Chicago Mar 6-10

Great timing for this thread, as I was looking for suggestions and tourist tips from you BA Chicagoans.

I've done some research and looking around regarding Chicago and was interested in hearing thoughts on the restaurants listed below, as these were the places that caught my interest. My girl and I love eating out, so any hot spots as well as hidden gem recommendations are certainly welcome.

The Girl and the Goat (a few open reservations here and there over the new few months)
The Publican
Pequod's Pizza
Ruxbin
Hot Doug's (mentioned above)

Also, any suggestions for cool spots to check out besides Millennium Park? Cool little shops / sights / activities?

 

Pequods is one of my favorite "lesser known" pizza spots. Burnt crust of carmelized cheese/sauce = crazy delicious!

 

In what world is it lesser known?
During peak hours/days that place is always slammed.

 

I'm referring to out of towners typically only knowing about Giordanos, Ginos, Lou Mals...

 

Hopleaf is having having some special events that week. Recently posted on their site (also their food is excellent): here is a cut and paste

We have FOUR NEW EVENTS coming soon!
Wednesday MARCH 5 ~~ The pioneer American Craft Brewery, San Francisco's ANCHOR Brewing Company will debut their IPA at Hopleaf. There will be 7 Anchor representatives flying in from San Francisco to introduce their latest brew to Hopleaf customers. 7 PM and throughout the evening. Hopleaf has featured Anchor beers for over 22 years and are proud to be the first to offer this new offering.

Thursday MARCH 6 ~~TWO special tappings:
REVOLUTION BREWING is debuting a collaboration beer with Seventh Sun Brewing from Columbus Ohio. Seventh Sun is bringing two of their own beers as well and since they are not regularly available here, this is a rare chance to sample their great beers! Revolution is bringing some one off rarities as well. 7 PM

Also, we are honoring the Class of '88! 1988 was a banner year for great craft brewery launches and last year, the 25th anniversary of those launches, Dechutes, Goose Island, Great Lakes, Rogue, and North Coast brewed beers together to honor their combined successes. We will be tapping several of the special brews.

Monday, MARCH 10 ~~
LOST ABBEY's visionary founder/brewmaster TOMME ARTHUR will be at Hopleaf for a special meet and greet! We'll be pouring some rare Lost Abbey beers and giving our Hopleaf customers a rare opportunity to chat with Tomme. He's truly one of the great craft beer ambassadors. 7 PM

 

Thanks man.

In all honesty, if you were to give a person who's never visited Chicago before one pizza place recommendation, what place would you name drop? I don't care if it's "touristy" or mainstream, just looking to try the best slice.

 

For Chicago pizza, most would say Lou Malnati's but if you want the original, you have to go to the original Pizzeria Uno location or pizzeria due across the street.

 

If you're not looking specifically for stuffed, you can never go wrong with HomeRunInn pizza.

 

Well I think I am pretty convinced on going to Hot Doug's. I'll try and make use of that pro-tip

As for beer I am really hoping to find some Combat Marshmallow by Solemn Oath. Its number one on the personal Chicago Want to Try/Get list right now.

 

Either Pequads, Lou Malnati's, or Gino's East. Lou's and Gino's are very similar and delicious. Fuck Giardano's though.

In terms of other restaurants. I highly recommend Avec, Blackbird, or the Bristol. Think they're both better than Girl and the Goat (which is very awesome). Avec is probably my favorite restaurant in the city.

Depending on how long you're staying, I'd say go to Big Star in Wicker Park. Fantastic gourmet tacos. Same guy that owns The Publican, Avec, and Blackbird. The Violet Hour is a mixology bar/speak easy type place across the street, and a great place to get a drink.

I wouldn't get your hopes up for combat marshmallow. It's fine, but there's not a hint of marshmallow in it.

 

I would say Pequod's. Malnati's ain't bad though.

Not sure all the big Chicago style places offer it by the slice though (I think Pequod's does for lunch).

There's some excellent non-Chicago style pizza here too. Piece (New Haven style) and Dante's (NYC-ish) are both really great.

Dante's for sure has slices (NOT Chicago style). The Art of Pizza definitely has Chicago-style slices though their standout is pan pizza.

 

Ha well even so, hopefully there is some left on the shelf somewhere. Otherwise I will just have to stock up on Pipeworks and Revolution Brewing.

But for non-bottle shop stops looks like my day is filling up.

Hot Doug's
Hop Leaf
Map Room
Pequod's or Lou Malnati's
Goose Island
Emporium Arcade Bar
Revolution Brewing

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and see you March 8th.

 

Go to Twisted Spoke for **** and eggs.

 

Any Freetail or St Arnold-I know not in SA but thought I'd ask.. Thanks

 

FFF on Saturday night isn't bad. The afternoon is when it gets crazy. Went last night at 6 and it was a 20 minute wait for a table. Sidenote: Local liquor stores are still carrying bottles of seasonals not available at the brewery anymore. I suggest Discount Liquors on Indianapolis Blvd. in Highland.

 

plane lands, straight to HAlf Acre taproom at noon and order Bad Apple food for pickup, Maproom at 3, local option at 5, Beer Temple at 7:30 and Buy Pipeworks, Spiteful, Begyle, 18th st, Begyle etc.., Kumas Corner at 8 for amazing burger, go to bed early.....wake up... Revolution Brewery for lunch and beers at 11am, down to HayMarket at 2, over to Goose Island Brewery by 5, Lou Malnati's Pizza for dinner at 8, Drinks at Fountianhead at 10 , go to sleep, wake up and fly away

 

That all sounds... okay, I guess, but for the fact that it's highly inefficient. If you're going to be up near Half Acre, you might as well visit Fountainhead on the same trip. Also, to the Beer Temple/Kuma's trip, add in Revolution (the tap room - stop by Honey Butter Fried Chicken and/or Hot Doug's if you're looking for food outside of Kuma's). Arguably, too, ditch Malnati's and add in Pequod's in/around Local Option and Goose. Hell, if the OP is flying into O'Hare, he might as well head straight to something off the Blue line and save the Half Acre/Bad Apple/Fountainhead idea for another day.

Point being, the OP could more efficiently visit Piece/Map Room/Revolution/Beer Temple/ Kuma's; Goose Island/Local Option/Pequod's; Bottles & Cans/Half Acre/Bad Apple/Fountainhead; Haymarket/Printer's Row Wine Shop/Warehouse Liquors/Miller's Pub; and/or Rock Bottom/Eatlay/Jake Melnick's/Clark St. Ale House/Farmhouse Tavern. To say nothing of visiting Hopleaf and adding bars/stores thereafter.

 

If you dint get pizza at Piece while you're in town you've missed the then tore point if being here. Forget Malnatis and Uno; that was the pizza you had to have if you cam here in the 90s. Piece is handily the #1 place to hit. They brew their own beer, too. Have forever. And it's fantastic.

 

Hi all. It's me again. I did not want to create a seperate thread for this, and was hoping someone could help me out with my inquiry.

Where is the closest place that sells New Glarus beer in location to Chicago? I know the Wisconsin state line is not too too far away from the city, and was looking for the least distance I would have to drive to pick up some New Glarus stuff. Also, is Serendipity still available?

Thanks.

 

Also we have wonderful museums and one of them (The Field Musuem) features a pretty damn impressive little bar inside with three floyds, off color and few others.