Chicago Poly meet, first week of June

[rah]

Damn, almost fell off the first page. We can't have that.

Ok so confirmed we have me, ming, jr, sava, Q and the guest of honor.

WHO ELSE CAN MAKE IT. yeah, i know that list would scare me away too.

[Ming]

If I take the 3:37... it gets downtown about 4:35.

[Guynemer]

I'll be out of town by then, but I was wondering if you folks could give me some recommendations.

My good ladywife and I shall be partaking of the hospitality of the Omni Hotel at the end of next week. Any good places nearby for a nosh, or entertainment?

[-Jrabbit]

type of food?
budget?
exact hotel location?

Why not a polymeet for Mr. and Ms. Nemer too?

[Q Classic]

Yes, what type of food and budget are you looking into? And how far would you be willing to go for it?

[Guynemer]

Er... the hotel is somewhere on Michigan Ave., I'd have to look it up on mapquest and my computer at work is a piece of ****. It's downtown.

As for type of food, budget, etc., Galnemer and I are game for just about anything. Dive diner, classy artsy-fartsy, you name it. I'd like to take her to at least one nice dinner (not necessarily holy-****-this-place-is-****ing-nuts dinner, but a nice dinner).

[Q Classic]

Steakhouse, there's always Lawry's downtown. Pricey, dress-up, but good.

For Cajun/Creole, there's Dixie Kitchen in Hyde Park (kinda far) or Heaven on Seven downtown; moderate price.

Dive, there's the classic Billy Goat Tavern, underneath Michigan Avenue.

Further north, there's Reza's for Mediterranean in Andersonville, Sultan's Kitchen in Wicker Park.

Weekend mornings, there's Dim Sum in Chinatown--I highly recommend Shui Wah or the Phoenix. There's also brunch at Twist, if you're less daring.

[Guynemer]

The hotel is at Michigan and Huron.

[-Jrabbit]

Nice area. Walking distance from a number of sweet places.
I'll post some suggestions this weekend.

[Guynemer]

Bless your heart.

[-Jrabbit]

FWIW, a vote against Reza's. It used to be awesome, but I've had quality issues my last two visits. And it used to be cheap. No more.

You'll be quite close to House of Blues (Marina Towers), casual, not pricey, with excellent New Orleans-influenced food. Lunch or dinner. A little touristy, but the food is good and the outsider-art decor very cool.

http://www.houseofblues.com/venues/clubvenues/chicago/dining.php

(They also have the very upscale Foundation Room for fine dining, but it's technically members-only and very pricey.)

Also right there at Marina City is Bin 36 -- a bit more upscale, but casual dress is fine. Great food, and they do the "flights of wine" thing (5 small glasses paired with your entree). Highly recommended, esp. if you're a wine-with-food person.

http://www.bin36.com/index.php

http://bin36.com/menu.html

I used to poop in just for the appetizers.

I have a couple more favorites in that area, but it's a start.

[Guynemer]

Also right there at Marina City is Bin 36 -- I used to poop in just for the appetizers.

[Dauphin]

Bump.

[Guynemer]

In addition to Bin 36, the missus and I are eyeballing Joe's Seafood, etc.; Fogo de Chao; Keefer's; Kevin; Ditka's; Shanghai Terrace; Vermilion; Viand; Aigre Doux; Cafe Iberico; Caliterra; Crofton on Wells; anywhere else in the Near North/River North area.

Bin 36 sounds great, but any thoughts on those other places? We figure, hey, how often are we in Chicago, let's go nuts. (Without going somewhere where a jacket is required, anyway. We'll be dressed nicely, but not that far.)

[Theben]

Russian Tea Time. It used to be very good but I haven't been there in a decade so I dunno if that's still true. It's a bit fancy but they'll let in casuals... they might stick you in the corner though. Not to be confused with Russian Tea Place, which sucks. Or at least did 10 years ago.

It's about 1 mile directly south of your hotel, within walking distance of the Art Institute.