In our party we had the Caribbean Jerk Chicken, The BleuBurger and the BBQ sampler. All were very tasty, although the BBQ sampler was, according to our friends from Louisville, KY, not up to what they get down there. Everything was appropriately grilled. We didn't try the desserts though.

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Theme: American
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (312) 467-9696
Address: 539 N. State St.
Directions: On the first floor of the Hilton Garden Inn.
Website: http://www.webergrillrestaurant.com/index.html