15 October 2010
Posted in
Pearls in Ophthalmology
By Brooke Strickland
Chicago is a huge city known for its food and sights. With hundreds if not thousands of restaurant choices, it might be difficult for a newcomer to the city to know what the best places are to eat. Well, you’re in luck. After interviewing a Chicago native to find out what she believes are the top five places to eat in the Chicago area, we’ve compiled a list of places you’ve just got to try. So get your day planner ready and schedule a week out on the town, indulging in some of Chicago’s finest eateries.
• Club Lucky: Traditional Italian food served family style in an upscale environment, Club Lucky is a great spot to grab a bite. If the weather’s nice, lots of outdoor patio seating is available, and the restaurant is a good spot for private parties, as it’s capable of accommodating large groups.
What might you find on the menu?
How about stuffed artichoke, linguine with fresh little neck clams, homemade ravioli, filet pizziola, or amaretto ricotta cheesecake? The menu is so full of yummy items it might take you a while to narrow down what you want to try.
• Girl & the Goat: This restaurant, opened in 2010 is located in the West Loop, and has a menu of 30 items: 10 vegetarian, 10 meat, and 10 fish, making it appealing to eaters of all kinds. The restaurant also makes fresh sausage every day, with four varieties to choose from. They also work with several local farms in the area for produce, goat meat and veal, and goat cheese.
What might you find on the menu?
Amongst lots of other mouth-watering choices, you’ll find chilled yellow tomato-vanilla bean soup, grilled baby octopus, smoked goat pizza, grilled beef short ribs, and oysters.
• Gino’s East of Chicago: This place is a legend among locals (and celebrities and other visitors from all parts of the world) and began in 1966 when the owners opened this pizzeria. It’s famous for its deep-dish pizza; the recipe has never changed.
What might you find on the menu?
Deep dish pizza (with all kinds of toppings!), mozzarella sticks, chicken stromboli, or pesto pasta are all served. We hear everything is savory here, but the pizza is what keeps people lining up out the door.
• Halfshell: If you love seafood – especially oysters, clams, and crab – you’ll love this place. A part of the Chicago restaurant scene since 1968, Halfshell is known for serving some of the best seafood around and for very affordable prices.
What might you find on the menu?
Steamed jumbo shrimps, smoked sturgeon and onions, frog legs, king crab legs, or charbroiled salmon or swordfish are just some of the many delicious entrees available.
• Hot Doug’s: Chicago-style hot dogs include some of the most unique combinations of condiments you can find. So, if you’re visiting Chicago, it’s almost a “must-do” to have one of these hot dogs. Hot Doug’s is the place to be if you want authenticity in the Chicago hot dog experience. But word to the wise: you might need to schedule a workout afterwards. This type of meal isn’t for the faint of heart.
What might you find on the menu?
For only $1.75 you can get the real deal: a Chicago-style hot dog with all the trimmings. You can also find bratwurst, Polish sausage, Italian sausage, chardonnay and jalapeno rattlesnake sausage, Andouille sausage, fresh-cut French fries, or duck fat fries.
