Eating in Downtown Chicago

-Grubbing in Chicago
Five of a Kind: Downtown Dining

After 17 years of almost nonstop posting I don't think it's hyperbole to say that I've covered more ground than most when it comes to food in Chicago. If there's an interesting place to eat in one of the city's 77 designated community areas I've likely stopped in there at some point. We've taken deep dives into places Hegewisch and the West Side and have gone up and down Howard Street over the years. But if there's one area of the city that's been under covered on here that would be the Downtown area. There's a few reasons for this including not going down there too often in part due to there not being a ton of interesting or under the radar spots to check out. But these days I find myself downtown on a regular basis and every now and then I'll go check out a spot while I'm down there and today's post is a collection of some of those spots. Downtown isn't a neighborhood - it's an area made up of a few neighborhoods. It most certainly includes Streeterville and the Loop and according to some it also includes River North and the South Loop but the former is also considered the Near North Side while the latter is kind of new as far as the neighborhood as a whole goes. Today's post will include spots from River North, the Loop and Streeterville. All of them are within a 20 minute walk from each other and could come in handy if you find yourself downtown in need of something to eat.  

_________________________________________________

Jian

Mall kiosks and food court stalls aren’t dead yet, in fact they may be making a comeback thanks to Asian spots of all sorts setting up shop and bringing crowds of hungry customers in. Chicago's original Jianbing house is located in the basement of Block 37 where it shares a kitchen with a bubble tea brand. I've stopped in here a few times to grab a classic jianbing which is a popular street food crepe in China that rivals any and all handheld breakfast items. A thin crepe-like pancake made from flour batter and mung bean are spread on a griddle and topped with egg, scallions, cilantro and savory sauces like hoisin and sweet bean paste and it also includes a crunchy element like fried wonton strips or a Chinese donut. It's all folded or rolled into a convenient and flavorful wrap. Jian serves a bunch of different varieties which can include bacon, ham, spam or even fried chicken but I'm a fan of the original version which doesn't include any meat but is known for its contrasting texture of a soft and eggy exterior with a crispy and savory interior. Jian has been packed both times I've gone which was in the morning so be prepared for a short wait as these are made to order. 

Jianbing at Jian
_________________________________________________



Oasis Cafe

Next up is a spot that evaded me until this past summer when I decided it was finally time to try this place that many people who work in the Loop swear by. Oasis Cafe is one of those spots that is very well known by people that have worked in the Loop but not so much by the outside world. The first thing that's always mentioned about this place is that it's located in the back of a jewelry store under the train tracks on Wabash. It's a cool setup but if I'm being completely honest it's a pretty standard Middle Eastern restaurant which isn't meant to be a shot at this place or the people who like it. It serves a purpose for people that lunch in the Loop and don't want to eat cheap fried food but also don't want to drop $50+ at a trendy sitdown spot. Oasis Cafe is a great option when you need something fresh and reliable that wont break the bank. I've been in a couple times now and enjoyed a falafel sandwich and Kushari which is a Wednesday special. The kushari at Oasis Cafe is a mix of brown lentils with rice and sauteed onions, served with salad and your choice of meat. It's a hearty plate of food and it'll hit the spot if you have a taste for Middle Eastern cuisine but it's not destination dining. Though many swear by the Moroccan Chicken which is served on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Kushari at Oasis Cafe
_________________________________________________

Gus' Sip & Dip

Gus' Sip & Dip feels a bit out of place in River North but it also feels like a throwback to the city’s past. It's a slick but unpretentious spot brought to Hubbard Street by the mighty Lettuce Entertain You restaurant enterprise. It feels like a blast from the past in terms of its dark and lively dining room paired with a menu of timeless classics. The cocktails here are also a throwback at just $12 each and there's quite a few to choose from. All that said it's the French Dip that got me thru the door. I'm a born and bred Chicagoan so I'll always take the Italian Beef when it comes to sliced beef sandwiches but every now and then a French Dip can really hit the spot and I had heard very good things about the one served at Gus' which they label as "The Original Wagyu Beef Dip" and it comes with cups of whipped horseradish and au jus plus a $25.95 pricetag. It's not cheap but it is a filling sandwich loaded with rare sliced prime rib sitting in between thin and crisp Spanish pan de cristal bread.

Wagyu Beef Dip at Gus' Sip & Dip
_________________________________________________

Shang Noodle & Chinese

Chinese food continues to ascend in Chicago and it's starting to become readily available in the Downtown area as evidenced in our first stop and now our next stop - Shang Noodle. The Streeterville outpost is one of three Chicagoland locations. They're all known for their modern looks and some pretty good Chinese and Taiwanese food including hand-pulled noodles, dim sum, hot pot, and even a few Korean-Chinese dishes too. They have booze and vegetarian and gluten free options so you can go with a group and shouldn't have any problems finding menu items for everybody to eat. I've been in a few times and each visit was much more satisfying than the other spots on the block would've been. I very much like their Hong Kong style Beef Chow Fun which is served dry with a decent amount of wok flavor and well seared beef that's tender with just the right amount of chew. 

Beef Chow Fun at Shang Noodle
_________________________________________________

Magnolia Bakery

We head back to Block 37 where Magnolia Bakery brought their famous classic American style desserts to Chicago from New York City. People from all over the world are attracted to this "small-batch bakery" for cupcakes, cookies, and their nationally recognized banana pudding. I'm a big banana pudding fan so I do find myself stopping in from time to time for the best banana pudding north of the Mason Dixon line. Actually I used to think this was the absolute best but then I went to Alabama and found there’s way better. That said they make a very tasty batch for a corporate brand.

Banana Pudding at Magnolia Bakery
_________________________________________________

BONUS STOP!!!


The Walnut Room

Last year around this time I dined with my family at The Walnut Room. My mom, dad, sisters, brother and spouses were joined by my nieces and nephew on the 7th floor of Macy's on State which most of us knew as Marshall Fields. The historic restaurant was the first in a department store and is known for its beautiful Circassian walnut paneling, Austrian chandeliers, and a massive Christmas tree displayed each holiday season. It's a big tradition for Chicagoans and it was actually pretty fun going back for the first time in forever. I went in thinking that the famous Mrs. Hering's Pot Pie was really just a frozen Marie Callender's but I was mistaken as it's made there though no bottom crust. It wasn't a memorable pot pie but I cant remember any that were but it did hit the spot in a throwback way. 

Mrs. Hering's Chicken Pot Pie at The Walnut Room
_________________________________________________

See ya next time @chibbqking

Shaw's Crab House

 -Grubbing in Chicago
Fresh Seafood in River North  

Today I thought I'd share an old meal from Shaw's pre-corona. Not a spot I get to often (that's case for all of downtown) but a place I always enjoy when we do go. Last trip in was a farewell dinner for a friend that was getting married. This put about 20+ of us in their special dining room where the service was magnificent. As it should've been considering all the seafood we ordered which was enough for major Lettuce Entertain You loyalty points. Shaw's just might the restaurant groups best spot. 

Locals favorite in River North 

Shaw's is one of the best seafood restaurants in town. I wouldn't say our seafood game here is strong but we got some good spots and Shaw's is often mentioned among the best of them. Fresh seafood is what they do. Which means the menu can switch with the seasons. On this visit it was still stone crab season and since the bill was being split amongst all of us I got a few rounds for the table. 

Oysters and Stone Crab Claws at Shaw's

Even though this is a seafood restaurant I love how they have all the common steakhouse sides. This makes for a great place to go with a group bc of that. But you don't want to fill up too much on the sides bc the seafood is what they do really well here. Particularly the lake perch when it's available. For my money it's the best you can buy in the region. Smaller filets (they're more tender) are lightly pan fried which is just perfect bc they're the type that will fall apart if you try to pick up a piece from one end. A sign of their freshness in terms of not being fried to a crisp. Some spots serving lake perch get the breading too crisp. Sure the lake perch dinner cost a little more here than it would from a shrimp shack or whatever but the quality difference is worth it from what I've tried. It hits the spot. 

Lake Perch Plate with a Crab Cake 

Shaw's Crab House 

21 E Hubbard St
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 527-2722
Website

l'Aventino Forno Romano

-Grubbing in Chicago

New to the 'Scene'

I'm currently contributing some freelance stuff over at the Chicago Magazine website. My first piece was about a little food trail one can take and indulge in many different Latin American empanadas. My most recent addition came via a look into Chicago's first fledged pinseria in Streeterville.

Recently Opened in Streeterville 

I tend to stay away from Streeterville but l'Aventino Forno Romano caught my eye as it's specializing in a very regional Italian dish. Albeit a very new regional dish, especially by Roman standards.

Suppli at l'Aventino Forno Romano

Pinsa is basically pizza but you can learn all about this Roman specialty by clicking the link to my story over at Chicago Magazine which you can find HERE. Then after that you check this Fooditor story for a little more of an in-depth interview with the mind behind l'Aventino Forno Romano.

Pinsa at l'Aventino Forno Romano

l'Aventino Forno Romano
355 E Ohio St
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 964-5112
Website

Robert's Pizza

-Grubbing in Chicago

Pizza in Streeterville 

I recently braved the crowds of Streeterville on a beautiful August night. I couldn't remember the last time I was down this way. What I could remember was my childhood trips to A1 Beanery at the now defunct North Pier. That's where Robert's Pizza has re-emerged in the same area that once hosted Dick's Last Resort and Baja Beach Club. I forget the name of the laser tag place but I loved it.

Recently Reopened in Streeterville

Robert's Pizza originally opened in a different Streeterville location but a dispute in ownership forced it's closure. Almost two years later they reopened and things seem to be back to going well. The namesake was originally a marine engineer. During that time he spent his free time perfecting his pizza crust recipe. On a hot summer night the salad seemed like a good go. The Little gem with broadbent bacon, shaved red onion, heirloom cherry tomato, blue cheese, gorgonzola did the trick. 

The Little Gem Salad

Though the area is touristy the pizza here is not deep dish. It’s NY inspired thin crust with a super crunchy crust and sturdy slices topped with high quality ingredients. The recipe was developed over a 20 year period and it tastes like it was in that it's near perfect. Because of that crust this pizza is worth seeking out if in the area. I tried the made in-house East coast style Italian sausage with fennel and grilled onions. One minor complaint is this pizza would have been that much better with some Chicago style Italian sausage. Easy Coast sliced variety can't stack up to the Chicago style chunks.

East Coast Sausage Pizza at Robert's Pizza

Robert's Pizza
465 N McClurg Ct
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 265-1328

The Gage

-Grubbing in Chicago

Where the Tourists Eat

We've reached the dog days of summer. Apologies on my inactivity of late but it's been a very busy month. We just finished up Taste of Chicago and a few weeks before it started we had to go to the annual vendors meeting downtown. It's a three hour meeting with a lunch break in the middle and we ended up down the block at The Gage on Michigan avenue. With now being prime tourist time this place has been extra busy. Not the type of spot I seek out but when in Rome.

Tourists Favorite on Michigan Avenue

Popular for fish n' chips as well as other "upscale" bar food the Gage gets a nice mix of tourists and also a few locals from the likes of Randolph and such. I knew going in that the Gage draws as much people for it's views (Millennium Park is across the street) as it does the food but some do say the food is really good too. So we started out with a Caesar Salad. It was done right as far as ingredients but it still felt like something was missing. Maybe it was just the fact in the end all it is is lettuce.

Caesar Salad at The Gage

Moving along to the turkey club it was the type of sandwich that can hit the spot. Nice thick toasted bread and thinly sliced deli meat paired with fresh lettuce, tomato, and onion. But not triple deckered. Nothing groundbreaking but something that can be enjoyed on a nice summer day like today.

Turkey Club

Then there's the fish n' chips that the city's popular instagram accounts like to take fancy pictures of. These are why I wasn't opposed to dining here as I was finally going to be able to see for myself if they were legit or just hyped by a group of people who only eats free food from trendy spots thus dont really have a broad range of places they've tried. As expected these influencers need to expand their boundaries. What I got might have looked good but it tasted average at best. The fish was lukewarm and it tasted like nothing. The fries were bordering on cold and they were standard frozen fries. In the end the best thing about this meal was the view from outside. Sometimes you pay for that.

Fish n' Chips at The Gage

The Gage
24 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 372-4243
Website

Three New York Imports

-Grubbing in Chicago  
Imported from New York

Just last weekend Chicago got yet another New York import, this one in the form of a pizza place. I have yet to get to Paulie Gee's but the early word is the pizza is pretty damn good. I have however been to the other three imports the State of New York/NYC have given us and will share my opinions on them in this post. There's nothing bad about the current trend of places opening spots in cities than their original home but I wonder who's making the decisions for Chicago. Can we get some of  NYC's dumpling shops or maybe an LA taco favorite? We dont really need your pizza and burgers.

________________________________________________________________________________

Shake Shack 

I dont even know how many Shake Shack's have opened up in Chicago at this point. We got a few and there's plenty more to come. Of the three spots NY has sent us I think this place is the best but here's the thing, Shake Shack was made in the mold of a classic Midwestern burger spot. Proprietor Daniel Meyer hails from St. Louis where they have a great fast food burger culture (See: Carl's Drive-In) of which he wanted to bring to New York. Well now's he's bringing it pretty much everywhere as Shake Shack has locations across the globe.

Crispy Chicken Sandwich

My opinion on Shake Shack is it's good if your stuck with the kids at Old Orchard Mall but it's not something you'd pack the kids into the car to drive to. The chicken sandwich is better than most fast food chicken sandwiches which means nothing except most fast food fried chicken sandwiches are hot garbage. At least it's tasty here. The burgers are pretty much the same way in my mind. The best thing they got going for them are the east coast cherry peppers they put on the Smoke Shack Burger.

SmokeShack Burger

________________________________________________________________________________

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

Last year we got a Dino BBQ from Syracuse. This is another state of New York spot that's really started to branch out elsewhere in the other 49 states. It's located over in the Weed Street area and doubles as a bar. I hope they can make it because on my visit the place was empty but it was early on a Sunday or something like that. I'd give what I got a C if I was grading the stuff. Brisket taco was decent but not anything I want to get again. The mini pulled pork sandwich tasted like something I'd get at a baseball game while the ribs we're actually pretty good. Not the best or even top tier but well smoked with just the right amount of resistance when biting into them. Still dont need to go back.

Brisket Taco

Mini Pulled Pork Sandwich

Smoked Ribs

________________________________________________________________________________

Halal Guys

Last and most certainly least is NYC's favorite corner meat cart. Halal Guy's have long been a legend in the late-nite NYC dining scene. They used their popularity to branch out outside of NYC and now have spots opening up all over the place. Particularly in areas with big drinking crowds. Well let me tell y'all something, I'm not a picky eater and I enjoy many guilty pleasures but this was dog food. I dont know what the people in NYC are drinking but let me get some of that. It would take some sort of special potion to make me ever want to eat here again. Its cone meat hacked like a two year old was slicing it. On my visit the meat bits were barely browned and the special sauces were splatter.

Slop of Meats

________________________________________________________________________________

Shake Shack
66 E Ohio St
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 667-1701

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
923 W Weed St
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 462-1053

Halal Guys
49 W Division St
Chicago, IL
(312) 877-5575

Naf Naf Grill

Regional Fast Food
-Quick + Tasty Mediterranean in Chicagoland

Today we're headed to check out one of the fastest growing food chains here in Chicagoland. Naf Naf Grill specializes in getting a quick Mediterranean fix. Be it in shawarma, falafel or kebob form. It started out as a small mom and pop spot on Ogden avenue in Naperville. It then quickly became a hot spot that was featured in many food related publications. Two businessmen were so impressed they asked to form a partnership with the couple who owned it and here we are today with eight locations through the Chicagoland area with more planned as each quarter passes. If you have Naf Naf as a lunch option near where you work, you're probably not complaining.

Naf Naf has developed a cult-like following and many swear by their bread...baked fresh on site at some locations

They have a well rounded menu with many usual suspects but its the chicken shawarma that I order each and every visit. Which isnt abundant since the only one I've ever tried is the Niles location but I make it a point to stop in if passing by the Touhy avenue exit on 90/94. They display a huge spit for the meat that comes pretty tamely seasoned but is only a part of the entire sandwich. I'm in the middle on the aforementioned pita bread. Its extra soft and puffy as they make it fresh at this location. What really makes this sandwich for me though is their hot sauce which is a cilantro heavy concoction with real spice to it. Also the pickles, I always order extra as they make for the perfect condiment to top the entire sandwich off. Their house cut fries are more like chips, some love them. I pass as the sandwich itself is a nice portion size for someone looking for a quick lunch under $10 that isnt from Ronald, Wendy etc...You can do much worse when you only have 40 minutes.

Chicken Shawarma Sandwich from Naf Naf

Naf-Naf Grill
Locations in Chicagoland

Xoco

-Eating like a Mayan King in the Windy City

When I explain to others who ask "Why?" when saying Mexican food is one of Chicago's strong points I like to give example of the fact we have food from all over Mexico and it's featured in both the classic no frills taqueria and also at places a step above those like Xoco. Rick Bayless has done alot for Mexican food and has to be considered one of the great brand ambassadors for it. He deserves the recognition he has gotten which is more than I can say for his brother Skip. Xoco is his Mexican Street Food inspired spot located right down the door from his pioneer place Frontera and his high end Mexican dining spot Topolobampo next to that in River North. Along with Torta's Frontera at O'Hare they make up his mini empire.

"Big bold Marketplace Mexican Flavors"

The menu at Xoco isnt big but some of the stuff on it puts out some of the big bold flavors they claim. Unfortunately I cant say their seafood caldo is one of them. I was expecting much better because that's what I usually get at places like Tortas Frontera O'Hare where you'll inhale some great Mexican style sandwiches. At an airport of all places. Xoco does real tacos al pastor on Wed. nights and I'd always hoped Mr. Bayless would serve a dish with his take on Carne en su Jugo. If they we're going to serve it here they need to step the broth game up big time. Just a couple shrimps in it but my biggest complaint is the broth, way too weak.

Seafood Caldo

The aforementioned tortas that people get to the airport early for are also available at Xoco. I think there may be a few different selections at each place but I find them both very good options. Since this is a step up from the street food you'd find at Maxwell Street Market so is the price. But I can justify the $12 average price-tag on them because they're very good.Worth treating yourself too for lunch.

Cochinita Pibil Torta

Seen in the first set of pics is the wood fire grill which they use to toast the bread here. It's really fantastic stuff as are the ingredients they put in it. Cochinita Pibil is a slow roasted pig dish popular in the Yucatan state of Mexico. Rick and staff use wood roasted suckling pig for this version with achiote, black beans, pickled red onions and a spicy habenero salsa rounding it out. It's a great sandwich. I gotta give them that.

The insides

When waiting in line to place your order, which you then sit down and is then brought out to you, it's hard to resist the smell of the fresh churros being fried. The quintessential Mexican street snack is basically a long donut which can sometimes be filled with creme or jelly and usually comes served with a side of melted chocolate for dipping. They do these justice here. So my advice on Xoco? Torta and a Churro and you'll be good to go.

Churro from Xoco

Xoco

449 N. Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 334-3688

Website

French Market Eats

 -Grubbing in Chicago
 Dining Downtown

You know what? As many places as I get too in this great food city of ours I had never been to the French Market until a couple months ago. Located downtown on Clinton within the Metra Building they're open Monday-Saturday and have a collection of independent vendors selling everything from fresh fish to Frites.

Downtown Chicago at Clinton and Randolph

It might not be quite like the Eastern Market in Detroit or the Reading Terminal in Philly but it's a start. Chicago needs a huge indoor year round marketplace which every other metropolis seems to have. For now we'll just have to settle with the French Market. When I say "settle" I speak as if I were some food snob that insists you eat the way I say is proper. Well I'm not and I say that in jest. We're blessed to have what we do in Chicago, believe me it could be way worse. Out first stop inside is too a place that every neighborhood in every area of America could use. Fumare Meats and Deli has to be the most popular place here.

Fumare Meats

Long before I had a camera with which I've take less than 50 pictures of people with I took a trip to Montreal and we all went to the world famous Schwartz's Deli there. I loved it and that just might of been what triggered my now almost sociopath ways of finding places to eat while out and about. Well back to the French Market and Fumare. Great place. Started by a guy who left banking to start something he loved doing they offer a variety of local meats and make one of the best sandwiches in the city. Named so by me and just about anyone else who's had one.

Fumare Montreal Style Smoked Meat Sandwich

What's smoked meat? It's not BBQ which is also that by definition. It's more like a kosher style of pastrami you'd find in the delis of NYC with a slight taste of smoke from cooking. It's similar in prep (they use brisket though not the navel) but different in the seasoning and spices used. It's unique to Montreal although like any popular regional eat it expands. Fumare doesnt claim to make an authentic version of this sandwich just one in similar style. That style is one I can dig.

One of the cities best Sandwiches

As far as the rest of the French Market food options go there is some left to be desired but the way I see it, downtown has never been a foodie destination so to say. If I worked near the French Market or took the Metra to the same station it sits in five times a week I'd appreciate the fact it was there but I'd also wish it was more of a destination rather than holdover. Delightful Pastries has some pretty good stuff like the ham and cheese croissant while the pommes frites at Frietkoten Belgian Fries and Beer were good for fries they weren't all that different from them. I've had better representations of the popular Belgian street snack elsewhere. I had a pretty good cheap eats samosa from the Indian inspired Klay Oven Kitchen.

Delightful Pastries 

Quick Eats

Vietnamese Bahn Mi Sandwich Shop

My second favorite eat to date out of this place is also a sandwich. The "Hen House" at Saigon sisters came rec'd in a TOC sandwich article and tasted pretty great. I say this for the area. Nothing here is cheap and neither are these but they're good. I think the meats and bread which is always fresh because of constant traffic make these bahn mi's pretty fantastic. I'm just not a fan of the ones with cheap mystery meat. They have a restaurant menu location on Lake street which I haven't been too. Looking forward to seeing what else they have or may come.

 Note: There is free validated parking with $20 purchased.

Caramelized Chicken with lemongrass, ginger, mint, lime, crushed peanuts and mayo

______________________

Chicago French Market
131 N Clinton St
Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 930-4220

Website