Southern Indiana invades Chicago for dinner

Hey, Congrats on your 5 year Wedding anniversary! I've had two of 'em.....with two different ex-wives...

Well, Chicago is about one of THE best, if not THE best Restaurant towns in the Country. You'll get many good suggestions. And, hopefully, you can make it here for at least 2 nights so that you can try at least 2 fine restaurants.

Her are a couple of my own suggestions.

'Gibsons' on Rush Street. They have some of the Best Steaks in town. Along with 'Gene and Georgetti's'

'Harry Caray's'. And it's right next door to the House of Blues-Chicago. Check out their website (www.hob.com) to see if there is anybody playing there that you'd like to see while you are up here. There is also a House of Blues Hotel there, too. These are all located next to the Marina City towers, which are next to the Chicago River and just about Downtown.

'Bandera' on Michigan Av. Touted as "American cooking". Great Steaks, Slow wood fired Chicken.

Just about any of the fine Italian Restaurants here in Chicago. Like the 'Italian Village' on Monroe St.

Greek town on Halsted St. Many really good Greek Restaurants.

Oh yeah, so many that I am having a brain freeze trying to remember all of the names! They'll come to me and I'll post 'em. Unless someone else does.

I believe that second weekend of September is the "German-American Day Parade and Festival". It starts on Friday night and goes until Sunday evening. It's pretty much the first Oktoberfest party in the area. In the "Lincoln Square" neighborhood, just a few miles North of Downtown (Lawrence Av. 48800 North, Lincoln Av. and Western Av.2400 West.) There is a fantastic German Restaurant there on Lincoln called 'The Chicago Brauhaus' Very nice atmosphere. Great Food and Imported Beers. A guy with his accordian will come up and sing to you and your wife if you request.

Plus, outside, there is a HUGE Beer Tent on Leland Av. Complete with "Ooom - Pah - Pah" band. Beck's Oktoberfest" on tap,(Pop and Wine too.) and several assorted Brats and Sausages, Sauerkraut, Hot German Potato salad, Giant Pretzels. And there is a little German bar called "The Heuttenbar" that serves several varieties of German Oktoberfest Beers. Also a few doors down from the Brauhaus is "Delicatessen Meyer". They sell all sorts of Imported European fare. Meats and Cheeses. Chocolates and Candies. Impoerted Beers and Liqeurs. Neat little places. And you can just take the "L" train right to it and back from Downtown. The train station is right there.

Medieval Times is a big place where you'd like to take your kids to.

Now, out in the Western 'Burbs where I live. there are many many really fantastic Restaurants, too. Maybe another trip you'd like to check 'em out.

What part of Southern Indiana? My son and I and two friends just went down to Indy for the F1 race last month. I really like Indianapolis. Alot of really cool, historical Buildings and Monuments there. I will definitely go back down there next year, but maybe for a few extra days so that Junior and I can do some exploring.

 

Congratulations on your anniversary, I hope your visit to Chicago is enjoyable. I have never heard anything less than great about Blue Man Group, so I wouldn't be worried about that, but Medieval Times, although fun, is not what I would term, a good place to celebrate a "special occaision." There are a great number of wonderful restaurants in the windy city and Frank and I seem well suited to offer some assistance in your quest. One problem, is that it seems that Beef Wellington is not a dish presently in vogue, or in some venues valued quite highly. One of my favorite restaurants in Wisconsin serves Wellington and it is one of my favorite dishes. Of the two suggestions below, I have been to Chequers, as well as their other store, Toulouse (French) in Saugatuck, MI, a number of times and have nothing but good things to say about them. Biggs, I have not been to yet, but if they serve Wellington, it may be a target of my salivation soon. I know that Biggs is a bit more pricey than Chequers. Another Restaurant that is convenient to downtown, nice place, great food and a great value is Mon Ami Gabi, in the Belden-Stratford Hotel, across the street from Lincoln Park.

Bill


http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/dining/30797,0,556694.venue?coll=mmx-dining_features
Chequers of La Grange
100 W. Burlington Ave., La Grange
708-482-9570
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $10-$19
Credit cards: A, V, M
Reservations: for six or more.
Other: Outdoor courtyard.

Offered is such English fare as the Ploughman's lunch (the traditional pub combo of bread, cheeses and relishes), Beef Wellington and, of course, bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes).

From start to finish, everything is expertly prepared.

This is hearty fare, and so starters prove unnecessary. In fact, Chequers offers only one item billed as an appetizer, a sampler platter of crab cakes, fried Cotswold cheese and a medley of vegetables served with marinara sauce.

There are also such items as chicken liver pate and a velvety Welsh rarebit, a blend of cheese and stout served over toast that is rich without being gummy. While any of these could serve as an appetizer, they would also be perfectly suited to eat alongside a pint.

Chequers also offers 10 sandwiches; some traditional (roast beef and horseradish), others less so, like the grilled portobello stack (a grilled mushroom topped with bleu cheese and marinara sauce).

But to properly sample the cuisine, opt for one of the entrees. The prime rib, a large slab of tender beef served with creamy mashed potatoes and Yorkshire pudding, doesn't disappoint. Unfortunately, this is a special served only on weekends.

Another fine dish is the fish and chips. A bargain at $10, it's a large portion of breaded Alaskan pollock and chips, better known to Americans as French fries. The fish is delicate and fresh; the chips surprisingly light.

Though the menu doesn't list any desserts, they are highly touted by the hard-working waitstaff. They are prepared by Paul Mixa, an award-winning pastry chef who also heads the kitchen. Particularly noteworthy is the chocolate brownie cheesecake.

Longstanding preconceptions about English food may be hard to change, but Chequers is doing a fine job of banishing the biases.

Biggs Restaurant
1150 N. Dearborn
(312) 787-0900

Located in a stately old Gold Coast house built in 1874, Biggs takes advantage of the small rooms to offer an intimate, gracious atmosphere, ideal for important occasions. The menu tends toward elaborately garnished versions of classic French cuisine: escallop of veal with fresh morels, beef Wellington with truffle sauce, sautéed salmon on a bed of spinach with champagne sauce. Courses are separated with a tiny scoop of sorbet to refresh the palate. Preparation and service are both absolutely old-world French perfection.

Mon Ami Gabi
2300 N. Lincoln Park West
773-348-8886

Chicago Tribune review by Phil Vettel: 3 stars

This charming gem in the Belden-Stratford hotel is the namesake of managing partner/chef Gabino Sotelino. Occupying a warm, wood-trimmed room with a Parisian turn-of-the-century bar and large windows overlooking Lincoln Park, the restaurant's French decor and marble floors complemen a host of French classics including raw oysters, mussels in white wine, steak frites and trout grenoblois. In summer the outdoor cafe is a pleasant place to spend an evening.

Hours: 5:30-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5:30-11 p.m. Friday; 5-11 p.m. Saturday; 5-9 p.m. Sunday.

Av. Dinner Entree $15-$25
Critics Choice Yes
Cuisine French
Meals Served Dinner
Outdoor Seating Fenced-in patio.
Parking - Valet (The Belden-Stratford has valet parking.), Street parking difficult
Payment Method American Express, Optima, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard
Reservations Accepted? Yes
Seating For 120.
Smoking At bar, Monday-Thursday only.
Spirits Full bar, Full bar, extensive wine list.
Transportation Accessible by CTA bus (151-Sheridan, 156-La Salle); taxicabs plentiful.
Wheelchair Access Yes

 

Anything but Medieval Times.

I'm also not hot on Bill's "Mon Ami Gabi". Ate there twice and they're really not my friend. If it is French you crave, Bistro 110 at Water Tower place is good and there is an even better place on Hubbard street: Brasserie Jo.

One of my fav places is the Italian Village. Three very different Italian restaurants in one. Basic in the basement, grandious on the ground floor and flirtatious on the first floor. Seriously, if you love a somewhat gimmicky place (since you mentioned Medieval Times), the 1st floor with its themed look of roof top al Fresco eating in Tuscany might be your thing.

 

BMG is a fun show, and if you're staying and eating downtown then it won't take up the entire evening. There are actually a few pretty good restaurants not far from there. The Briar Street Theater is on the edge of Wrigleyville--assuming it will be a weekend you will definitely want to make a reservation:

Tuscany (Italian)
3700 N. Clark
(773) 404-7700

Platiyo (Mexican)
3313 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 477-6700

Adobo Grill (Mexican)
1610 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 266-7999

Mia Francesca (Italian)
3311 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 281-3310

Jack's on Halsted (American Traditional)
3201 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 244-9191

Erwin (American)
2925 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60657-5117
(773) 528-7200

These are all pretty good restaurants. If you have any questions, feel free to email or PM me. You can also find more details or other restaurants in the Chicago section of www.citysearch.com

Also, if you are looking along Michigan Avenue, Frank's suggestion of Bandera is definitely a good one.

 

Hey, if you ever go down to Phoenix. I know of a Great 'English/British' Restaraunt/Pub on Central Av. almost to Downtown. I bet they'd have some great Beef Wellington there!

 

Chequers

 

I was going to say MOD....I looked for the link, and found out its closed! Fockme!