Kuma's makes their own ketchup if I'm not mistaken

With the same dietary restrictions this was my go too. I can't remember what else I've done. I think it was a monthly special.

Also with regards to the question of an egg, the answer is always yes!

If anyone hasn't gone to see Book of Mormon, I highly recommend making it a point to see it before the show leaves in October.

I'm a bit of a Broadway junkie and didn't get a chance to see the show until this past weekend. It's quite unique and unlike any other show I've seen; definitely something that appeals to "non-musical" people and clearly has an edgyness that you'd expect from the founders of South Park (who wrote the show).

+1, I've been recommending it to everyone as well. Haven't heard one friend say a negative thing about it after I told them to go.

A couple friends and I are going to be in Chicago this Tuesday and Wednesday. Neither of us have been there, and aside from having a couple restaurants we want to hit up we really have no idea what to do with the in between time. We will have a car and don't care to much about driving. I know this is kind of broad, but does anyone have any suggestions?

what are you guys into on the whole?

Totally depends if you're interested in the touristy spots vs. exploring the various neighborhoods...

I think we are more into exploring neighborhoods, unless you have some touristy suggestions you think are really cool. But I don't think we would enjoy stuff like Navy Pier etc...

We like comedy (we were thinking about checking out Second city or some club named underground comedy). Live music is nice, I have heard mixed reviews on the Green Mill, what do you guys think about that place? But that stuff is all night stuff, I am having a hard time figuring out what to do during the day. Also we are in our mid-twenties if that helps.

This is a partial list of Chicago-y things I like to keep handy for when friends, family and co-workers are looking for fun things to do around the city:

Music: The Metro, Schubas, Kingston Mines, Empty Bottle, Double Door, The Hideout
Comedy: Second City, Zanie's, Laugh Factory, The Comedy Bar
Drinks/Breweries: Goose Island, Half Acre, Three Floyd's (Indiana), Revolution, Rock Bottom (rooftop), Haymarket, DryHop (brand new), J. Parker (rooftop), Signature Lounge (95th floor of Hancock Building)
Museums/Tours: Architecture Tour, Art Institute, Museum of Contemporary Art, Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry
Other: Lake Shore bike path (with bike rentals), Lincoln Park Zoo

Note: I have a huge separate list for restaurants but you said you had food covered.

If this is your first time in the city then I probably wouldn't recommend doing any shows or anything like that.

What kind of food spots were you guys thinking of?

If you are into craft beer, then you will want haymarket, revolution, piece, half acre, dry hop on your radars as those are the major brewpubs in the city. There is also atlas, which is worth a visit and is next to delilah's which has a killer whisky selection.

As far as good beer bars, any of:

Farmhouse
Sheffield's
Local Option
Hopleaf
Fountainhead
Bad Apple
Banger's and Lace
Map Room
Quencher's
Village tap

are all great options for good beer that doesn't have it's own brewery attached to it.

Go to the Emporium Arcade Bar.

They have a bunch of older Arcade Games (Simpsons, Blitz, Super Off Road, etc) for $.25 per play. They also are a whiskey bar and have good drinks.

It's a pretty fun time, assuming you enjoy video games.

I'd suggest just parking your car somewhere and navigating by walking + public transit or cab.

Kayaking down the Chicago River is fun along with walking in Mill Park. Navy Pier is overrated and a total tourist trap.

Thanks, a lot of great suggestions here. We were thinking about hitting up some of these restaurants:

Quartino
Urban Belly
Hot Doug's
Bristol
Pequods

Not really committed to this list what do you think?

If you could walk around any neighborhood for a couple hours which one would it be?

If you go through with this, you'll be doing much better than the average Chicago visitor. Approved.

Anyone been to Urban Belly? Drive past it everyday

Kudos to you for saying Pequods and not Lou's. Both are good but, if I had to choose one, Pequods wins.

Piece is another great pizza place in Wicker Park that is worth a visit next time you're in-town.

I found Quartino's to be quite bad in my one time there. For standardish Italian I'd definitely recommend Maggiano's over Q. Saporia Trattoria on Halsted near Diversey is really good and more interesting but small.

I prefer Lou's but wouldn't try to sway you away from Pequod's as both are top tier.

Bristol also a very nice choice

A fun place is also taverna 750 up near Cornelia / Halsted. It's a Tapas bar that has great food

Piccolo Sogno is prob the best Italian I've had in Chicago so far.

La scarola is also good. Maggianos is decent but its a bit tilting how its a lettuce entertain you place you can buy gift cards for

Briciola in Ukie Village on Damen is a personal favorite. They have a great outdoor patio and are byob

Haha how does a restaurant having gift cards tilt you?

I just learned that the Family Matters house is Lakeview at 1516 W. Wrightwood! Still looks the same apparently.

It puts it in the same category of an Applebees or bennigans

Doesn't every restaurant offer gift cards?

Yeah I also thought many do that now. Graham Elliot, a Michelin 2*, has a GC link right at the bottom of their homepage. Any thoughts on that place btw? I've only been there for dessert.
Ed: Noticed that all the Boka group ones have GCs too (Boka, Perennial, Girl & The Goat, etc.)


Do many people do these Geeks Who Drink trivia days? http://www.geekswhodrink.com/index.c...earch&state=IL

Saw a few friends posting about it, looks pretty cool. I spotted 1 2+2er from this thread in the pics!


BTW I completed my restaurant plan for next month's trip:

Standards: Lou Malnati's, Tsukasa (suburbs), Wildfire

New (to me): Milt's Barbecue (Lakview), Kuma's, Bavette's (debated between this and Boarding House a few months ago and regretted going w/ BH)

Plz post your thoughts on milt's. I've been meaning to check it out since they opened.