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

1 Comment

Romance shouldn’t be reserved for just Valentine’s Day. As the temperatures begin to cool down, you can keep your relationship hot by visiting one or more of the ten best romantic date spots (courtesy of Citysearch and Yelp).

10. Shanghai Terrace. With elegant art and a beautiful view, this Asian restaurant offers delicious sophistication.
9. Cyrano’s Bistrot and Wine Bar. The River North eatery serves French basics amidst casual, rustic surroundings.
8. Le Bouchon. Authentic and delicious French dishes at remarkable prices make this bistro one of Bucktown’s best.
7. Angelina Ristorante. In Lakeview, the popular date spot provides authentic Italian in a comfortable …read more

Comments Off

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

Comments Off

If you’re familiar with the cartoon dog Scooby-Doo, then you know that he likes his sandwiches piled sky-high with more ingredients than two pieces of bread could ever actually handle. At Manny’s Coffee Shop & Deli, the sandwiches aren’t too far from those animated towers of meat and cheese, and they’ll satisfy even the heartiest of appetites.
This cafeteria-style diner in the South Loop is the palace of pastrami, serving a mixed clientele of white-collar executives, blue-collar workforce, and elderly regulars from the neighborhood. On your first visit, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the wall full of daily specials. Manny’s …read more

1 Comment

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

2 Comments

This holiday season is all about presents tradition, and chef Didier Durand of Cyrano’s Bistrot and Wine Bar is bringing his French small-town traditions right here to Chicago. His Christmas Eve prix-fixe dinner includes dishes like roasted goose with savory chestnut stuffing and a grilled rib-eye steak with au poivre sauce and pommes frites. A la carte selections include roasted juniper-crusted rack of lamb and bûche de Noël. Many of the recipes come from Durand’s mother, who prepared stunning meals for the family every holiday.
Even when you’re not celebrating though, you may find yourself spending several hours at the restaurant. …read more

2 Comments

The eight-day Jewish holiday Hanukkah began last night, celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple at the time of the Maccabee rebellion. To all our Jewish friends and readers, Happy Hanukkah!
In honor of the season, I present a little restaurant that is quite unimpressive from the outside. The sign is worn and faded, and if you didn’t know any better, you’d probably think it was out of business. But trust me, there’s plenty going on inside Tel Aviv Kosher Pizza. The dinner rushes are fast and furious, yet the restaurant never gets overly thunderous or noisy.
This hidden hot spot …read more

2 Comments

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

3 Comments

Let’s continue our International Tour by heading to Central and South America. A large majority of Central and South Americans live in the Logan Square neighborhood, but their influences can be found throughout the city.
For example, Mayan Sol Latin Grill in Albany Park is a great eatery that can take you to Central America because that’s where the owners are from. When co-owner Erwin Piril left Guatemala City (the capital and largest city of Guatemala) for Chicago back in 1998, he knew right away that he wanted to open a restaurant. So with his mother’s recipes and her flair …read more

1 Comment

It’s lunchtime, and you open up your brown paper bag to find yet another ham and cheese on white bread. Zzzz… Boring! If you want a sandwich that you’ll actually remember, stroll on down to Jerry’s.
Opened in 2002, Jerry’s isn’t just any sandwich shop. Along with a homemade collection of soups, side salads, and mac and cheese, Jerry’s serves up 100 named regular and grilled sandwiches. And if for some strange reason you can’t find one among those that you like, you can choose from nine types of bread (ciabatta, focaccia, pretzel rolls!), over 25 fillings (roast chicken, smoked …read more

Comments Off