Chicago

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Chicago

A travel journal to Chicago by stephenrparker

The Windy City Review.

  • 10 reviews

Hotel 71Best of IgoUgo

Hotel

My friend stayed here last weekend -- he said it was very "swanky" and had just been renovated with no expense spared. His only complaint was the noise from adjacent rooms. The resort has a great location steps away from House of Blues and all that Michigan Ave has to offer. I saw the lobby and was impressed. Parking is expensive (just like everywhere else in Chi-town) so don't bother renting a car. Even if you fly into Midway airport. These guys have frequent room rate reductions, so check the major sites and the hotel's site for specials. A TIP: Lots of the House of Blues artists and bands stay here, so you never know who you'll see. Dweezil Zappa and Lisa Loeb of the Food Network (and famous for other reasons) stayed here and the hotel was featured on their special regarding Chicago eats.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by stephenrparker on February 19, 2004

Hotel 71
71 East Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 346-7100

Omni Chicago HotelBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Omni"

I got a special rate, but I see why Oprah puts her guests up here. It's nice all the way round. There are nicer hotels in Chi-town, but for location and staff, there is none finer. The room was maybe slightly dated, but it was a true "suite" and I enjoyed the extra room. The staff went above and beyond at every chance. I only had a problem with room service...it was not that good. Luckily, I only had to eat it once. The next morning I found that there were numerous eateries within a stone's throw away. What a great location!!

www.omnihotels.com

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by stephenrparker on February 10, 2004

Omni Chicago Hotel
676 N MICHIGAN AVE Chicago, Illinois 60611
312-944-6664

Nacional 27Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

This place has great staff and fantastic food. Everyone will enjoy the great tapas. At night, they have salsa dancing and the place gets crowded and louder. I, however, didn't mind at all. It's maybe a little trendier than it needs to be, but overall, this place aims to please.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by stephenrparker on February 19, 2004

Nacional 27
325 West Huron St Chicago, Illinois 60610
+1 312 664 2727

Gino's EastBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Real Chicago pie. I think this place has the best pizza in town. Some people swear by Lou Malnati's pizza, but I find the crust too sweet and the pizza flavorless. Gino's is a legend and a must-do when in town. It feels a little more tourist-y than it needs to, but the pie i sso good you won't mind. Stuff your face at Gino's; you'll be glad you did.

TIPS:

  • It takes around 45 minutes for the pie to cook so get an order of garlic bread and enjoy your fellow diners. . .
  • The whole place is covered in graffiti, so bring a sharpie or marker with you and "leave your mark on Chicago."
  • Don't get too many veggies on your pie; the water content drains out on the pizza and makes it soggy.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by stephenrparker on February 19, 2004

Gino's East
633 N Wells St Chicago, Illinois 60610
(312) 943-1124

ChilpancingoBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Fantastic. This place may have the best margaritas in town. They cost $8 or 10, but these guys taught me what margaritas really are. The food was prepared and served stunningly. The staff is super-smart and they know how to keep customers. The chef's mole sauces are out of this world. The menu changes frequently so I go back whenever possible and I always suggest it to guests from out of town. This food is the real deal and it hits the mark in every way.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by stephenrparker on February 10, 2004

Chilpancingo
358 W Ontario Street Chicago, Illinois 60610
(312) 266-9525

Jaks TapBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Jak's Tap"

Jak's Tap is my neighborhood watering hole, so I am biased. But I stumbled upon it while moving in and the staff made me feel welcome. They are quick to let you sample beers and will make some of the best drinks in the area. I go back each week. The staff aim to please, the food is way above average for a bar, and the beer selection will make you dizzy. I love having so many beers at my beck and call!

These guys are known for their Buffalo wings, which I don't really understand. I almost hate them. I tend to prefer the almost unnatural red-colored, spicy wings with a vinegar taste. Jak's wings are in a real sauce that is brown. . . not my thing. My friends LOVE the wings. No joke. They go out of their way to eat them here.

Everything else, in my opinion, is awesome, including the pizzas. On Mondays, burgers are only $1. And they are fantastic burgers. They have food and beer specials every day. I go here for the staff, stay for the beer, and end up eating the food.

All in all, I pick this place to go each time anyone asks what I would like to do tonight. If only they had NTN trivia to play while I drank and ate, I don't know if I would need my loft. . .

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by stephenrparker on March 2, 2004

Jaks Tap
901 W. Jackson Chicago, Illinois 60607
(312) 666-1700

Billy Goat Tavern Glascott's GroggeryBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Billy Goat Tavern"

"Che-burger! Che-burger! Che-burger!" John Belushi is gone, but the inspiration for this great Saturday Night Live skit is still kicking. They serve great burgers and sometimes they let you order your burger the way you want it! They also have chicken and dogs, but get these items at your own risk. Depending on how busy it is, you could be subject to public ridicule for not getting a double che-burger!

This is a great place to grab a bite before heading to the United Center to watch the Bulls, the Hawks, or a concert.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by stephenrparker on February 19, 2004

Billy Goat Tavern Glascott's Groggery
2158 N Halsted Sreet # 1 Chicago, Illinois 60614
(773) 281-1205

Zzazzo Cuban Comtemporary CsnBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Zza Zzo"

We tried this place because my wife had a hankering for a good mojito. Apparently, I cannot really make a good mojito at home. Anyway, we were very impressed with the entire place. Although it was raining when we arrived, it was lively and festive inside. There was a great salsa band playing and our moods changed once we stepped through the door. We kind of felt like we were in Havana. We were ushered to our reserved table and we found so much on the menu to try that we knew we would be back within a week. The appetizers are like tapas and you almost cannot go wrong. Among the standouts is the pulled pork. It is the best I have had except for the pulled pork I slow cook myself on special occasions.

I thought the entrees were a little overpriced, but the dishes were very, very good. From pork to steak to seafood, the flavor combinations were insane. Hot and sweet, cool and spicy. . . you can find whatever you want here.

Insider Tip: The dining room closes at 10:30pm to allow room for dancing.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by stephenrparker on May 29, 2004

Zzazzo Cuban Comtemporary Csn
551 N Ogden Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60622
(312) 733-9000

Cans Bar and CanteenBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Cans"

Cans is one of my Chicago faves. Even though there is some pretense with some of the patrons, there is no pretense to Cans. They have 30+ beers -- all in cans -- from cheap and borderline embarrassing to drink in public to imports. They play great music and the crowd is generally just out to have a good time. I have turned a lot of people onto this place because you can go with the boys, the girls or a little of each.

The food is decent, although it is mostly standard fare. The staff is great and pretty attentive considering how packed it gets in there. There really isn't a lot to write about except to say that this is an above-average joint that doesn't get respect in a town where trendy takes precedence over substance.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by stephenrparker on May 29, 2004

Cans Bar and Canteen
1640 N Damien Ave Chicago, Illinois 60647
(773) 227-2277

Gaslight Bar and GrilleBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Gaslight is a fantastic spot in Lincoln Park to meet with friends for an after-work drink or an important sporting event. But this is NOT a sports bar. Gaslight is a great-looking place with a great staff that seems pretty happy to be working.

The beer selection is pretty good, but the food is above average. My favorite is the fish taco plate. I had never had fish tacos that I liked until I tried them here--and I lived in the Southwest for 10 years. I fell in love with the fish tacos here. The salads are big and chock full of things other than lettuce. We had one person on the South Beach diet, one person on a calorie-restricted diet and one vegetarian the last time I went. Everyone raved about the dishes they ordered.

The bar can get crowded and it gets pretty loud, but Gaslight is doing just about everything right.

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by stephenrparker on May 29, 2004

Gaslight Bar and Grille
2426 N Racine Avenue Chicago, Illinois
(773) 929-7759

About the Writer

stephenrparker
stephenrparker
Chicago, Illinois

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