nr706

May I (+1) be added to the list?

Do you mean the one on Damen, or the one in Marshall Field's (I refuse to use that other M-word)?

Would this mean that places like John's Live Poultry and Chicago Live Poultry will have to restrict themselves to ducks, quail, rabbits and the like, but no chickens?

I agree. It's almost as ridiculous as trying to decide the "best movie of the year." Oh, wait ...

When I first saw your original post, I was going to take a stab at it, but I was pretty confident that Ken (nsxtasy) would be able to put together a much more comprehensive list. In addition to pizza, you really should try a Chicago-style hot dog. Assuming you're staying in downtown Evanston, one of the best is an unassuming-looking place that'll be about a five block or so walk from your hotel: Wiener and Still Champion. Great fries with fry dipping sauces, freshly-made corn dogs, and other innovative things. It's discussed in depth here, with other relevant links: http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=15079 If you go, ask for Gus. It's also only about half a block from the Dempster St. El stop, which will make it easy to get downtown. [by the way, the site linked to, LTHForum.com, can be a major resource for just about anything vaguely related to food in Chicago.] Near The Riv, any of the Southest Asian places to the north (mostly along and around Argyle St, about three or four blocks north of The Riv - not just Vietnamese, but also Cambodian and Laotian) can be very good. One that I like, that's even nearer to where you'll be, is Silver Seafood (4829 N. Broadway). It's BYOB, as are many of the Southeast Asian places around Argyle Street. For something really different, also a short walk from The Riv, (and also BYOB) is Palace Gate (4548 N. Magnolia) for the city's most authentic Ghanian food. Not food-related, but if you're up for a drink after the concert, The Green Mill is less than a block north. It's virtually unchanged from the days when Al Capone hung out there, and Charlie Chaplin even drank there, before Hollywood surpassed Chicago as the center of the motion picture industry. And there's usually a good jazz group playing (except for Sunday, when they have a famous poetry slam). As far as downtown, I'd suggest skipping the Hancock Observatory. Instead, go to the Signature Lounge, on the 96th floor, for drinks and bar food (the elevators are off of Delaware St. - apart from the elevators to the Observatory). Many of the places along Michigan Avenue are good, but frankly, probably not that distinctive from many of the better places you have in Philadelphia. Of course, for fine dining, Alinea (1723 N. Halsted St) can provide an experience that's not available anywhere else in the country. And I think it'd be an especially surreal experience to go to Alinea after getting off the Red Line subway at North & Clybourn - about three blocks away. So there are a few ideas - let us know if you'd like any more, and please report back on your trip. P.S. Be sure to pick up a copy of the October issue of Saveur magazine before your trip.

Overall, a very good issue ... but throughout, they seem to be geographically challenged. (Ed Debevic's is in the Loop? Conrad Chicago is in the center of the Loop? Ed's Potsticker House is in Chinatown?)

When I read the orignal post, my thoughts echoed those of nsxtasy ... Lula Cafe is close to the Logan Square El stop, features locally-grown foods, and would be perfect - especially if your co-workers appreciate an out-of-the-way place that feels like a "find" - as opposed to the obvious downtown tourist places (some of which can be very good), or the equally obvious expense account places near O'Hare.

Nope, that garage was torn down many years ago. It's now a lawn next to a retirement home ... but it is across the street.

I really don't think there's anywhere in that area where the three of you can get a decent dinner Friday night for under $35 total. You might want to try a tacqueria in Little Village, or there are several similar-type places in Rogers Park. If you can exceed the $35 limit a little, there are a couple of Thai places around Lincoln Square that might work. Or, you could go for a classic Chicago hot dog ... Wiener's Circle or Wiener and Still Champion are two very good examples, and would probably be within your price range. One place to look would be here: http://lthforum.com/bb/viewforum.php?f=28&...4d01dfc5fd456f9 For Sunday breakfast, and a unique and budget-friendly experience, don't miss the Maxwell Street Market (Sundays only) which isn't on Maxwell Street any more, but is centered around Roosevelt and Canal Streets. Many, mostly Mexican, street stalls (real Mexican, not your Taco Bell stuff - you can watch the Mexican grandmas patting out fresh tortillas by hand. Helps if you know a little Spanish.) The food is mixed in with other other flea-market stalls.

Off the beaten path, very quirky, but I love it. Run by Burt, who looks like an aging ex-hippie, and who's been making pizza longer than many readers here have been alive. His style is maybe best described as a thinner version of deep dish. Excellent, fresh ingredients. He also offers take-out pizza, but his phone number is unlisted - you have to go in and get a takeout menu to get the phone number (or you may be able to find it on line if you're creative). If you do call, know that he'll be talking to you on a rotary phone. Burt's Place 8541 N. Ferris (a side street, easy to miss) Morton Grove

My favorite place before Second City is an Italian trattoria just down Wells St. Great thin-crust Roman-style pizza, many other Roman options; it's been there at least 20 - 25 years. Trattoria Roma 1535 N. Wells St., Chicago

Show is still open Tue 'til 5, although I imagine a lot of people will be packing up earlier.

I'll be at that show - at least sometime - when will you be speaking? As far as bakeries/pastries go, one fairly new place that gets a lot of buzz is the Sicilian bakery in Andersonville, run by a very passionate (about their food) couple: Pasticceria Natalina 5406 N. Clark St. For a more Mexican bent on a top-quality bakery, you can head down to Pilsen (not far from McCormick Place, to: BomBon Bakery 1508 W. 18th St. And then, if you can travel a little bit (or get on the purple El line to Davis Street) you can try the home of one of the winners of the World Cup of Baking. Quote from Chicago Sun-Times: Bennison's Bakery 1000 Davis Evanston, IL

Again, if you have a vehicle, H-Mart in Niles, at the corner of Oakton and Waukegan, is a massive Korean grocery. 801 Civic Center Dr. Niles, IL 60714 Tel) 847-581-1212 Another area worth exploring is the Middle Eastern/Palestine neighborhood around Kedzie and Lawrence - lots of Middle Eastern restaurants and groceries. And I'm not sure that the owners of the Costa Rican restaurant Palmito (3605 N. Ashland, Chicago) would be happy with the description upthread of Irazu as the city's only Costa Rican. Both are worth seeking out. And, Sunday mornings at the Maxwell Street Market (centered around 500 W. Roosevelt) is a trip to a Mexico, with all the food stalls cum flea market.

Something that eGullet has yet to figure out.

I don't think there's anything wrong with asking about, or figuring out, cost/lb. of fine chocolates. No different than asking where the beanns come from, or what the flavorings are. It doesn't make one a heathen that should stick to Hershey's and Fannie Mae. It doesn't mean they don't want an elegant and sophisticated experience. But they might want to able to make a judgement about the price/value relationship. In that vein, the DallasFood.org story about Noka cited above, I found to be a fascinating read.

isn't genuine-ness wonderful?

Tough to answer - there are so many great neighborhoods. But I'll take a quick stab at it. For better places, there's the Randolph street corridor, for great Mexican there's Pilsen and Little Village, Devon for Indian, Greektown, Wicker Park/Bucktown for nouveau riche hipsters, Lincoln Square, Andersonville (both of them newly hot in the last 5 - 10 years), Chinatown, Little Saigon (aka Argyle Street), Rogers Park/North Clark Street, Western between Armitage and Fullerton, Middle Eastern on North Kedzie, Koreatown, Edison Park, Little italy ... I'm sure I'm missing a few. Gold Coast has places to eat, too .... mostly the kinds of places you'd expect from an area called the Gold Coast. For a great list of individual places, many of which meet your small, ethnic criterion, try this: http://lthforum.com/bb/viewforum.php?f=28&...4017470624ce3b8

Does a falafel burger count as a favorite burger? Wiener and Still Champion 802 W. Dempster Evanston 60202 847-869-0100

I can second the recommendation of Kuni's - IIRC, Kuni was the head sushi chef at the old Hatsuhana - Chicago's first "upscale" sushi bar. This place is far less pretentious. And, it's easy to get to - just off the Main St. stop of the Purple El line. Another favorite of mine, for more contemporary sushi, is Indie Café, a BYOB that also offers well-prepared Thai dishes. Don't hold it against them that there's a slight hipster buzz here - the sushi's still good. And tho I've never been, many people I know swear by the work of Sushi Mke, at Tanoshii, in the bustling Andersonville neighborhood. Also BYOB. Indie Cafe 5951 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago Tanoshii 5547 N. Clark St., Chicago

Belgian Chocolatier Piron is a small shop in Evanston that has been well-reviewed nationally and internationally. An example from SavoringChicago.com: Belgian Chocolatier Piron 509-A Main Street Evanston, Illinois 60202 Phone: 847-864-5504

A friend, who has extensive knowledge of African cuisine, highly recommends this place for Senegalese food: Yassa African Restaurant 716 E. 79th St. Chicago, IL (773) 488-9630 Another friend wrote this review, from the Chicago Reader:

I've been to all three; here's my ranking: #1 Marketplace on Oakton #2 Lincolnwood Produce #3 Produce World This is not to slam Produce World - I like it - it's just that the other two are larger (Marketplace on Oakton feels like the largest), and has the advantage of being next door to Aldi for stocking up on really cheap stuff.

Not fine dining, but historic - I had a great, old-fashioned meal a couple of weeks ago at Jack Pandl's - I had the Friday night fish fry (my choice was broiled perch) and my partner had the braised lamb shank. Low expectations exceeded. The experience really was a blast from the past. Even at my age, I probably lowered the average age of the crowd by several years, but it was worth it. Jack Pandl's Whitefish Bay 1319 East Henry Clay Street (at the corner of Lake Drive) Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin 53217

LAZ has great suggestions - I'd also recommend ethnic, since the city has so many great ethnic places. To her list, I'll add: Ed's Potsticker House - Northern Chinese (ask for the Chinese menu w. English translations) 3139 S. Halsted St. (312) 326-6898 Al's #1 Italian Beef 1079 W. Taylor St. (little Italy) (312) 226-4017 Taqueria la Oaxaquena - Mexican, specifically from Oaxaca 3382 N. Milwaukee Ave. (773) 545-8585 Laschet's Inn - classic German 2119 W. Irving Park Rd. (773) 478-7915 TAC Quick - highly authentic Thai food (ask for the Thai menu) 3930 N. Sheridan Rd. (773) 327-5253 Honey 1 Barbeque - the most accessible true BBQ (i.e. unlike many of the great southside BBQ places, you don't have to order though bulletproof glass and eat off the hood of your car - they have a real dining room!) 2241 N. Western St. (773) 227-5130 Think Cafe - a more refined experience, contemporary, with an Italian accent - next to Honey 1 - BYOB 2235 N. Western Ave., Chicago (773) 394-0537 Podhalanka Polksa Restauracja - Chicago is the greatest source of Polish food in the Western Hemisphere 1549 W. Division Ave. (773) 486-6655 Hae Woon Dae - outstanding Korean Barbeque over live coals in a nondescript strip mall 6240 N. California Ave. (773) 764-8018 Cafe Laguardia - excellent Cuban 2111 W. Armitage Ave. (773) 862-5996 there are many more ...