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
Northwestern/Chicago Trip
- Thread starter RU9205
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I should have added that they had a great lobby bar pre-covid. Don't know what its like now.
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- $$$ slightly older crowd
Old Town- Nicer than Lincoln Park but not as nice as Gold Coast, real good mix and lots of bars
Wrigleyville- Used to be a disaster area but has been cleaned up, was like 23 year olds but unsure of late.
Bucktown/ Wicker/ Logan- more hipster areas but some great bars.
Some bars are open until 5am on Saturdays, nothing like leaving the bar as the sun comes out! Glad to field any q's if you have any guys.
Generally speaking bars are open until 2am or 4am Fridays. Then they get a bonus hour on Saturdays. What area you going out in?
That hotel is haunted and the unrenovated rooms are gross. Plenty of other hotels in that area are nicer and in a similar price range. Personally, I like staying in River North. More action, better restaurants.
Xoco is a fantastic, more casual option in the Rick Bayless family of restaurants.
Girl and the Goat was great when I was there.
Tanta was very cool...Peruvian food.
GT Prime was good for steaks.
And in the south loop...Devil Dawgz. Good hot dogs... but best chicken sandwich I've ever had. Anywhere. I still think about the Clucker.
Chicago is a great food city.
The easiest play is stay off the red/ purple south of belmont. Old town is prob a good call. Lots of bars/ restaurants/ second city and right off the water/ parks.
I’m going to have to give Riccobene’s a try! I would add West Loop / Fulton market to that neighborhood list, and attach $$$$.
the renovated rooms aren't that much better. just easier to stay at a nicer hotel.
Have a shot of Malört while there and pretend you like it to impress the locals lol.
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.
The Drake was great.. especially back in the day when I had meetings nearby at Playboy HQ :)
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 athletics
Taking the El is much more entertaining than Metra :)
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.
We discovered this place by accident because it was right next to our hotel (Intercontinental Chicago).
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 list
Much like visiting Hattie B’s in Nashville for the fried chicken. Which I liked also
I might take you up on the Golf ( for Friday afternoon).
Planning on going out there solo as well for the game.
Coming out with two other RU buddies. Is there a consensus on tailgate/pre-game spot before the game? Planning on taking the train from River North, but figured hitting up a spot near the stadium is better than a place in the city.
I've never had an issue or complaint when I stayed there. It's a hard to beat combination or price, location, and history.
I'll be there solo as well. Getting in Friday and flying back out on the 5:55 or 8pm back to EWR on Saturday after the game.
Staying in Magnificent Mile area.
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.
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.
I'm at the DoubleTree in Magnificent Mile so hoping I can just get the Uber to go right up Lakeshore all the way to Evanston.
May change my hotel if someone can convince me the METRA is better.
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.
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.
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.
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