I am headed to Chi-Town today for the upcoming week (conference there). I'm an Instructor & Coach (track events and IMSA, Ferrari Challenge, SVRA, HSR, SCCA, NASA, etc. Racing) for East Coast regions, mostly in the SE. What's the Ferrari community like there, large? More immediately important: I've only been to Chicago once before and then only for a few very busy days. Where's a great place to eat that's not too fancy but captures/represents the heart of the Chicago experience? THANKS! See ya in a few hours! Chuck
The Ferrari community is great. It's too bad you won't be able to be here when Ferraris on Oak St. is happening. There is an event today over at LFSC (Lake Forest Sports Cars) if you can get a chance to go. As far as eats go, to capture Chicago I'd stop on by Portillos (mostly known for hotdogs) and/or Unos (pizza).
Today and tomorrow is the track event at the Autobahn road course, just south of Joliet. (about 35 minutes sw of the city, check the thread in this section). Take a cab, go to the top of Sears tower or John Hancock bldg., great views. Chicago seems to me, to be the restaurant capitol, whatever you want, you can usually find it here. IMO, the foods that are best enjoyed in Chicago are, Steak, Pizza and ethnic in general. Not necessarily in a ranking but just a few..... R. J. Grunts - Deli Style foods - the inventors of the salad bar, owned by Rich Melman (Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants' first store of many) good food, lots of personality, 60-70's sort of flair. Just west of the Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory, on Lincoln Park West. Tutto Italiano - Smoked Prime Rib (rare, mmmm), and a wealth of Italian specialties. - West Loop - Congress and Wells Morton's - Steak - Gold Coast- 1050 N. State St. Smith-Wollensky's - Steak - River North - 318 N. State St., in front of House of Blues / Marina Towers Harry Caray's - Steak - River North - 33 W Kinzie St - A bit of the baseball legend inside The Italian Village - great food - unique art deco styled interior - a Chicago landmark - Loop center - 71 W. Monroe Street I don't usually go downtown for pizza, but here are a few... Lou Malnati's - 439 N Wells St Giordano's - Stuffed Pizza - 730 N Rush St Uno - Stuffed Pizza - 29 E Ohio St
Wow - Thanks Bill365! We are staying in Rosemont at the Crowne Plaza across from the convention center. Keep 'em coming. Even though I'm relatively small (135-150lbs depending), the next closest thing to driving fast (preferrably on track) is EAT!! I agree, based on my limited experience here that Cicago is a great place to eat. I want to experience the food of the city while I'm here. THANKS! Chuck
Hello there Chuck! Welcome to Chicago FChat. Yes, there are zillions of things to do here. You need to try to make it back out here in the future, too. As Bill mentioned, there are sooooo many different Restaraunts around. It is mind boggling! You are staying in Rosemont, right next to O'Hare Airport. You can just take the "L" train Downtown from there so that you won't get lost or have to deal with traffic and parking. (Or a costly cab ride.... ) It goes directly Downtown, and doesn't take very long. As Bill mentioned. We have a few of the tallest Buildings in the World here. And they all have observation decks way up high. ( Not for me....!) The Art Institute. The Field Museum of Natural History, (The King Tut display is coming there very soon. It will be there until next Winter). The Shedd Aquarium. The Museum of Science and Industry. They have the "Spirit of America" car there. It was the land speed record holder back in the '60's. (Also, there is a bronze plaque near there that commorates the FIRST Automobile Race ever held in the U.S., back on Thanksgiving day of 1895.) Navy Pier. The beautiful Lake Michigan lakefront. "The Magnificent Mile". Big Buck shopping along Michigan Av. Your wife would love to see that! (you wont.... ) Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the the oldest Zoo's in the country. But it has been transformed the past few years to one of the most modern Zoos. It is Free. Also, try to get up to see Lake Forest Sportscars, and Continental Autosports. These are the 2 Authorized Ferrari dealers in the Chicago area.
Seeing you're staying in Rosemont, check out Giordano's Pizza on Higgins and River Rd (Rosemont). They make some of the best stuffed pizzas!
I ate at Giordano's, and it has GREAT deep-dish pizza! Classic chicago dish, am I wrong? It was right off of Michigan avenue close to the Hancock PS The weather doesn't look too good but if you want to see nice cars, Bentley Gold Coast is downtown, and lots of really nice cars drive down Michigan ave (I saw a few Bentleys, no sports cars but it wasn't the greatest weather when I was there either)
....PIZZA!!!!! Actually, that "Chicago Style Deep Dish" or "Pan" Pizza has a really Thick soft Crust, with just about the usual amount of Toppings on it. I don't care for it myself. The "Stuffed" Pizza is a different animal. It has a thin crust draped in a deep pan. Not that thick crust. Then, stuffed with tons of Cheese and "toppings", with the Red Gravy on top of it. And I do love it. I have a Giordanos literally a block from my house. And every so often get it. "Nancy's" stuffed pizza is pretty good, too. In my opinion. And there used to be a place on Fullerton Av. East of Central, I forget how far, called "Mama Luna's" that also had a great Stuffed Pizza. I haven't been over that way in many years, so I don't know if it is still there. And, besides living in SoCal. (Anaheim and Ventura) for 4 years as a little kid. I've lived here my whole 46 years of Life. My own favorite Pizza is Thin Crust. Very thin Crust, actually. And a tad well done. Growing up on the old "Nort'west side of Chicago" in the '60s. We hade some great places. Mostly, I remember "Q's" on Nort' Avenue. "Father & Son" was good, too. But, when everyone moved out of that area. Alot of them came out to the Western Suburbs. "Q's" is on Butterfield Rd. in Hillside. "Giacchino's" on St.Charles Rd. in Berkeley is good. "Aurelio's" is good, too. But, in my honest opinion. The absolute BEST Thin Crust Pizza around here in my area is "County Inn Pizza" on Roosevelt Rd., and County Line Rd. in Elmhurst. Right at the Hillside/Elmhurst border. (Blocks away from Al Capones Gravesite, I might ad... ) They have been there for over 40+ years. The place is a dinky little shack, basically. But the Pizza is incredible. You haven't had a great Thin Crust Pizza until you have tried theirs. "Pizza Palace" on Addison St. (just a couple doors South of Al's Hobby Shop) in Elmhurst is a very close 2nd. You must also check them out. They were originally from the old Nort'west side, too. And, when I visit Family out in Scottsdale, Arizona. The absolute BEST Pizza in Arizona is "Pizzaferro's" on Mercer Dr. Just North of Shea, and just East of Scottsdale Rd. They are originally from Chicago, and they are the ONLY ONES that I have found out there that know how to do it right! And, if you've seen me. You can pretty much take my word for it.... Geez! It's no wonder that I am Fat....talking about Pizza like that!.....But I wasn't always this way..... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks for all the great recommendations! I just got back home (Charlotte, NC). We did go to Giordano's and it was excellent! And they had Goose Island beer, to which I was turned onto while there and ordered wherever I could find it (quite a bit, actually) - great stuff! I also made it to the following restaurants and found them great as well: Nick's Fish Market Gibson's Steak House Basillica's Rosewood Unfortunately, I never really made it too far out of Rosemont but the weather kind of went sour later in the week anyway, so a trip to the tall buildings would have rendered only a view of the inside of a cloud. It was a great trip and just like the previous time I was in Chicago, I found the people there to be super-nice, welcoming, and helpful. I have to say - Chicago is a wonderful city and I can understand the love for the it by those who live there! If any of you make it down to my neck of the woods, definitely look me up and I can point you to all the great places here and will gladly reciprocate that fine hospitality I just experienced. Thanks to all and Be Well! Chuck
Glad that you had a good time here, Chuck. Definitely try to make it back out here when the Weather will be (and stay) warmer.
