Chicago Itinerary Feedback

Been several years since I did the Wrigley bleachers thing, but if you have a decent sized group, I suggest:

• Get to Murphy's very early and start drinking outside where you can see the bleacher gates
• When you see a line start to form, send a couple people from your group to get in line
• Rotate people from your group over to the line sitters (so everyone can get the pre-game going)
• The people in line when the gates open get good seats, and spread out to save for the group
• Get more people in there relatively quickly, it gets tough to hold down a ton of extra seats

Also, sunscreen. I've been with plenty of people that got fried out there

 

For Wrigley, we always had pretty good luck getting in line 30-40 minutes before gates open. We always like going for the last row so we can stand against the back railing. If you're in early, keep your wits about you if you're down in the home run zone. Balls will be flying around during BP.

Honestly, while I'm not a fan of Pequods, the thought of any deep dish for lunch in mid August is just does not appeal to me. Still it's wise to not plan dinner until 9 if you do planning on doing it.

 

As for the beer itinerary, I wasn't a Corridor fan, but love Begyle and Half Acre. Though Half Acre can get very busy, especially mid-afternoon on a Saturday

I can that your "path-ing" is well laid out, and I don't have any better options to offer in the immediate vicinity of your pre-defined path

 

Awe I love Pequod's but if you're looking for thin crust I remember seeing that Vito and Nicks was the top rated pizza place in Chicago but the only thing is it's on the south side. I haven't had a chance to try it but I remember reading about it.

 

I'm a fan of Pequods (if you've heard about a deep dish pizza place in Chicago, it's going to be good). If you think BA's are picky and opinionated about their beer, Chicagoan's are even worse with our allegiances to our deep dish pizza places. Don't let a few bad opinions scare you off of Pequod's, but that being said Piece would take the cake for a beer fan since they brew. Marketing Ploy is a solid pale ale.

 

This place is a dump but it has the best tap list right near Wrigley https://www.beermenus.com/places/2188-merkles-bar-grill

 

Another nearby option is the Dark Horse
https://www.beermenus.com/places/14780-dark-horse-tap-grille

I've always been a big Bernie's fan for post game and they usually have at least 1/2 dozen decent choices.

 

I've got to 2nd that - great place for craft beer all things considered

 

Honestly, if you want to get actual seats you should enter about an hour before the game. Don't wait too long to enter. Have fun.

 

I agree with all of this. Pequods is good but if you have to wait longer than 20 minutes to get in, I would go someplace else. Their thin crust is pretty awesome though.

 

Good List. Busy but your hitting all of the best stuff. Sunscreen in the bleachers.

Also. Skip Pequods. Most overrated za in Chicago. You can eaisly replicate at home with a cast iron pan. Eat at Piece(thin crust) or order a late night delivery from Art of Pizza for stuffed..

 

If you eating/staying in the Randolph area, you need to figure out a time to get to Green Street Meats. My favorite place down there.

Also Rick Bayless' Cruz Blanca brewpub may be a better choice than Au cheval after the game. Tacos are awesome and they have some real interesting beers.

 

I'm a big fan of Pequod's deep dish, so I still recommend it. There are definitely a set of people that like Pequod's and don't like it, though.

Interesting comment on their thin crust - I have never been impressed with it at all.

I hope he knows better than to take advice from someone that refers to it as "za". Although, I am a big fan of Art of Pizza as well - perhaps the best stuffed pizza in the city, and doesn't get a lot of hype.

 

I'm going to stay out of the pizza argument this time (that way lies madness), but if you can make waiting for Au Cheval at Haymarket/Lone Wolf/etc. work, I'd do it. You gotta hit up Au Chevie at least once just to say you tried the burger (with bacon, and probably with an egg, too), and spending time at Haymarket and Lone Wolf is never a bad idea (and honestly, Haymarket has great food too; try The Riot if you instead eat there).

Also, as has already been mentioned, Beer Temple is a much better idea for buying beer than Bitter Pops is, but you can have a (delightfully-priced) drink or two on tap at Bitter Pops, so it's really going to depend on what you're going there for. They're both great, just very different.

 

Pequod's makes the most sense if he wants to hit local option since it's a 10 minute walk down Webster, Piece is a cab ride away....I know everyone has preference for deep dish pizza, but I've never had bad deep dish in this city from a place that has been in existence for more than a few years. Crust, cheese, toppings, tomato sauce then cook isn't a hard concept to execute. Has anyone been to Homeslice? They are in the same area as Local Option and it is the hippest looking pizza place from the el, but have never tried it.

 

Homeslice is excellent, but only if you like very thin, kind of floppy pizza (I like pretty much every type of pizza, although deep dish is my favorite). You're right that either Homeslice or Pequod's would work well for Local Option; Lou Malnati's is also a relatively close option in that case. I'm in the same boat as you; I like most of the big places here, and would happily eat from any of them, despite my preferences.

 

If you dont call it za your doing it wrong Glad to finally see another Art fan. Biggest sleeper in the city.

 

I live right down the street from Piece and are my favorite pizza place in Chicago but I am surprised there is this much dislike for Pequod's.