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This is the third of a four part Chicago trip report: 1) getting there; 2) lodging; 3) eating; and 4) stuff to do.
This photo of Chicago is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Our first food of the weekend was practically right outside the front door of the Conrad hotel….
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
This restaurant is expensive: it has no place on a blog like this one (unless you plan ahead with a discounted gift certificate!). Anyway, we arrived at our hotel hungry and it was cold and rainy outside. This restaurant is just across the street from the Conrad so we darted inside. We’ve actually eaten here before and really enjoyed it, so we gave it another try. It didn’t disappoint! Service was excellent. If you want to price a meal by the number of times someone does something for you (fills your water, brings bread, clears crumbs, etc.) then you’ll be happy with the high touch points per dollar value here. The food was also really good. Terrific mussels and sole. The Sea Bass was just average though. In a prior visit we went all out for their specialty: cracked stone crab claws. If you can hold back the gag reflex at the prices, you’ll really enjoy those!
Toni Patisserie and Café
For lunch on Saturday we discovered this little gem on E. Washington St near Millennium park. All three of us ordered baguette sandwiches. They were great! Afterwards, we split a half slice chocolate brownie and a half slice of fruit tart. Both were terrific. While we were there, we talked with Toni’s husband, Paul. If you plan to go, mention that you read about them in Frequent Miler and they’ll give you a 10% discount!
Chicago Style Pizza and Basketball
For dinner Saturday night we stayed in and ordered pizza. It was that or eat at a sports bar because my alma mater UNC was scheduled to play Duke in a revenge match that I just couldn’t miss. You see, in their prior meeting, Duke had come from behind to beat UNC at the buzzer. I’m still aching from that one, but the revenge match was terrifically successful and did help heal the wounds.
Our favorite Chicago style pizzeria is Lou Malnati’s. Luckily for us, they were able to deliver, and the pizza was really good, as usual. Personally I much prefer NY style pizza when it’s made right (thin crust, floppy, and dripping with grease), but I do like Chicago style too.
How about you? What’s your favorite Chicago pizza? Do you prefer Chicago style or NY style? Do you have favorite food spots in Chicago?
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Go Heels!!
You hit 2 great places in town! Joe’s is one of my faves and Toni’s has been a great addition to that neighborhood. I’m not a fan of the deep dish yuck, we do much better thin pizza. You should try D’Agostino’s for fabby pizza. You should try Hugo’s Frog Bar next time. In the Gold coast and the food and service is fan-freakin-tastic!
I can’t say how much I love Crisp. Its a korean BBQ fusion join in Lincoln Park. Get the “Soul Sassy Half Chicken.” Its cheap and awesome.
On a more important note I don’t think I can read your blog anymore since you are a tar heel. Go PACK!
For a nice steakhouse, check out David Burke’s Primehouse. I was there in January, and the 55 day dry-aged ribeye was probably the best steak I’ve ever eaten. (tied with Peter Luger’s porterhouse in Brooklyn)