Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
American steakhouse, stylish
Nine,
440 W. Randolph St.
(
&
312/575-9900
), offers super-
slick environs, prime steaks, fresh
seafood, a champagne-and-caviar
bar, and—most importantly—
tiny TV sets above the men's-room
urinals for those who can't bear to
miss the latest from CNBC. See
p. 114.
•
Best Spot for a Celebration:
Not
only does
Nacional 27,
325 W.
Huron St. (
&
312/664-2727
),
offer a grand setting and a menu of
creative Latin American dishes, it
also turns into a party on Friday
and Saturday nights, when a DJ
spins salsa tunes and center tables
are cleared for dancing. See p. 140.
•
Best Scene:
The Gold Coast's rich
and beautiful flock to the bar at
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse,
1028 N. Rush St. (
&
312/266-
8999
), to gossip while sipping on
massive martinis. Hang out with a
drink (and maybe spot a visiting
celeb) while working up an
appetite for a super-size steak. See
p. 128.
•
Best View:
Forty stories above
Chicago,
Everest,
440 S. LaSalle
St. (
&
312/663-8920
), astounds
with a spectacular view—and food
to match. Another dazzler, day or
night, is the view from the
Signa-
ture Lounge
atop the 100-story
John Hancock Building, 875 N.
Michigan Ave. (
&
312/787-
7230
). Though this is really a bar,
not a restaurant, the Signature
Lounge is a good place to perch
for a drink before or after your
dinner. Closer to earth, diners on
the rooftop terrace at Greektown's
Pegasus,
130 S. Halsted St.
(
&
312/226-3377
), get a pano-
ramic view of the city skyline. See
p. 112, 278, and 125, respectively.
•
Best Value:
At longtime city
favorite
Carson's,
612 N. Wells
St. (
&
312/280-9200
), $20 gets
you a full slab of incredible baby
back ribs, accompanied by a bowl
of Carson's almost-as-famous
coleslaw and a choice of potatoes.
Lincoln Park residents swarm to
RoseAngelis,
1314 W. Wright-
wood Ave. (
&
773/296-0081
),
where $20 buys a glass of wine, a
massive plate of pasta, and a gen-
erous serving of possibly the city's
best bread pudding. See p. 142
and 156.
•
Best for Kids:
Kids will love eat-
ing at
ESPN Zone,
43 E. Ohio St.
(
&
312/475-0263
). Yes, you'll
find a kids' menu here, but the
main attraction is the enormous
Sports Arena, where kids can work
off some excess energy playing the
interactive games. See p. 132.
•
Best American Cuisine:
The
beautiful people flock to chef Paul
Kahan's
Blackbird,
619 W. Ran-
dolph St. (
&
312/715-0708
), for
the stylish setting and just-as-styl-
ish food.
Crofton on Wells,
535
N. Wells St. (
&
312/755-1790
),
may be far less trendy, but it's a
true labor of love for chef Suzy
Crofton—and her devoted local
fans keep coming back for more.
See p. 121 and 138.
•
Best French Cuisine:
You'll get the
full fine-dining treatment—and
fabulous food—at
Ambria
, 2300
N. Lincoln Park West (
&
312/
472-5959
). For a more casual
Parisian cafe experience, few
places delight quite like Buck-
town's charming
Le Bouchon,
1958 N. Damen Ave. (
&
773/
862-6600
), with its cozy atmos-
phere and delectable bistro fare.
See p. 149 and 164.
•
Best Italian Cuisine:
Even with-
out the glamorous view of the
Magnificent Mile,
Spiaggia,
980
N. Michigan Ave. (
&
312/280-
2750
), would draw diners in
droves with its gourmet takes on
classic Italian cuisine. For a more
