The Chicago Traveler

There was a bit of dispute over my last Best Pizzas list, as I expected there would be. It is a Chicagoan debate that has gone on for generations and will continue probably forever. So, just to add more fuel to the fire, here is another list of Chicago’s ten best ‘pies’ (courtesy of Citysearch and Yelp).
Honorable Mention: Gino’s East. If you enjoy reading, the walls here provide plenty of material.

10. Pizzeria Uno. The one, the only, the original. Loosen your belts now.
9. Piece. These very non-Chicago-style slices are simply delicious.
8. Home Run Inn. This old neighborhood tavern offers the …read more

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For some odd reason, everything tastes better on a stick: cotton candy, corn dogs, deep-fried candy bars, for example. But none of these are exactly healthy options. Fortunately, a Wicker Park restaurant is serving up tasty and less-sugar-laden treats on Skewerz.
Blink, and you might miss it. Skewerz is a bit of a small space, filled entirely with island-inspired décor (tiki torches, bamboo seating, and masks). The menu is also small, offering a variety of grilled meats and veggies on a stick: red-and-black-pepper- or soy-marinated chicken, filet mignon(?!), salmon, tuna, shrimp, tofu, or combination of veggies. Each skewer can be enjoyed …read more

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Can you name the seven key ingredients for a Chicago-style hot dog? Here are ten great places to conduct your research (courtesy of Citysearch and Yelp).

10. The Wiener’s Circle. Love it or hate it, this greasy spoon has got a “charm” all its own.
9. Gold Coast Dogs. All ten locations follow the Chicago-style recipe to the ‘T’.
8. Superdawg Drive-In. The winking hot dogs on the roof will be a sight you won’t soon forget.
7. Huey’s Hot Dogs. While serving up great dogs and burgers, this eatery is also well-known for its vegetarian-friendly dishes.

6. Portillo’s Hot Dogs. Both the nostalgia and …read more

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Do I sound like a broken record yet? From one of my earlier articles:
The Chicago-style hot dog has seven essential toppings: a boiled or steamed all-beef dog on a poppy-seed bun with (1) mustard, (2) relish, (3) chopped onions, (4) tomato wedges, (5) a pickle spear, (6) sport peppers, and (7) celery salt. I’ve seen a few varieties on this (including lettuce, sliced pickles, cucumbers, and/or green peppers) but the “lucky seven” mentioned above are the components of a classic Chicago-style dog. And yes, the exclusion of ketchup is just as important as the ingredients that are included. Why? …read more

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It has been some time since I last visited Pequod’s Pizza, but it was an experience I won’t soon forget. I actually used to work near the restaurant, and I’m surprised (and saddened) that I didn’t dine here sooner.
T-shirt-and-jeans types (many of them students at nearby DePaul University) enter beneath the blue awning and enjoy a contemporary setting with exposed brick and a casual atmosphere. Your mouth will water instantly upon arrival, as the smells of delicious pizza fill the room. You can tide yourself over with appetizers like chicken wings, breaded mushrooms, and jalapeño poppers.
Pequod’s makes both thin …read more

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So, remember how I said that we don’t have Sonic here in Chicago? Well, I have to take that back now.
For years, Chicagoans have had to suffer through commercials for Sonic Drive-In, despite the fact that there aren’t any restaurants of the chain within 70 miles of here. Sonic operates more than 3,000 restaurants, but most of them are in Oklahoma and Texas. (Chicagoist) However, one has finally opened here in the Chicago area last Tuesday. Now Windy City residents can get the Chili Cheese Tots and Cherry Limeade they’ve been craving. Weeks before the grand opening however, flocks of …read more

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With crazy gas prices and now high sales taxes, Chicagoans and visitors are looking to save money where they can. But don’t let your budget prevent you from going out to enjoy a good meal. Here are eight of the best restaurants (courtesy of Citysearch and Yelp) where you can get a big meal for a small price.

8. Red Apple. This Polish buffet just keeps on going and going and going…
7. Reza’s Restaurant. As if the extensive Mediterranean menu wasn’t enough, the Sunday brunch buffet offers an incredible number of options.
6. Mr. Greek Gyros. Everything from hot dogs to pork …read more

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Burgers, tacos, pizza, sandwiches: fast-food chains run the gamut of cuisines. However, Lindy’s and Gertie’s has a style all its own: chili and ice cream.
The oddball couple wasn’t always a pair though. Originating on Chicago’s south side, the original Gertie’s Ice Cream began in 1901, and Lindy’s was the city’s first chili parlor in 1924. Joseph Yesuits bought both of the businesses in 1977 and, despite the naysayers, put them together. The concept has been a hit ever since.
The chili, made both with and without beans, is just as hearty and delicious as it’s ever been. The recipe’s been left …read more

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It’s that time of year again. The Taste of Chicago is an annual food festival, where dozens of restaurants from across the city gather along Columbus Drive. Millions of locals and tourists sample hundreds of dishes from every cuisine imaginable, from hot dogs to ravioli to veggie gyros to pad thai to empanadas to omelets… Everything and anything edible can be found at the Taste, along with cooking demonstrations, live music, a wine garden, and kids’ activities. New additions this year include a sports pavilion and an international entertainment pavilion.
Admission is free, but the food and drinks aren’t. Tickets come …read more

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Tre Kronor (“Three Crowns”) is a neighborhood Scandinavian place that has been around for 15 years, and the well-worn hardwood floors are testament to all the business the cozy restaurant has received over that time. The crowd usually consists of families, locals from the neighboring North Park, and Scandinavian foodies. On weekends, the two-story restaurant has a line out the door, the handwritten menu attracting hungry patrons who show up before the door even opens.
There’s not much here that you wouldn’t find at similar restaurants, but it’s all in the preparation. You’d swear that your long-lost Swedish grandmother was back …read more

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