Chicago's cosmopolitan
makeup is reflected in its
plethora of ethnic
restaurants.
Italian
food, ranging from hearty
deep-dish
pizza (developed in 1953
at
Pizzeria Uno ) to
delicately crafted creations
presented at stylish
trattorias, continues to
dominate a very dynamic
scene. In recent years
there's been a surge of
popularity for
New
American cuisine.
Thai
restaurants still thrive, as
do ones with a broad
Mediterranean
slant, many of which serve
tapas; and there are still
plenty of opportunities to
sample more longstanding
Chicago cuisines - Eastern
European, German, Mexican,
Chinese, Indian, even
Burmese and Ethiopian. Of
course, a number of
establishments serve good
old-fashioned barbecue
ribs
, a legacy of Chicago's days
as the nation's meatpacker.
And no visit is complete
without sampling a messy
Italian beef sandwich, or a
Chicago-style hot dog, laden
with tomatoes, onions, hot
peppers and a pickle.
The largest concentration
of restaurants is found
north and west of the Loop. To the west, Greektown
, around Halsted Street at
Jackson Boulevard, and Little
Italy , on and around
Taylor Street, are worth a
look. The Near North
and River North areas
harbor a good number of
upscale places. Chinatown
, though not pretty, is a
predictably good
neighborhood for Cantonese
and Szechuan food. Many bars
and cafés listed in the
"Nightlife and
Entertainment" section
also serve snacks and light
meals, and dozens of places
in the Loop offer great
breakfast and lunch
specials.
Downtown
restaurants
The Berghoff 17 W Adams St
tel 312/427-3170. The
beautifully preserved
Chicago landmark, dating
from 1893, offers plentiful
Germanic specialties plus
fish dishes and corned beef
and cabbage. Try the draft
or root beer. A bargain.
Billy...
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Greektown and Little
Italy restaurants
Costa's 340 S Halsted St tel
312/263-9700. At this casual
Greek place, which is
reasonably priced, try the
Mussels Salonika, or the
cheese-stuffed roasted
peppers. Gennaro's 1352 W
Taylor St tel 312/243-1035.
The speakeasy...
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Chinatown
restaurants
Emperor's Choice 2238 S
Wentworth Ave tel
312/225-8800. The attractive
storefront serves delicious
egg rolls and seafood
dishes. Try steamed clams,
poached shrimp or the
lobster. Hong Min 221 W
Cermak Rd tel 312/842-5026.
Superb...
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Near North Side and River
North
Big Bowl Café 159 E Erie St
tel 312/787-8297. Diner with
an Asian accent. Filling
soups and pot stickers make
it a budget choice for weary
shoppers. Café Iberico 739
N LaSalle Blvd tel 573-1510.
At this authentic and
reasonably...
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Old Town
Café Ba-Ba-Reeba ! 2024 N
Halsted St tel 773/935-5000.
One of the city's Spanish
hot spots, it delivers a
good variety of hot and cold
tapas, filling paella and,
of course, sangria. Flat Top
Grill 319 W North Ave tel
312/787-7676....
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Lincoln Park and around
Ann Sather 929 W Belmont Ave
tel 773/348-2378 and four
other locations. This
Chicago institution serves
breakfast, brunch and some
of the city's finest
Scandinavian food. Only this
location is open for dinner.
Brother Jimmy's BBQ ...
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Wicker Park
Café Absinthe 1954 W North
Ave tel 773/278-4488. Fine
French dining in a romantic,
casual setting. One of the
city's best. Irazu 1865 N
Milwaukee Ave tel
773/252-5687. Wonderful
Costa Rican diner; great
burritos plus a small...
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The South Side: Hyde Park
Dixie Kitchen 5225 S Harper,
Harper Court tel
773/363-4943. The great soul
food includes pulled pork
sandwiches, breaded oysters
with chili sauce and
desserts like peach cobbler
and pecan pie. Medici on
57th 1327 E 57th St tel...
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