Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Soulful Brunch
Head to
House of Blues,
329 N. Dearborn St., at Kinzie Street (
&
312/923-
2000
), for its popular Sunday gospel brunch featuring live performances
from church groups from throughout the Midwest. To guarantee seating,
it's a good idea to reserve 2 weeks in advance. Seatings begin at 9:30am
and noon.
Finds
spend hours here pouring over the hundreds of drumsticks, concert photos, gold
records, or autographed guitars of your favorite artists, including the likes of Mick
Fleetwood and George Harrison. (The most popular pieces are a guitar auto-
graphed by the members of Nirvana and a motor scooter used in the 1979 movie
Quadrophenia,
which was based on The Who's album.) The food is pretty standard
fare, with fajitas and burgers as specialties, plus a children's menu. But who comes
here for the food? The round building has a circular bar decorated in a sports motif,
with some nice touches: autographed bats by Ryne Sandberg, Mark Grace, Shawn
Dunston, and Frank Thomas, among other ballplayers. Interesting restaurant fact:
The original Hard Rock Cafe was founded June 14, 1971, in London by Isaac
Tigrett and Peter Morton, the son of Chicago restaurateur Arnold Morton of Mor-
ton's steakhouse fame. The Chicago location was opened 12 years later.
63 W. Ontario St.
&
312/943-2252.
Kids' menu, high chairs, boosters. Main courses $8-$15; kids' menu $7.
AE, DISC, V. Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm; Fri 11:30am-11:30pm; Sat 11am-midnight; Sun 11am-10pm. Sub-
way/El: Red Line to State/Grand.
Mr. Beef
AMERICAN Mr. Beef doesn't have much atmosphere or
seating room, but it's a much-loved Chicago institution. Squeeze in alongside
the lunchtime regulars and enjoy the atmosphere (or lack thereof ). Families with
small children will be happier getting their sandwiches to go, as lack of space
means Mr. Beef is not a high chair-friendly place. Its claim to fame is the clas-
sic 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 workers and suit-wear-
ing businessmen crowd in for their meaty fix. While you're chowing down,
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.
Reservations not accepted. Sandwiches $5.95-$8.50. No
credit cards. Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; Sat 10:30am-2pm. Subway/El: Red Line to Grand.
Pizzeria Uno
PIZZA In 1943 Pizzeria Uno invented Chicago-style
pizza, and many deep-dish aficionados still refuse to accept any imitations. Uno
is now a nationwide chain, but this location is the original. You may eat in the
restaurant itself on the basement level or, weather permitting, on the outdoor
patio right off the sidewalk. Salads, sandwiches, and a house minestrone are also
available, but, hey, the only reason to come here is for the pizza. (And in fact,
90% of the menu is dedicated to deep-dish pizza.)
Uno was so successful that the owners opened
Pizzeria Due
in 1955 in a
lovely gray-brick Victorian town house nearby at 619 N. Wabash Ave., at
Ontario Street (
&
312/943-2400
). The menu is identical at both restaurants,
although the space at Pizzeria Due is much larger.
Be forewarned:
This pizzeria
serves no pizza before its time. Pizza takes a minimum of 45 minutes to prepare.
Finds
Value
