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Restaurants in Chicago

From pizza and hot dogs to ethnic food and haute cuisine, Chicago's restaurants can satisfy any palate.

The Chicago restaurants are grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over US$40)
Moderate (US$20 to US$40)
Cheap (up to US$20)


These Chicago restaurant prices are based on the average price of a three-course meal and a half-bottle of house wine or equivalent, excluding sales tax and tips unless otherwise stated. Restaurants charge sales tax, 10.75%, and it is customary to add a 15-20% tip to all bills.

Expensive

Allium

Cuisine: American

Contemporary American food includes succulent chops from local farms, dry aged steaks, innovative garden pea and coconut curry soup and ricotta dumplings, all presided over by award-winning chef Kevin Hickey. It's located on the seventh floor of the Four Seasons Chicago hotel, so you can take in magnificent views as you tuck into dinner amid sophisticated surroundings.

Address: Gold Coast, Four Seasons Hotel, 120 East Delaware Place, Chicago, 60611
Telephone: +1 312 799 4900.
Website: http://www.fourseasons.com/chicagofs/dining/restaurants/allium

Gibson's

Cuisine: Steakhouse

Gibson's is a favourite for native carnivores, tourists and celebrities like Michael Jordan. A friendly staff serves steaks smothered with any combination of blue cheese, onions, crushed pepper, mushrooms, garlic or Cajun rub. Portions are laughingly large: potatoes almost the size of footballs, humongous desserts and beef portions so huge, the only thing missing are the horns and the tail.

Address: Gold Coast, 1028 North Rush St., Chicago, 60611
Telephone: +1 312 266 8999.
Website: http://www.gibsonssteakhouse.com

Topolobampo

Cuisine: Mexican

The brainchild of celebrity chef Rick Bayless, Topolobampo serves a tasting menu of exquisite Mexican fare created with top-notch ingredients and presented with style. Book ahead to get a table in the casual dining room lined with Bayless' personal art collection.

Address: River North, 445 N Clark Street, Chicago, 60654
Telephone: +1 312 661 1434.
Website: http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/topolobampo

Moderate

Green Zebra

Cuisine: Vegetarian

With high ceilings and grey and white décor accented by vibrant green plants, this high-end restaurant offers a seasonally changing menu of vegetarian and vegan tapas. As with all good vegetarian cooking, the dishes showcase vegetables rather than creating meat-free substitutes, and include ravioli with goat cheese, hazelnut and dates, or parmesan caraway gnocchi.

Address: Nobel Square, 1460 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, 60642
Telephone: +1 312 243 7100.
Website: http://www.greenzebrachicago.com

Kit Kat Lounge

Cuisine: European

Folks flock to the Kit Kat for inexpensive martinis and a good time watching the drag show cabaret. The food is solid too, with dishes named after 1940s and 50s entertainers: the Carmen Miranda is a penne pasta dish spiced with andouille sausage and shrimp.

Address: Lake View, 3700 North Halsted Street, Chicago, 60613
Telephone: +1 773 525 1111.
Website: http://www.kitkatchicago.com

Park Grill

Cuisine: American

The Park Grill is located on the Michigan Avenue side of Millennium Park, and is a decent bet in an area plagued by touristy restaurants. Outdoor summer dining is replaced with an ice rink in winter. Considering the restaurant is situated within one of Chicago's most popular tourist attractions, dishes like the pork tenderloin are surprisingly tasty and reasonably priced.

Address: Millennium Park, 11 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, 60602
Telephone: +1 312 521 7275.
Website: http://www.parkgrillchicago.com

Petterino's

Cuisine: Italian

The retro trend is alive and well at this eatery adjacent to the Goodman Theatre. White tablecloths, semi-circular red booths and caricatures of famous Chicagoans, like Harrison Ford (who grew up in the Chicago suburbs), decorate the walls, while Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald can be heard in the background. Tuxedoed waiters serve classic Italian fare, as well as steaks and roasts.

Address: Loop, 150 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, 60601
Telephone: +1 312 422 0150.
Website: http://www.petterinos.com

Cheap

The Wiener’s Circle

Cuisine: Fast food

Burger and dog lovers in the know head to The Wiener's Circle, a no-frills stand in Lincoln Park. The meat is chargrilled and should to be ordered with 'the works', as locals do: mustard, relish, onions, sliced pickles, peppers, tomato and a dash of celery salt. The employees are infamously surly, particularly in the early hours.

Address: Lincoln Park, 2622 N Clark Street, Chicago, 60614
Telephone: +1 773 477 7444.

Wildfire

Cuisine: Steakhouse and seafood

Fish and meat glow in the visible ovens, grills and rotisseries of this 1940s-style supper club. Wood, stone, rounded banquettes, martinis and swing music create the mood. The chopped salad is big enough for two, and you can't miss with anything that is crusted - clams, steak, mussels or fish. Reservations recommended.

Address: River North, 159 West Erie Street, Chicago, 60654
Telephone: +1 312 787 9000.
Website: http://www.wildfirerestaurant.com
A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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The Hard Rock Hotel

The staid 1929 Carbon and Carbide Building has been reinvented and is now a sleek hotel. The 383-room, 13-suite, contemporary venue pulsates with musically-themed excitement. Piped-in music and rock & roll memorabilia are everywhere. Cushy leather couches and open space give the lobby a feeling of warmth and comfort. Rooms with zebra wood furnishings are accented in greys, blues, chrome, wood, mirrors and rock'n'roll artwork. Matchless Downtown vistas, flat screen television, and state-of-the-art amenities are standard, as is the business centre and fitness facility.

Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown-Lakefront

Conveniently located between Navy Pier and Michigan Avenue, the modern Embassy Suites meets the needs of the business traveller. Its airy, 17-floor atrium lobby, with fountains and reflecting pool, is just the place to unwind after a busy day. Enclosed glass elevators reveal city and lake views, as do the comfortably furnished, two-room suites, which are standard.

Hotel Felix

One of the best deals in the central area of Chicago, the Felix is a modern hotel with an environmentally friendly rating and lashings of style. Plush rooms are kitted out in shades of cocoa and offer flat-screen TVs, contemporary bathrooms, and handy desk space. Unwind at the hotel's spa, or work out in their state-of-the-art gym. Service is brisk and efficient.

Wheeler Mansion

This 130-year-old mansion is an elegant, 11-room boutique hotel that offers a nice alternative to the big bustling hotels. Its lovely garden area, polished woodwork and special mattresses with goose feather duvets radiate warmth and comfort. Attention to detail is revealed in the property's original artwork and furnishings.

The Fairmont Chicago

This 37-floor, Rosetta-pink granite structure, which overlooks both Grant Park and Lake Michigan, has a spacious lobby that mixes contemporary furnishings with antiques and original art. Guests can relax after a busy day with a choice of candles, scents and bubbles in their drawn bath. The large and comfortably furnished rooms include premium mattresses, dressing areas, marble baths and built-in bars. Its chic Aria restaurant features a wide selection of wines and an interesting selection of regional American cuisines and its lounge has become a unique sushi bar.

The Drake

In a landmark building on the Magnificent Mile and across from Oak Street Beach, this Chicago original opened in 1920 and has been the premier place to stay ever since. The spacious guestrooms combine elegance with all the expected modern touches, from flat-screen HDTVs to iPod adapters. Some have views of the city skyline or Lake Michigan.