Seeking Chicago Restaurant Recommedations

[Guest053011]

I'm wondering if anyone could throw me a suggestion for a Chicago restaurant. I'll be there for my birthday with friends.

I'm looking for something that attracts a bit of an eclectic ground. Not necessarily "5 star" - in fact that's not the atmosphere I want at all. Awesome food in a relaxed and groovy atmosphere where I'm not going to look out of place as a girl anachronism: feathered hat, lace gloves and elegant but sexy dress.

Ethnic food is a bonus

[atlcomedy]

I won't call it "awesome food" but if what you really want is good food coupled with an "awesome atmosphere"

Can I suggest Kingston Mines on N. Halstead?

http://www.kingstonmines.com/flash/main.html

[Guest042611]

Oh, I went to a great place in Chicago last spring and I can't remember what it's called. I'll ask my friend and get back to you!

[Camille]

Lauren:

Not sure if you are interested or when you are going but Chekhov's "The Seagull" is playing at the Goodman on North Dearborn very soon. Great theatre, very casual and great little eaterie next door(where several of the cast and crew hang out so cant imagine anyone would look out of place) called Peterinos - sp?. They do a STELLAR lunch there..not sure about dinner.
C x

C x

[..]

@ Lauren: a little tricky to answer, since you don't say what "ethnic food", and what's "groovy" for you, etc.

anyway, i guess you are ethnically polish so either you look exactly for the opposite or for it... dunno
but since it's just a cut&paste from an email here it is...

personally i really quite like the Cafe Lura but it had been quite some time since i was last in chicago.

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Cafe Lura
3184 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618 (Avondale)

polish beer (Okocim, Zywiec, Tyskie), czech beer, Żubrówka, decent pierogi

IMO a very nice place, and as such a mix of performace venue (very diverse: goth, electro punk, grindcore, jungle, dubstep, etc.), bar and bistro.(& much more eclectic / intellectual than e.g. Jedynką Club)

youtube has some recordings from previous gigs there...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EtwUKgluA0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJrqxPvePqg

google "cafe lura" provides still more info, but best is simply to check it out for yourself.

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The Exchange - Lounge Bar
1270 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622 (Wicker Park)

never been there, but have been to the previous Lava Lounge (former dubstep lounge at the same address)

a friend says the The Exchange is no longer really a dance lounge but more a cocktail / drink lounge; says sound is good and not too loud, so conversation is easy with out shouting at each other..

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Jedynką Club
5616 West Diversey Avenue
Chicago, IL 60639

Polish techno club; very polish kitsch / sexy dress / go crazy atmosphere;

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other ethnic polish venues in Chicago: ToTu Cafe (2300 River Rd.), Paris Cafe (5301 W. Belmont Ave), etc.

[..]

ps: why not send a PM to Andie Mercer? I'd guess she'd have plenty of recommendations for decent places in chicago.

[John Bull]

Buddy Guys place downtown if you like ribs, collard greens etc mixed with gut bucket blues. Quite a mix of different kinds of folks are to be found there. Go early in order to get a seat.

[Guest042611]

Sepia was the name of it. Really good!

[..]

Originally Posted by Camille

great little eaterie next door(where several of the cast and crew hang out so cant imagine anyone would look out of place) called Peterinos - sp?.

It's spelled Petterino's.

Don't know it myself but theater ppl. really seem to know this place.

Seems it's either well liked or well hated / ignored. (If you live in hipsterville or are continental €-trash, you probl. ignore it.)

Originally Posted by Natalie

Sepia was the name of it. Really good!

http://www.sepiachicago.com/

The wine list looks good. Not perfect, but some quite decent choices of some central european wines.

[Guest053011]

Originally Posted by ..

@ Lauren: a little tricky to answer, since you don't say what "ethnic food", and what's "groovy" for you, etc.

I'm a food slut and I'm pretty daring - It can be Japanese, Ethiopian, Afghan, African, Vietnamese, Korean - it doesn't matter. There are no limits.

What do I mean by groovy? Relax atmosphere where it's nearly impossible to turn heads with a little weirdness. So whether I'm in Goth, or wearing a tight collar with a tie and fedora hat and suspenders, no one's going to gawk at me like I'm from a different planet.

[Camille]

Originally Posted by ..

Don't know it myself but theater ppl. really seem to know this place.

Seems it's either well liked or well hated / ignored. (If you live in hipsterville or are continental €-trash, you probl. ignore it.)

Well as I said, I've only had lunch and brunch there...and drinks after the theatre. I've usually eaten dinner closer to the hotel I've been staying in for reasons of both timing and convenience. I love the Goodman...great people and quality productions for very reasonable prices. Chitown does good theatre...no question about it...it's one of the main reasons I travel there.

C

[hemingway7]

The newest coolest place is "The girl and the goat." All food sluts should eat here.
Also Bristol would qualify. Would be a good birthday scene

[..]

Originally Posted by hemingway7

The newest coolest place is "The girl and the goat."

Word! LOL! That venue is brand new, but would pretty much match Lauren's requirements... ...only AFAIK ATM it's pretty much fully booked out.

ps: personally i don't get the craze about it, but as €-trash i just think: hey this is america

[lilsmurf]

UNOS best deep dish pizza ever!

[atlcomedy]

Originally Posted by lilsmurf

UNOS best deep dish pizza ever!

Great pies but kind of falls down on the "atmosphere" criterion...unless waiting an hour for a table then being surrounded by a roomful of tourists is your idea of atmosphere.

Besides now that it is a chain I can enjoy it locally without a wait.

Ed Debevic's is another Chicago staple