Chicago

This is currently under construction but please keep checking back, as i'll be adding new things all the time!

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Taxis can get you anywhere, but be aware that the meter will work against you in rush hour traffic, so try to plan your days with that in mind. The "El" (which I have written a review about) is efficient but the majority of the lines run within the Loop and as you move toward the lake more there are less and less stops. Walking is the most efficient, especially if you select a hotel near Michigan Ave, as this is where alot of the hustle and bustle occurs.

Ann Sather's is by far one of the best breakfast places in the city. There are two locations, the one I eat at regularly is right off Lake Shore Drive, so with Mapquest, it should be relatively easy to find.

Service:
Most of the servers are very friendly, I haven't had a bad experience yet. The restaurant is a fairly small, so it is easy to get your server's attention, as they're always buzzing around within view.

Food:
Meal prices range from 7.00-11.00 dollars, and any egg entree is served with your choice of two sides, one of them being their famous CINNAMON ROLLS! They're always seved warm and filled with mascarpone cheese. You can also get fruit, hash browns (which are more like a potato mash up with rosemary), or tomato slices. They offer close to 20 specials on most days, as well as a handful of unique juice selections.

I Recommend:
- They service a juice with Cranberry, Grapefruit, and Orange juices in it, i can't remember the name, but its fabulous if you want a change from just a normal glass of orange juice.
- Their smoked salmon is really delicious and not overly salty.
- Any omelette. They make 3-egg omelettes by default, but usually they'll make you a 2-egg.


The Bottom Line:
A quaint, brightly decorated breakfast place that has phenomenal food with healthy options. Show up before or after the breakfast rush and you'll have your pick of tables. They make a wide variety of meals, using alot of ingredients you wouldn't normally see for breakfast, making it obvious that the Cinnamon Rolls aren't the only hidden treasure at Ann Sather's.

The Grand Lux Cafe is on Michigan Ave. in the heart of the city. The architecture is really gorgeous and the decor is warm and inviting.

Service:
The service is really a cut above. Nine times out of then the lobby is packed, but the hostesses manage to keep the wait time down to 15 minutes at the busiest times, and less than 5 at quieter times. There are an abundance of servers, all who know the menu backwards and forwards. Even though the restaurant is so large and it always seems full, I have never found myself waiting an unreasonable amount of time for my meal.

Food:
The food is phenomenal. Meal prices range from 11-25 dollars,
and the portions are very large. There is a wide variety of food, mostly American/continental, some Asian, and some Mexican influenced meals. They have a lot of classic dishes with an updated feel. The menu is gigantic and they offer made-to-order desserts.


I Recommend:
- The crabcakes are great. They aren't all filling, and the mustard sauce that comes with them complements very well.
- Chocolate Pecan cookies. They're made to order so order them at the beginning of the meal.
-They cook salmon perfectly, every time.


The Bottom Line:
Grand Lux Cafe is a great mid-to-upscale restaurant that anyone can enjoy. You can walk in off the street after an afternoon of shopping or have an elegant Friday or Saturday night meal. Offering a banquet room in addition to the restaurant floor, its a great place for a meal or a special occasion.

Bring a book, because the line is going to be long. Usually, the line stretching out the door moves pretty fast, but it can get backed up easy, so pick your time to go wisely. Odd times of the day, really early, or really late are the best. The only way to eat popcorn is warm, and thats exactly how Garrett's will serve it. At 2 dollars for a small bag, even those on the tightest vacation budget can enjoy this freshly popped popcorn in any of the numerous flavors they offer. In addition to the take-away bags, you can mix and match different flavors of popcorn in tins. All the popcorn is made fresh, right in front of you. This is a must-stop for people passing through or those on a vacation!

Water Tower Place is an mid-to-upscale mall located in the heart of Michigan Ave. I loved it; It was well decorated and not overly crowded.

The Mezzanine and 2nd floors are mostly food. Theres a great food court that offers alot of different types of cuisine. Theres also a nice salad and soup bar thats located next door.

Floors 3-7 are all shopping. No matter how many people are there, they never seem crowded. There are alot of typical mall stores like Wet Seal and Forever 21, then there are more upscale places like French Connection.

On every floor, there is access to Macy*s. This used to be a Marshall Field's but Macy*s bought them out back in 2005. There are escalators both in the Macy*s and in the mall itself, and there are two elevators and an express elevator that goes from 2-7 only.


Overall, this is a nice mall in a great location. I had a ton of fun here; The food was great, it was very clean, and the people were very friendly. This is a must-see for any die-hard shopper!