Chicago Nesties
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Foodie Recommendations!
I have visited Chicago many many times and am making another trip next weekend leisurely and I was hoping to get some recommendations on places to eat in the Downtown Area, Wrigelyville, etc. I am open to the location in Chicago, I am just looking for a great experience and great food! I want a restaurant that is something a person NEEDS to experience while visiting Chicago.
Please help, I have been surfing the internet way too long! haha
Thank-you!
Re: Foodie Recommendations!
Oh gosh, too many to count. I don't know much about the Wrigleyville area, but I can give you some recommendations downtown. Here are some amazing options:
-Bin 36. If you're a wine and cheese lover (and a foodie), you've got to go here. It's just North of Wacker in Marina Towers, and boasts both wine flights and cheese flights. Their food and atmosphere is amazing.
-Cibo Matto. This is an Italian restaurant inside the Wit Hotel in the Loop. Some of the best Italian in the city, but not huge traditional Italian portions. Think Italian, but foodie style. The bolognese is unreal, and the dessert is usually a complimentary bowl of flavored cotton candy - the best!
-If you're in the mood for seafood, try Catch 35. Great, fresh, and phenomenal service.
-Of course, Chicago style pizza is ah-mazing. So if you're up for that, do Giordano's instead of Gino's, much better flavor. But if you're in the mood for more "foodie" pizza try La Madia in River North - amazing pizza, thin, crispy and lots of great flavors.
-Finally, the best tacos you'll ever eat are at the upscale Mercadito in River North. The guacamole rivals the best in the business! This is must do.
Good luck!
Based on reviews from other Nesties, I made reservations last week (via opentable.com). The reservations are for 7pm for the last week in July on a weekday, so if you're planning on going here, you need to book well in advance.
As for Wrigley area, there's a lot of good food, but I wouldn't say must have's. They just opened an Al's Italian Beef (which is okay, but I prefer Portillo's downtown). A little farther south is Mia Francescas (Italians; it's on Clark St). There's also a Giordano's on Belmont near Sheffield (if you're coming from Wrigley walk south on Sheffield, or take red-line train one stop south from Addison to Belmont). Goose Island in Wrigley has pretty good food (love the fried pickles and turkey burger especially), plus you get some local brews in too
Blog Sale
<a href="http://s582.photobucket.com/albums/ss262/hzswanson/?action=view
Yes, Girl and the Goat was my first choice... but a no go, I waited too long to get a reservation, so that is completely my fault!
I will have to look at those restaurants downtown you listed! I am so overwhelmed on what to do, haha!
I was looking at Paris Club at one point, does anyone know about it or have any comments pertaining to it?
We are certainly foodies, which makes this so difficult for me to choose, haha!
You could try sitting at the bar at the Girl and the Goat. I was there last weekend and a lot of people were able to eat there.
If you are on facebook, you can "Like" Next Restaurant's page and hope to get in for their same day offerings. Or you can try getting to their bar, Aviary, at 9 and get lucky with a 10 p.m. table.
Other restaurants --
Any of Rick Bayless's: Frontera Grill, Xoco, Topolabampo
North Pond
Publican, Avec, Blackbird
Table 52
Schwa
Carnivale
Spiaggia
Kuma's Corner
Hot Doug's
Mercat in the Blackstone Hotel has the best modern tapas in Chicago. It can be loud in there, so don't expect deep dinner conversation. They carry various bottles of absinthe, and make a big production at your table serving it.
Ras Dashen is my favorite Ethiopian in Chicago (and I have been to many). They have the best price in addition to having the best Ethiopian food. Fridays they have live jazz, and it's a pretty good time.
If you want a quiet meal, The Saloon Steakhouse has great food, and a nice quiet atmosphere. The service has always been excellent, and the quality of the food is great. Try the filet trio with the wine flight!
I would skip Girl and the Goat. There is a lot of hype about it because of the owners, but we tried it and the food did not live up to the hype. It wasn't bad... But just not as good as we were expecting. If you like Sushi, I would highly reccomend COAST. It's BYOB and has a very nice decor. Try the White Dragon!