REQUEST: Recommendations for Places to Eat in CHicago

In article  [email removed] (YONG T
KIM) writes:
> I will be visiting Chicago during spring break.  I need recommendations
> for restaurants that range from cheap to moderately expensive (my
> brother will pay for the latter category, hopefully).  Since Chicago is
> famous for its pizza, recommendations for good pizza places are also
> appreciated (my friend told me that Gino's East had terrible pizza-
> too much weird tasting sauce and a cardboard-like crust...is that
> true?).  Thanks.

Some of my favorites are:
The Berghoff--moderately priced. Great German food; they make their own beer. Gino's East--the pizza is good, but most people go for the atmosphere. Giordanno's has the best stuffed pizza in the city. Nick's Fishmarket--very expensive, but excellent food and atmosphere. Ed Debevic's--overpriced, but a good time. Hooter's--famous chiken wings.(great waitresses, too!) White Castle--I'm not sure if you guys have these at UMass or not. El Gallo or El Famos Burritos--on the South Side; most excellent after-the-bar eats. Lou Mitchell's--the breakfast place. Dianah's--in Greek Town.  Opaaaa! Bennedict's Italian Deli--outstanding homemade cannoli.  On Archer Ave. Also try a Chicago-style hot-dog from a street vendor.

Please, please, please keep in mind that these are my opinions only. I'm quite far from being a professional critic.  I know I left off a bunch of great places, so feel free to keep adding on.  This list is where I usually take out-of-town friends.

YONG K. wrote:

>I will be visiting Chicago during spring break.  I need recommendations
>for restaurants that range from cheap to moderately expensive (my
>brother will pay for the latter category, hopefully).

Well, it would help if you'd be a little more specific about what part of Chicago you'll be visiting and what kind of food you like.  Chicago is a big city, and there are a LOT of restaurants.

On the expensive side, Le Titi de Paris in Arlington Heights is probably the best value for French food.  Chef Pierre Pollin does an excellent job, but you can get a wonderful meal, even with wine, in the $50-per-person range.

Avanzare, downtown, is an equivalent on the Italian side.  Spiaggia is wonderful, but it's pricier.

In the middle range, let me put in a plug for Gypsy on E. Ohio.  They do a good rendition of New American cuisine.  I've also had good meals at Prairie, in the South Loop.   You might want to try the Berghoff for a more traditional American-German menu.

If you like tapas, both Cafe Ba-Ba-Re-Ba! on the North Side and Emilio's in Hinsdale are very good.  Shaw's Crab House (downtown and Deerfield), Bob Chinn's in Wheeling and Don's Fishmarket in Skokie are nice fish restaurants.  One of my favorite steakhouses is That Steak Joynt in Old Town.  The new Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is pretty good too.  The best BBQ ribs are at Bones in Lincolnwood.  For prime rib, Lawry's.

For cheap eats, you can get good Vietnamese at most places in the Broadway/Argyle area, and good Korean on Lawrence Ave.  Don't forget to try a Chicago-style hotdog, at any one of innumberable stands:  You should get a poppy-seed bun, steamed all-beef dog, tomatoes, pickles, mustard, bright green relish, onions, hot peppers and celery salt to be authentic; no ketchup.

If you have more specific questions, let me know.

>Since Chicago is
>famous for its pizza, recommendations for good pizza places are also
>appreciated (my friend told me that Gino's East had terrible pizza-
>too much weird tasting sauce and a cardboard-like crust...is that
>true?).  Thanks.

My favorite pizza comes from Edwardo's, at a variety of locations around the city; get the stuffed pizza -- flat pizza is for New Yorkers. The traditional tourist pizza comes from Pizzeria Uno's, who originated the Chicago-style, but I think other places have transcended it.

L.A. Zeldes [email removed]