Trattoria Rosebud, greatest ravioli you will ever have. Then next night, right across the street, Giordanos for Deep Dish. Plan to gain about 5 pounds this trip
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I should have added that they had a great lobby bar pre-covid. Don't know what its like now.I'm a big fan of the Palmer House. Very classic architecture. Close to Lakeshore Drive if you are Ubering and you have a few options for the EL including the Red Line which will take you right to Evanston via The Purple Line. You transfer at Howard --- and by transfer just cross the platform.
You can also walk to Grant Park and the Lake Front from there. The south loop is easily accessible and if you're up for a walk you can easily walk up to River North and then Uber or take the El back to the hotel.
As a guy who has been out here for a decade. This is a damn good list. My favorite sandwich is a place near chinatown called Riccobenes, they have a bread steak sandwich thats freaking awesome. Prob one of my fave things to eat in the city.@RU9205
Burgers & Cocktail Joints
Au Cheval (West Loop)
The Loyalist (West Loop)
Scofflaw (Logan Square-ish)
Gilt Bar (River North)
Steaks (reserve early in this category)
Bavette’s (River North)
Maple & Ash (Gold Coast)
Swift & Sons (West Loop)
Gibson’s (Gold Coast)
Italian
Monteverde (West Loop)
Gibson’s Italia (Loop)
RPM Italian (River North)
Sappori Trattoria (Lincoln Park)
Pizza
Lou Malnati’s (various locations)
Pequods - I’m not a fan but people love it (Lincoln Park)
Piece (Wicker Park) - also a microbrewery
Pizza Lobo (Logan Square)
Misc
Twin Anchors (old town) - neighborhood rib joint; something of an institution
Big Star (Wicker Park) - if the weather is nice, this outdoor taco patio / bar is a scene
Revolution BrewPub (Logan Square) - Revolution is a big local brewery and they run a solid restaurant
Frontera Grill (River North) - Rick Bayliss spot has been popular for year
Edit: for your Thurs / Friday bar plans: from the River North spots you can hit a number of bars around Hubbard St and Clark St; you can bar hop in the west loop, but with a few exceptions it’s more of a cocktail scene so do some research beforehand to make sure you hit what you’re looking for; Gold Coast bar scene can also be pricey (nicknamed viagra triangle as a popular bar area there is known for mostly wealthy older men looking to spend on younger women); wicker park has a lot of bars along North Ave and Milwaukee Ave (and on Division a little to the south); wrigleyville is not on my list above but has more of a sloppy, post-college bar scene; if you do Twin Anchors, a good bar hop can also be done on nearby Wells St in old town
Generally speaking bars are open until 2am or 4am Fridays. Then they get a bonus hour on Saturdays. What area you going out in?What bars are opened late on fridays? Probably arriving at midnight
What area should i stay in for the train to the stadium?Generally speaking bars are open until 2am or 4am Fridays. Then they get a bonus hour on Saturdays. What area you going out in?
That hotel is haunted and the unrenovated rooms are gross. Plenty of other hotels in that area are nicer and in a similar price range. Personally, I like staying in River North. More action, better restaurants.I should have added that they had a great lobby bar pre-covid. Don't know what its like now.
Xoco is a fantastic, more casual option in the Rick Bayless family of restaurants.As a guy who has been out here for a decade. This is a damn good list. My favorite sandwich is a place near chinatown called Riccobenes, they have a bread steak sandwich thats freaking awesome. Prob one of my fave things to eat in the city.
Chicago is also known for our dogs, almost weird to think of eating them without the 300 toppings now. Everyone has their local hot dog place that's "bet" like how your local pizza place back home is "best". For beef Portillos is king unless you venture outside the city to a place called Johnnies beef in emlwood park.
FYI for the bar scene each part of the city has a different vibe and price tag. For simplicity
Lincoln Park- Depaul area is cheap and young, but some parts are nice and families
Gold Cost/ River North- $$$ slightly older crowd
Old Town- Nicer than Lincoln Park but not as nice as Gold Coast, real good mix and lots of bars
Wrigleyville- Used to be a disaster area but has been cleaned up, was like 23 year olds but unsure of late.
Bucktown/ Wicker/ Logan- more hipster areas but some great bars.
Some bars are open until 5am on Saturdays, nothing like leaving the bar as the sun comes out! Glad to field any q's if you have any guys.
The easiest play is stay off the red/ purple south of belmont. Old town is prob a good call. Lots of bars/ restaurants/ second city and right off the water/ parks.What area should i stay in for the train to the stadium?
Ask for a renovated room thenThat hotel is haunted and the unrenovated rooms are gross. Plenty of other hotels in that area are nicer and in a similar price range. Personally, I like staying in River North. More action, better restaurants.
As a guy who has been out here for a decade. This is a damn good list. My favorite sandwich is a place near chinatown called Riccobenes, they have a bread steak sandwich thats freaking awesome. Prob one of my fave things to eat in the city.
Chicago is also known for our dogs, almost weird to think of eating them without the 300 toppings now. Everyone has their local hot dog place that's "bet" like how your local pizza place back home is "best". For beef Portillos is king unless you venture outside the city to a place called Johnnies beef in emlwood park.
FYI for the bar scene each part of the city has a different vibe and price tag. For simplicity
Lincoln Park- Depaul area is cheap and young, but some parts are nice and families
Gold Cost/ River North- $$$ slightly older crowd
Old Town- Nicer than Lincoln Park but not as nice as Gold Coast, real good mix and lots of bars
Wrigleyville- Used to be a disaster area but has been cleaned up, was like 23 year olds but unsure of late.
Bucktown/ Wicker/ Logan- more hipster areas but some great bars.
Some bars are open until 5am on Saturdays, nothing like leaving the bar as the sun comes out! Glad to field any q's if you have any guys.
the renovated rooms aren't that much better. just easier to stay at a nicer hotel.Ask for a renovated room then
My once a decade input.. but Rush Street is known as the "Viagra Triangle" for a reason. If you want great looking younger women looking for a 'sugar daddy' that's the place. To be honest it was the IT spot in the 70's, 80's and early 90's.Rush street is where all the bars are. I would stay in the city and take the EL to Northwestern. Should be a great trip.
The Drake was great.. especially back in the day when I had meetings nearby at Playboy HQ :)Made my reservations at the Drake Hotel solely because of Mission Impossible.
no locals every call Chicago the Windy City.... or drink MalortHave a shot of Malört while there and pretend you like it to impress the locals lol.
ALSO: The Big Ten Conference was established in 1895 when Purdue University president James H. Smart and representatives from the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, and University of Wisconsin gathered at Chicago's Palmer House Hotel to set policies aimed at regulating intercollegiate athleticsThe Palmer House is surprisingly reasonably priced for such a nice hotel in the heart of downtown Chicago.
Taking the El is much more entertaining than Metra :)I'm a big fan of the Palmer House. Very classic architecture. Close to Lakeshore Drive if you are Ubering and you have a few options for the EL including the Red Line which will take you right to Evanston via The Purple Line. You transfer at Howard --- and by transfer just cross the platform.
You can also walk to Grant Park and the Lake Front from there. The south loop is easily accessible and if you're up for a walk you can easily walk up to River North and then Uber or take the El back to the hotel.
I don't know. I ordered the personal deep dish pizza from Lou's and I was disappointed. However, their salad was incredible. As far as deep dish pizza was concerned, Labriola's on Michigan Avenue blew Lou Malnati away.To those who have tried many pizza places in Chicago, Lou's might not be near the best there, but it is a necessary tourist stop
I went past many a pizza joints while in Chicago, and Lou's was always packed with a wait while other places near empty. Maybe mostly tourists
Understood. I had pizza at another place also and the crust was better at the other place. Lou’s is a place a tourist has to try once to check off that box on the tourist listI don't know. I ordered the personal deep dish pizza from Lou's and I was disappointed. However, their salad was incredible. As far as deep dish pizza was concerned, Labriola's on Michigan Avenue blew Lou Malnati away.
Going out there solo, planning to golf on Sunday if anyone is down
I've never had an issue or complaint when I stayed there. It's a hard to beat combination or price, location, and history.the renovated rooms aren't that much better. just easier to stay at a nicer hotel.
I might take you up on the Golf ( for Friday afternoon).
Planning on going out there solo as well for the game.
I’m biased, as I live in the Gold Coast, but I’d strongly recommend staying at the Claridge House on N. Dearborn or the Ambassador if prices are doable for you. Eduardo’s (right by Claridge) is some of the best Italian in the city, and the area of Division Street blocked off to traffic (between State and Dearborn) is filled with fun bars and cool outdoor seating and TVs filling the street on that block. The quick access to Lake Shore Drive and being north of “Downtown” (no official boundary) cuts 10-15 minutes off of your Uber ride, depending on traffic.
Most visitors stay in The Loop or New Eastside neighborhoods (south side of the river) or River North/Mag Mile/Streeterville (north side of the river), but Gold Coast is where it’s at. :) Only bad thing is there really isn’t a great way to get to Evanston, so prepare to sit in traffic. I go up and help paint the place orange whenever Illinois plays in Evanston for basketball.
Does anyone know which section will be the most Rutgers fans in the stadium?
I hope the Orrington has improved as part of the Hilton system. When it was independent, it was horrible and overpriced. The nearby Hilton Garden Inn was much better the last time I was in Evanston.The sections allotted to RU are 134-136.
For those with Hilton, rooms opened up at the Hilton Orrington Evanston if you wanted to stay near campus. Men's soccer also playing at NW Friday night.
I hope the Orrington has improved as part of the Hilton system. When it was independent, it was horrible and overpriced. The nearby Hilton Garden Inn was much better the last time I was in Evanston.
good luck!I believe your assumption is still true but I chose Orrington out of convenience given it's only one night. Just a place to sleep in town. Had a free night.
good luck!
Change to there also. Easy walk to game.I believe your assumption is still true but I chose Orrington out of convenience given it's only one night. Just a place to sleep in town. Had a free night.
It's a little less than a two-mile walk.Change to there also. Easy walk to game.
It's a little less than a two-mile walk.
That’s not bad at all. For Michigan we did close to 3 miles. With all the driving we will be doing in between Northwestern and Illinois, the more walking the better.It's a little less than a two-mile walk.