Chicago
has thousands of restaurants serving every type of cuisine
imaginable. With chic, new establishments opening continually, the
choice available to the visitor is widening all the time. Ethnic
neighbourhoods such as Chinatown, Greektown, West Town (Polish and
Ukranian) and Near West Side (Italian) offer a wide selection of
tastes at very reasonable prices. Diversity being the key word; you
can also find Afghan, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Guatemalan, Bohemian
and Lithuanian restaurants.Known primarily for its prime rib and
steaks, you can still find many places that serve this traditional
fare. Celebrity restaurants seem to be the order of the day, with
Michael Jordan's Restaurant, Oprah Winfrey's Eccentric and Planet
Hollywood, jointly owed by Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenneger and
Sylvester Stallone, all providing fans with the chance to feel
closer to their idols as they eat in their diners. Here are a couple
of our favorites.
Entre Nous
The Fairmont, 200 N. Columbus Dr. Chicago, IL Phone: 312/565-7997
French One of the highest-quality hotel dining rooms in the city
(inside the Fairmont Hotel), Entre Nous has an understated elegance
that's ideal for romantic dining or just a quiet, top-notch business
meal. The menu is deceptively simple looking, filled with
well-executed classics such as Maine lobster bisque and rack of
lamb. The tiered dessert cart is impossible to resist, and the very
thorough wine list is reasonably priced, as hotel restaurants go.
AE, D, DC, MC, V. Closed Sun. No lunch.
Yoshi's Cafe
3257 N. Halsted St.Chicago, IL Phone: 773/248-6160
French Once a pricey fine-dining restaurant of considerable renown,
Yoshi's recast itself as an informal French-Asian cafe with much
lower prices and a jeans-casual atmosphere; there's even a kids'
menu. Still evident is Yoshi Katsumura's exceptional cooking, as
seen in his grilled mahimahi with carrot juice and lobster essence
or crab wontons with a gingered apricot sweet-and-sour sauce. The
dining room is a slightly crowded sea of white-tablecloth tables,
bentwood chairs, and beige walls with blond-wood trim. No lunch.
Blackhawk Lodge
41 E. Superior St.Chicago, IL Phone: 312/280-4080
Contemporary Rustic vacation-lodge furnishings give this American
regional restaurant a distinct mood. Hickory-smoked cuisine is a
specialty, so the aromas coming from the kitchen are irresistible.
The bacon, salmon, smoky corn chowder, and ribs are particularly
good. The regional emphasis varies; southwestern influences may
prevail in summer, but the kitchen may prepare more New England
dishes in fall--or vice versa. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Spago
520 N. Dearborn St.Chicago, IL Phone: 312/527-3700
Contemporary Wolfgang Puck's celebrated California concept has gone
over well with Chicagoans, who attend in such numbers that Saturday
reservations take at least a month to secure (the noise level is
correspondingly high). There are two dining options: the casual
grill, open for lunch and dinner daily, featuring such Puck
signature dishes as his outstanding meat loaf and gourmet pizzas;
and the main dining room, where the menu is more refined--you might
find herb-stuffed bass with basil-mashed potatoes or grilled quail
over chanterelle risotto. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No lunch weekends.
Bando
2200 W. Lawrence Ave.Chicago, IL Phone: 773/728-7400
Korean For a city with an abundance of Asian (especially Thai)
restaurants, Chicago cannot claim many Korean establishments. Bando,
however, goes a long way toward compensating for this inequity,
thanks to its consistently excellent food. First-timers will like
the pa-jun a pancake made with oysters and scallions, and bul-go-ki
(barbecued beef); the more experienced can attempt the jun-gol,
a spicy seafood stew. Helpful waiters are reliable guides through
the exotic menu. AE, MC, V.
