Eats
Pequod's - This pizza place came highly recommended by my coworker and a dude we met on the plane as the best deep dish in Chicago and it did not disappoint. The restaurant has a fun, laid back, bar atmosphere, with plenty of beers on tap and big screen tvs. The pizza was everything someone could want from a deep dish, well seasoned sauce, piled high with toppings and just burnt enough on the edges to make the crust perfectly crispy. Highly recommended.
Wildberry's Pancakes and Cafe- I believe I found this breakfast establishment on yelp and I can see why they have 5 stars. Even on a Thursday at 10am the large dinning room was packed. I ordered a scramble with a side of the wild berry pancakes which was way too much food and entirely delicious.
Moto
I'll let the restaurant's website introduce you: "Dining at moto is like actively engaging in a multi-sensory dining experience unlike any other around the world. The moto kitchen serves as a state of the art canvas for Chef Cantu and his gifted team to combine high-tech equipment and intricate techniques with exotic, sustainable and seasonally conscious ingredients from around the world. While our vision in gastronomy may at some times appear to be a note taken out of a far out science-fiction novel, the magnificent flavors and extreme attention to detail for each moto dish are indeed very real."
This was the fanciest meal I had ever eaten so I have to talk about it for a moment. The restaurant's website touts innovation and creativity but I found the entire thing quite gimmicky. Prime example- the dessert was a sorbet in an angel food cake shaped like a hotdog because "your brain thinks you're eating a hot dog but, wait, it is really dessert!" No my brain did not think I was eating a hotdog. I am wearing heels in a 5-star restaurant, my brain is thinking: Where's the chocolate?!
I did have a "wow science!" moment with the onion course (let's not get stuck on the fact that there was an onion course). Before the course the waiter brought a glass of sherry, so I took a sip of it, as one does while waiting for food, and it was horrible. I was certain I would not be able to take another sip. Then the course arrived, which turned out to be an onion, garlic pudding of sorts and I took another sip of the sherry after a few bites of pudding. My mind was blown! The onions perfectly complimented the sherry which tasted sweeter and almost palatable. I didn't finish either the sherry or the pudding but I appriecated the experience. I'm not sure if I have a simple pallet or if the Midwest should really leave the gourmet cooking to the Best Coast but this was a meal I wouldn't have again.
La Sirena Clandestina- We went just for cocktails after drinking too much wine at Moto. The bar was cozy and romantically lit. They have a wide variety of drinks and the bar tender was willing to be inventive when I couldn't decide what I wanted. I would go back to try the food next time.
25 Degrees- After a day of sightseeing and bike riding all I wanted was a big fat veggie burger and this was one of the best I'd ever had. The black bean burger was zesty and flavorful and I ordered mine piled it high with cheese, onion rings and BBQ sauce. We topped it off by sharing a boozy chocolate milk shake and I was in heaven. There is nothing like good diner food with an upscale twist.
Smoke Daddy- On our last day we checked out of our hotel and toted our bags to the hipster district Wicker Park. After getting off the train and walking about half a mile we were sweaty, hungry and looking for some shade. This place fit the bill perfectly. We settled in at one of their patio tabled and happily killed time there for several hours. They have a brunch menu but I went with the veggie burger which was fine. The real seller for me was the Root Beer, listed on their beer menu. It tasted just like a soda but with a kick. I could have had 5 if we had been in for an afternoon of day drinking. Instead I enjoyed one while relaxing, people watching and basking in the gloriousness that is Chicago in June
Do
Architecture River Cruise- This river boat tour, sponsored by the Chicago Archetiture Foundation, was surprisingly more interesting than I thought it would be. We cruised up and down the Chicago river, admiring all of the sky scrapers with a picturesque blue sky in the background. Our guide, an older woman who volunteers for the foundation, was whitty and funny on top of being incredibly knowledgeable. The information she shared included the history of each building and it's architect as well as a variety of fun pop culture references. I learned so much about Chicago I wouldn't have known without going on the tour. Definitely one of the highlights.
Navy Pier- We walked through here one night and I was not impressed. No doubt this was once an attraction for local families, but it has since succumbed to a tourist trap and teenage hang out. Not only is the pier decorated in a cheap Disneyland style a good majority of the "attractions" are inside. This makes sense in the winter but it left us wandering through a parking lot wondering where we were going. Skip.
Divvy Bikes- As cyclists in San Francisco it was only natural we would take to the streets while in Chicago and we took full advantage of the city's bike share system. The city has done a wonderful job of placing the bikes at frequent intervals in many neighborhoods. The bikes are designed for short use trips so you can pay the flat fee for a day and use them at half hour increments for no additional cost. We would rent a bike, ride around for a half hour to a designated doc, repark the bikes and wait a few minutes before renting another one from the same doc. We rode all along Lake Michigan as well as through the Loop and Near West Side. I particularly loved riding south along the lake through the impeccably landscaped park. The only downside is the bikes are heavy and somewhat finicky so after a few hours of riding my butt was a little sore from the seats. Regardless I still highly recommend it.
The Field Museum- At one point in our ride we were approaching the 30 minute mark, looking for a place to park our bikes and the one outside the museum was near by. While waiting before we could rent new bikes we decided to wander around the museum lobby/gift shop. The lobby had an impressive display of fossils which I'm sure lead to a wonderful full exhibit. We were getting hungry and tired from riding so we didn't tour the museum but it is on the top of list for next time I go back.
The Signature Lounge in the John Hancock- a friend and current chicago resident suggested this #protip. Instead of paying $20 to stand on The Legde of the Willis Tower (which this acrophobe was not looking forward to in the slightest) head to the bar on the 96th floor of the John Hancock. The view is just as good, and at least you'll get a few drinks for your $20.
La Sirena Clandestina- We went just for cocktails after drinking too much wine at Moto. The bar was cozy and romantically lit. They have a wide variety of drinks and the bar tender was willing to be inventive when I couldn't decide what I wanted. I would go back to try the food next time.
25 Degrees- After a day of sightseeing and bike riding all I wanted was a big fat veggie burger and this was one of the best I'd ever had. The black bean burger was zesty and flavorful and I ordered mine piled it high with cheese, onion rings and BBQ sauce. We topped it off by sharing a boozy chocolate milk shake and I was in heaven. There is nothing like good diner food with an upscale twist.
Smoke Daddy- On our last day we checked out of our hotel and toted our bags to the hipster district Wicker Park. After getting off the train and walking about half a mile we were sweaty, hungry and looking for some shade. This place fit the bill perfectly. We settled in at one of their patio tabled and happily killed time there for several hours. They have a brunch menu but I went with the veggie burger which was fine. The real seller for me was the Root Beer, listed on their beer menu. It tasted just like a soda but with a kick. I could have had 5 if we had been in for an afternoon of day drinking. Instead I enjoyed one while relaxing, people watching and basking in the gloriousness that is Chicago in June
Do
Architecture River Cruise- This river boat tour, sponsored by the Chicago Archetiture Foundation, was surprisingly more interesting than I thought it would be. We cruised up and down the Chicago river, admiring all of the sky scrapers with a picturesque blue sky in the background. Our guide, an older woman who volunteers for the foundation, was whitty and funny on top of being incredibly knowledgeable. The information she shared included the history of each building and it's architect as well as a variety of fun pop culture references. I learned so much about Chicago I wouldn't have known without going on the tour. Definitely one of the highlights.
Navy Pier- We walked through here one night and I was not impressed. No doubt this was once an attraction for local families, but it has since succumbed to a tourist trap and teenage hang out. Not only is the pier decorated in a cheap Disneyland style a good majority of the "attractions" are inside. This makes sense in the winter but it left us wandering through a parking lot wondering where we were going. Skip.
Divvy Bikes- As cyclists in San Francisco it was only natural we would take to the streets while in Chicago and we took full advantage of the city's bike share system. The city has done a wonderful job of placing the bikes at frequent intervals in many neighborhoods. The bikes are designed for short use trips so you can pay the flat fee for a day and use them at half hour increments for no additional cost. We would rent a bike, ride around for a half hour to a designated doc, repark the bikes and wait a few minutes before renting another one from the same doc. We rode all along Lake Michigan as well as through the Loop and Near West Side. I particularly loved riding south along the lake through the impeccably landscaped park. The only downside is the bikes are heavy and somewhat finicky so after a few hours of riding my butt was a little sore from the seats. Regardless I still highly recommend it.
The Field Museum- At one point in our ride we were approaching the 30 minute mark, looking for a place to park our bikes and the one outside the museum was near by. While waiting before we could rent new bikes we decided to wander around the museum lobby/gift shop. The lobby had an impressive display of fossils which I'm sure lead to a wonderful full exhibit. We were getting hungry and tired from riding so we didn't tour the museum but it is on the top of list for next time I go back.
The Signature Lounge in the John Hancock- a friend and current chicago resident suggested this #protip. Instead of paying $20 to stand on The Legde of the Willis Tower (which this acrophobe was not looking forward to in the slightest) head to the bar on the 96th floor of the John Hancock. The view is just as good, and at least you'll get a few drinks for your $20.
Do you have any recommendations to add to the list? I'd love to use this as a reference for next time I visit.
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