By Kevin Henry, editor, Proofs
With the Chicago Midwinter Meeting approaching (and with Chicago’s reputation as one of the best restaurant cities in America), I asked some people what restaurants they would recommend in the Windy City. Below are some of their recommendations, along with some of mine. Feel free to add your own favorite places at the bottom of this article.
Pippins has the best Bloody Mary I've ever had. You can eat the olives they garnish with. — Kevin McGonigal, Patterson equipment specialist, Hartford, Conn.
Pippins Taverns
806 North Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611-2006
(312) 787-5435
Vivo has great food and "one" table above the crowd that Jordan and Oprah typically reserve — call ahead and it's yours. Also, Wildfire has great food and is a great value. It’s lots of fun for a group of four to six people and has great appetizers. — Scott Mahnken, director of sales and marketing, AMD Lasers
Vivo
838 West Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 733-3379
Wildfire
159 West Erie Street
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 787-9000
Sushisamba Rio is excellent and Frontera Grill is fabulous. It is difficult at best to get a table at Frontera. — Timothy St. Clair, territory manager in Evanston, Ill.
Sushisambo Rio
504 North Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 595-2300
Frontera Grill
445 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 661-0381
Trattoria #10 has great Italian food and drinks at reasonable prices for the downtown area. Try the ravioli with Maine Lobster ... Mmmm good! — Tom Batz, national sales manager, Aribex
Trattoria #10
10 North Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60602-4343
(312) 984-1718
Some of my personal choices…
Twin Anchors has the best ribs I’ve had anywhere. It’s not exactly the heart-smart menu, but the ribs and onion rings are hard to beat. It’s a small place, so be prepared to wait.
Twin Anchors
1655 North Sedgwick Street
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 266-1616
Epic Burger keeps me coming back every time I visit the Windy City. I’m a sucker for a good hamburger, and I’m never disappointed here. The burgers are never frozen and they’re hand-packed when you order them.
Epic Burger
517 South State Street
Chicago, IL 60605-1616
(312) 913-1373
Speaking of hamburgers, my boss sings the praises of Blackies. He tells me they have big juicy burgers on black bread, onion rings, and fat French fries, along with a full bar.
Blackies
755 South Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60605-1703
(312) 786-1161
Looking for a good steak? Look no further than Gene & Georgetti’s. It’s your classic Chicago steakhouse … crowded, loud, and full of big cuts of beef. Trust me, you’ll see plenty of your colleagues here during the meeting.
Gene & Georgetti’s
500 North Franklin Street
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 527-3718
Looking for a twist on the traditional Chicago pizza? Try Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company. The “pizza pot pie” (an individual serving "made from scratch" with triple-raised Sicilian bread-type dough and a homemade sauce) is hard to beat. You’re closer to Wrigley Field than the Loop at this establishment, but the ride is worth it.
Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company
2121 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-2672
Where would you suggest people eat while they’re in Chicago? Let us know by leaving feedback below.
