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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It’s time to say good-bye to 2007. The year has treated me very well. I moved to a new apartment, did some traveling, and, best of all, began writing The Chicago Traveler! Many thanks to Mary Jo and everyone at b5media who has been so welcoming and helpful.
Even though The Chicago Traveler is only a few months old, let’s take a look back at the ten most popular articles of this year.
10. Abegweit. Resting peacefully on Lake Michigan, this beautiful ship was once the most powerful icebreaker in the world.
9. Let’s Boogie Records & Tapes. This music store on the …read more

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You can find a Mexican restaurant in Chicago on almost every other block. Tiny storefront taquerias with brightly-colored walls and a loud jukebox almost always make me happy. But no matter how good the food is, even I can admit it’s not unique. Most taquerias’ cuisines taste like any other. The excellent Latin restaurants downtown offer exceptional flavors, but their meals’ costs may be outside the average person’s daily budget. What to do? Meet the happy medium: Wholly Frijoles.
If you take anything away from this article, it must be this: call ahead. I’m not kidding. I tried just dropping in …read more

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So you’ve got that busted bike sitting in your basement or out on the porch, and you keep telling yourself you’ll have it fixed when you “have the time.” After all, who wants to lug a broken bike all the way to the repair shop? Well now you don’t have to. This bike repair shop comes to you.
On the Fly is a 16-foot Workhorse Heavy Duty truck that is equipped with enough tools to cover every problem you can come up with. Joe Ebervein and Rich Kwaitkowski do everything from basic bicycle tune-ups to frame straightening to gear and brake …read more

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Chicago-style pizza isn’t just one kind of pizza. From deep-dish to stuffed to pan to even thin crust, Chicago has its own way of creating this delicious “pie.” But when most people think of Chicago pizza, they probably think of deep-dish, featuring a buttery crust and chunky tomato sauce.
The Chicago-style deep-dish pizza was invented by chef Rudy Malnati at Pizzeria Uno in 1943. It begins with a thin layer of dough which is laid in a deep round pan and pulled up the sides. The dough is then partially baked and then lined with cheese, vegetables, and meats. Crushed tomatoes …read more

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Even though Chicago has steakhouses by the dozen, Myron & Phil’s has a quality and flavor that turns its customers into weekly regulars. It is a family-owned, third-generation business with an extensive menu of chicken, seafood, and steaks. Owner Mark Freedman believes that while many other restaurants produce pretty dishes that you may want to take a picture of, his kitchen turns out dishes you just want to eat.
This old-school steakhouse maintains its classic look with black-leather seats and dark-wood walls, providing an intimate, past-era atmosphere and attracting a mature clientele. The meals even start off with classic relishes: a …read more

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