I need 4 dinner recommendations in Chicago next week.

[Fiyero]

I'll be working in the windy city all next week. Sunday I'll eat at Wrigley Field and Friday I'll eat at Comiskey Park. Please give recommendations for Monday through Thursday.

[ERCougar]

Here are some of the places we ate last time in Chicago:
Frontera Grill - Good mexican food place owned by that one food network guy...blanking on his name
Mia Francesca - Great Italian food near Wrigley Field
Smoque - Cool BBQ place
Tango Sur - Argentinian steak house
Hancock tower - 96th floor, the food is actually good, the view is unbeatable, and you don't have to pay for the elevator ride if you eat in the restaurant. This used to be my favorite recommendation for Chicago, but now with the glass floor on the Sears Tower, it may be worth the ridiculous charge to get up there.

EDIT: Rick Bayless is the food network guy.

[falafel]

I'll be working in the windy city all next week. Sunday I'll eat at Wrigley Field and Friday I'll eat at Comiskey Park. Please give recommendations for Monday through Thursday.

Budget?

Lawry's is tasty, and its in a really cool old mansion. One of the oldest buildings, built soon after the great fire.

Of course you need to eat at either Gino's East or Giordano's. There's one of each in the Loop.

If you're looking for a great hot dog and have a car, my favorite place is Hot Dog Island in Skokie. I would get the Jumbo Char-Dog, with grilled onions if you like 'em. If you go there, let me know if the same overweight stereotypically Chicago guy is taking orders. My bet is that he's had 3 heart attacks by now. Great guy, though.

[falafel]

Here are some of the places we ate last time in Chicago:
Hancock tower - 96th floor, the food is actually good, the view is unbeatable, and you don't have to pay for the elevator ride if you eat in the restaurant. This used to be my favorite recommendation for Chicago, but now with the glass floor on the Sears Tower, it may be worth the ridiculous charge to get up there.

Ah, the Signature Room. I think its on the 95th. I agree, this place is pretty good, especially given that the view is the main attraction. $18 lunch buffet is a good deal. The last time I was up there a huge cloud rolled in and blocked every view.

[Donuthole]

If you're looking for a great hot dog and have a car, my favorite place is Hot Dog Island in Skokie. I would get the Jumbo Char-Dog, with grilled onions if you like 'em. If you go there, let me know if the same overweight stereotypically Chicago guy is taking orders. My bet is that he's had 3 heart attacks by now. Great guy, though.

Do they boil the dogs?

[falafel]

Do they boil the dogs?[/COLOR]

Jumbo CHAR-dogs. But this place is unique.

I will still boil my chicagoans. You don't have to come if you don't like it.

[JohnnyLingo]

If you go there, let me know if the same overweight stereotypically Chicago guy is taking orders. My bet is that he's had 3 heart attacks by now. Great guy, though.

Da Bears.

[Fiyero]

Budget?

I'll be alone, so it's generally not an issue.

[falafel]

Da Bears.

That's the guy. Glasses and all. No mustache, however.

[Coach McGuirk]

Gibson's has always been good to me, so that is my recommendation.

[TripletDaddy]

If you really want some, let me know. I can see if I can help out.

Asking people on sports boards for suggestions in Chicago is much like the final round of Wheel of Fortune. Does everyone remember back in the day.....everyone would always choose "R S T L N and E." It happened almost every single time. So much, in fact, that the show changed its format and simply started including those letters in the final clue. Today, a contestant simply gets those for free and chooses 3 or so more on his or her own.

Similarly, whenever Chicago comes up, there should be an automatic rule. You get the steak places, Rick Bayless as your "foodie" option, and then a the 3 or 4 pizza places everyone cites. You get those choices for free. Everyone already knows about them.

[Drunk Tank]

If I ever get to Chicago, Topolobampo and the Frontera grill are first on my list. I love Rick Bayless. I have most of his cookbooks. Mexico-One Plate at a Time is a great cookbook. His two restaurants come highly recommended. Frontera Grill/Topolobampo were chosen one of the best restaurants in America in 2001 by the James Beard Foundation.

http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/

[YOhio]

If you really want some, let me know. I can see if I can help out.

Asking people on sports boards for suggestions in Chicago is much like the final round of Wheel of Fortune. Does everyone remember back in the day.....everyone would always choose "R S T L N and E." It happened almost every single time. So much, in fact, that the show changed its format and simply started including those letters in the final clue. Today, a contestant simply gets those for free and chooses 3 or so more on his or her own.

Similarly, whenever Chicago comes up, there should be an automatic rule. You get the steak places, Rick Bayless as your "foodie" option, and then a the 3 or 4 pizza places everyone cites. You get those choices for free. Everyone already knows about them.

One of my earliest CB interactions with you was on the topic of Chicago foods. IIRC, you recommended Johnny's Beef. I went there and loved it. Thanks for that.

[YOhio]

Have you been to Charlie Trotters? Incredible.

[TripletDaddy]

Frontera Grill/Topolobampo were chosen one of the best restaurants in America in 2001 by the James Beard Foundation.

Sounds about right.