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Last Minute Deals To Chicago
Most Overrated Hotel: The Palmer House Hilton was once the grande dame of elegant Chicago hotels, but its glittering lobby is the only remnant of that past. Now it's basically a gathering place for conventioneers. Stay here only if you get a good rate -- but don't expect anything special.
Most Overrated Restaurants: The Cape Cod Room and the Pump Room are two venerable old restaurants in venerable old hotels (The Drake and the Omni Ambassador East, respectively). Chicagoans who have been dining there for years have a soft spot for these places -- understandably -- but they don't offer visitors any dishes that can't be found at dozens of other places -- for much more reasonable prices.
Most Overrated Entertainment: Steppenwolf Theatre Company deserves much of the credit for making Chicago a thriving theater town. Its in-your-face performances in the 1970s and 1980s -- featuring future stars such as John Malkovich and Gary Sinise -- were truly revolutionary. Going to see a Steppenwolf show meant a guaranteed thrill ride on an emotional roller coaster. Alas, the actors that gave Steppenwolf its edge are now focusing on their movie careers. Although names such as Sinise, Malkovich, Joan Allen, and John Mahoney are still listed as part of the Steppenwolf "company," don't count on seeing them on stage. Steppenwolf's productions are now a combination of new works and imports from New York, some impressive, some so-so. But hardly revolutionary.
Most Overrated Attraction: The view is stunning from the Sears Tower Skydeck -- once you finally get there. But long lines and crushed-together crowds can make you feel as if you're ready to hit the road by the time you finally reach the top. You'll enjoy the same vistas from the top of the John Hancock Building, which is usually less crowded and in a more tourist-friendly location.
Most Overrated Store: When it opened, Niketown was something new, a sports-as-entertainment retail complex. Now it no longer feels so fresh; it's really just another sporting goods store with a more limited selection than most -- a fact that doesn't stop the crowds from streaming in.
Book together and save $228 on average
Yes, we Chicagoans do eat plenty of deep-dish pizza, but we don't stop there. Chicago is home to an ever-expanding galaxy of sophisticated restaurants whose kitchens are energized by culinary stars. The average dinner price has risen accordingly, but if you're willing to splurge, you can experience one-of-a-kind meals from some of the top chefs in the country. Budget-minded diners can take refuge at a variety of fine ethnic restaurants, where a satisfying meal won't break the bank.
Best Spot for a Romantic Dinner: Secluded North Pond, 2610 N. Cannon Dr. (tel. 773/477-5845), is an Arts and Crafts-styled retreat with a postcard-perfect setting in Lincoln Park. Not only does it boast a dramatic vista of the Gold Coast skyline, but the restaurant's out-of-the-way locale also requires diners to begin and end their meal with an idyllic stroll through the park. For charm on a much lower budget, try Cyrano's Bistrot & Wine Bar, 526 N. Wells St. (tel. 312/467-0546), a cozy spot that will make you feel like you've jetted off to the romantic City of Love.
Best Spot for a Business Lunch: A millennial take on the classic American steakhouse, stylish Nine, 440 W. Randolph St. (tel. 312/575-9900), offers super-slick environs, prime steaks, fresh seafood, a champagne-and-caviar bar, and -- most importantly -- tiny TV sets above the men's-room urinals for those who can't bear to miss the latest from CNBC.
Best Spot for a Celebration: Not only does Nacional 27, 325 W. Huron St. (tel. 312/664-2727), offer a grand setting and a menu of creative Latin American dishes, it also turns into a party on Friday and Saturday nights, when a DJ spins salsa tunes and center tables are cleared for dancing.
Best Scene: The Gold Coast's rich and beautiful flock to the bar at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, 1028 N. Rush St. (tel. 312/266-8999), to gossip while sipping on massive martinis. Hang out with a drink (and maybe spot a visiting celeb) while working up an appetite for a super-size steak.
Best View: Forty stories above Chicago, Everest, 440 S. LaSalle St. (tel. 312/663-8920), astounds with a spectacular view -- and food to match. Another dazzler, day or night, is the view from the Signature Lounge atop the 100-story John Hancock Building, 875 N. Michigan Ave. (tel. 312/787-7230). Though this is really a bar, not a restaurant, the Signature Lounge is a good place to perch for a drink before or after your dinner. Closer to earth, diners on the rooftop terrace at Greektown's Pegasus, 130 S. Halsted St. (tel. 312/226-3377), get a panoramic view of the city skyline.
Best Value: At longtime city favorite Carson's, 612 N. Wells St. (tel. 312/280-9200), $20 gets you a full slab of incredible baby back ribs, accompanied by a bowl of Carson's almost-as-famous coleslaw and a choice of potatoes. Lincoln Park residents swarm to RoseAngelis, 1314 W. Wrightwood Ave. (tel. 773/296-0081), where $20 buys a glass of wine, a massive plate of pasta, and a generous serving of possibly the city's best bread pudding.
Best for Kids: Kids will love eating at ESPN Zone, 43 E. Ohio St. (tel. 312/475-0263). Yes, you'll find a kids' menu here, but the main attraction is the enormous Sports Arena, where kids can work off some excess energy playing the interactive games.
Best American Cuisine: The beautiful people flock to chef Paul Kahan's Blackbird, 619 W. Randolph St. (tel. 312/715-0708), for the stylish setting and just-as-stylish food. Crofton on Wells, 535 N. Wells St. (tel. 312/755-1790), may be far less trendy, but it's a true labor of love for chef Suzy Crofton -- and her devoted local fans keep coming back for more.
Best French Cuisine: You'll get the full fine-dining treatment -- and fabulous food -- at Ambria, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West (tel. 312/472-5959). For a more casual Parisian cafe experience, few places delight quite like Bucktown's charming Le Bouchon, 1958 N. Damen Ave. (tel. 773/862-6600), with its cozy atmosphere and delectable bistro fare.
Best Italian Cuisine: Even without the glamorous view of the Magnificent Mile, Spiaggia, 980 N. Michigan Ave. (tel. 312/280-2750), would draw diners in droves with its gourmet takes on classic Italian cuisine. For a more casual, old-world experience, it's hard to beat Rosebud on Taylor, 1500 W. Taylor St. (tel. 312/942-1117), which has reigned supreme in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood for as long as anyone can remember.
Best Splurge: The most famous name in Chicago restaurant circles has to be Charlie Trotter's, 816 W. Armitage Ave. (tel. 773/248-6228). Our top celebrity chef continues to dazzle with his mix of fresh-as-can-be ingredients, creative flavor combinations, and legendary perfectionism. Hot on Trotter's heels is Tru, 676 N. St. Clair St. (tel. 312/202-0001), another temple of modern gourmet dining and the perfect convergence of artful cuisine and elegant ambience. For pure knock-your-socks-off novelty, the place to go is Moto, 945 W. Fulton Market St. (tel. 312/491-0058), where chef Homaro Cantu uses custom-made silverware and cooking devices to present dishes in entirely new ways.
Best Steakhouse: Legendary Chicago restaurateur Arnie Morton no longer prowls the dining room, but Morton's, 1050 N. State St. (tel. 312/266-4820), remains the king of the city's old-guard steakhouses, serving up gargantuan wet-aged steaks and baked potatoes.
Best Pizza: In the town where deep-dish pies were born, Chicagoans take their out-of-town relatives to either Gino's East, 633 N. Wells St. (tel. 312/943-1124), or Lou Malnati's, 439 N. Wells St. (tel. 312/828-9800), to taste the real thing: mouthwatering slabs of pizza loaded with fresh ingredients atop delectably sweet crusts.
Best Pretheater Dinner: A local favorite, the Italian Village, 71 W. Monroe St. (tel. 312/332-7005) -- actually three restaurants run by one family under one roof -- knows how to get its clientele seated and (well) fed in time for a show. For Chicago Symphony Orchestra audiences, Rhapsody, 65 E. Adams St. (tel. 312/786-9911), is conveniently located in the Symphony Center building. If you're seeing a play in Lincoln Park, go for tasty tapas at Café Ba-Ba-Reeba!, 2024 N. Halsted St. (tel. 773/935-5000).
Best Wine List: Two spots take their food-drink pairings especially seriously: Try Zealous, 419 W. Superior St. (tel. 312/475-9112), if money is no object, and Bin 36, 339 N. Dearborn St. (tel. 312/755-9463), if you're looking for a more casual vibe.
Best Fast Food: A few steps above the standard food court, foodlife in Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave. (tel. 312/335-3663), offers everything from Asian noodles and vegetarian fare to pizza and burgers.
Best Brunch: The luxury hotels along Michigan Avenue offer all-you-can-eat gourmet spreads, but the locals prefer the sinfully rich cinnamon rolls at Ann Sather, 929 W. Belmont Ave. (tel. 773/348-2378).
