Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
INEXPENSIVE
Cafe Iberico
SPANISH/TAPAS This no-frills tapas spot won't win any
points for style, but the consistently good food and festive atmosphere makes it a
longtime local favorite for singles in their 20s and 30s. Cafe Iberico gets very loud,
especially on weekends, so it makes for a fun group destination—but plan your
romantic tête-à-tête elsewhere. Crowds begin pouring in at the end of the work-
day, so you'll probably have to wait for a table. Not to worry: Order a pitcher of
fruit-filled sangria at the bar along with everyone else. Put a dent in your appetite
with a plate of
queso de cabra
(baked goat cheese with fresh tomato-basil sauce),
and when your waiter returns with the first dish, put in a second order for a round
of both hot and cold tapas. (The waiters may take some effort to flag down.) Then
continue to order as your hunger demands. A few standout dishes are the vegetar-
ian Spanish omelet, spicy potatoes with tomato sauce, chicken brochette with
caramelized onions and rice, and grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil. There
are a handful of entrees on the menu, and a few desserts if you're still not sated.
739 N. LaSalle St. (between Chicago Ave. and Superior St.).
&
312/573-1510.
Reservations accepted for
parties of 6 or more; no reservations for Fri-Sat dinner. Tapas $2-$7; main courses $7.95-$13. DC, DISC, MC,
V. Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm; Fri 11am-1:30am; Sat noon-1:30am; Sun noon-11pm. Subway/El: Red Line to
Chicago/State or Brown Line to Chicago.
Gino's East
PIZZA It was a Chicago tourist rite of passage: waiting
in the frigid cold (or sweltering heat) to get into Gino's, a warren of tiny rooms
and dark wood booths covered with a few generations' worth of carved graffiti.
Now that the restaurant has moved into the vast space formerly occupied by
Planet Hollywood, there are no more lines out front (but the graffiti-covered
booths were brought along to keep the “authentic” flavor).
Many Chicagoans consider Gino's the quintessential deep-dish Chicago-style
pizza (I know transplanted Midwesterners who come here for their cheesy fix
whenever they're back in town). True to its reputation, the pizza is heavy (a small
cheese pizza is enough for two), so work up an appetite before chowing down.
Specialty pizzas include the supreme, with layers of cheese, sausage, onions,
green pepper, and mushrooms; and the vegetarian, with cheese, onions, peppers,
asparagus, summer squash, zucchini, and eggplant. Gino's also offers salads,
sandwiches, and pastas—but I've never seen anyone order them. If you want to
take a pizza home on the plane, call a day in advance and Gino's will pack a spe-
cial frozen pie for the trip.
633 N. Wells St. (at Ontario St.).
&
312/943-1124.
Reservations not accepted. Pizza $8.25-$17. AE, DC,
DISC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat 11am-midnight; Sun noon-9pm. Subway/El: Red Line to
Chicago/State.
Mr. Beef
AMERICAN Calling Mr. Beef a restaurant may be a stretch;
the place is basically a fast-food stand, without much atmosphere or seating
room. Despite these drawbacks, it's a much-loved Chicago institution. Its claim
to fame is the classic Italian beef sandwich, the Chicago version of a Philly cheese
steak. The Mr. Beef variety is made of sliced beef dipped in
jus,
piled high on a
chewy bun, and topped with sweet or hot peppers. Heavy, filling, and
very
Chicago, Mr. Beef really hops during lunchtime, when dusty construction work-
ers and suit-clad businessmen crowd in for their meaty fix. While you're chow-
ing, check out the celebrity photos and newspaper clippings covering the walls,
and you'll see why this place is considered a local monument.
666 N. Orleans St. (at Erie St.).
&
312/337-8500.
Sandwiches $5.95-$8.50. No credit cards. Mon-Fri
8am-5pm; Sat 10:30am-2pm. Subway/El: Red Line to Grand.
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