From pizza and hot dogs to ethnic food and haute cuisine, Chicago’s restaurants can satisfy any palate. The restaurants selected have been divided into five categories - Gourmet, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. They are listed alphabetically within the categories, which serve as guidelines rather than an absolute definition of each establishment.
Restaurants charge sales tax, approximately 10%, and it is customary to add a 15-20% tip to all bills. The prices stated below are for a three-course meal and for a bottle of house wine or equivalent, excluding sales
tax and tips unless otherwise stated.
Gourmet Arun’s Thai décor, artifacts and craftwork make Chicago’s foremost Thai restaurant a Siamese sanctuary. Dinner, an ever-changing fixed-price 12-course meal, is a gourmet sampling of authentic Thai cuisine and carved vegetables, such as lobster with a sweet, spicy and sour sauce. Each course is exquisitely presented and can be customized to suit individual tastes. Closed Monday. No lunch. Reservations are required.
4156 North Kedzie Avenue, North Side
Tel: (773) 539 1909. Fax: (773) 539 2125.
E-mail:
info@arunsthai.com Website:
www.arunsthai.com Price: Prix fixe US$85. Wine: US$35.
Charlie Trotters Menus are seasonal at this popular venue that sets the standard for Chicago’s haute cuisine. The dining salons are elegant and understated, and the cuisine, reflecting subtle Asian and European influences, is vibrantly colored, delicate and exquisite. Unusual pairings create delicious flavor sensations, like parsnip and carrot cake with a carrot and honey sauce served with nutmeg ice cream dessert. Three wine cellars house 25,000 bottles of wine. Closed Sunday and Monday. No lunch. Reservations are required and must be made well in advance.
816 West Armitage Avenue, Lincoln Park
Tel: (773) 248 6228. Fax: (773) 248 6088.
E-mail:
info@charlietrotters.com Website:
www.charlietrotters.com Price: Prix fixe US$115 (vegetable menu), US$135 (grand menu). Wine: US$25.
Everest Perched on the 40th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange building,
Everest is also tops for French dining in Chicago. Modern décor and an extensive wine list complement main courses that range from halibut wrapped in potato crust to game delicacies such as venison in wild huckleberry sauce. Creative desserts, like a crêpe-filled Moroccan date soufflé, are delicious. Closed Sunday and Monday. No lunch. Reservations are required.
440 South La Salle Street
Tel: (312) 663 8920.
Website:
www.everestrestaurant.com Price: US$115. Prix fixe US$94. Wine: US$46.
Les Nomades This refurbished mansion is tucked away, with not-to-be-missed dining in its stylish salons. Service in the award-winning
Les Nomades is low-key, but the contemporary French cuisine is upscale. Main courses are sometimes interestingly paired, such as squab and ostrich with vegetables and chocolate-scented squab jus. Closed Sunday and Monday. No lunch. Reservations are required.
222 East Ontario Street
Tel: (312) 649 9010. Fax: (312) 649 0608.
Website:
www.lesnomades.net Price: US$80. Wine: US$45.
TRU A sleek blue and white setting envelopes diners as they savour the progressive French creations of award-winning chefs Rick Tramonto and pastry chef Gale Gand. Main courses vary, but expect delicacies like truffle freeform lobster with lobster mushrooms and emulsion.
The Caviar Staircase starter features a different type of caviar on each of its rungs. Superb service, exquisite presentation on Austrian crystal and Versacci-designed china and award-winning desserts are the norm at the four-star
TRU. Guests are welcome to tour the kitchen. Set aside about three hours for this dining experience. Menu changes daily. Closed Sunday. No lunch. Reservations are required.
676 North Saint Clair Street
Tel: (312) 202 0001. Fax: (312) 202 0003.
Website:
www.trurestaurant.com Price: Prix fixe US$90. Wine: US$25.
Zealous In spite of the austere décor, grey furniture, wood and bare grey walls, this refurbished warehouse is still cosy and quiet. The friendly staff is well versed on the 20-page wine menu. Chef Michael Taus creates unusual and creative main courses as well as vegetarian offerings on the spot. Though the menu changes, dinner favorites like Hawaiian chopped salad and sesame-crusted Chilean sea bass, roasted roulade of salmon and a 0.45 kilo (16 oz) Black Angus rib-eye steak, with creamed spinach gratin, remain. Closed Sunday and Monday. No lunch. Reservations are recommended.
419 West Superior Street
Tel: (312) 475 9112.
Website:
www.zealousrestaurant.com Price: US$70. Wine: US$28.
Business Gibsons When craving a great steak, locals, tourists and celebrities such as Michael Jordan seek out
Gibsons. The staff is friendly and the ambience relaxed. Steaks come topped with any combination of blue cheese, onions, crushed pepper, mushrooms, garlic or a Cajun rub. Some of the portions are so large, the only thing missing are the horns and the tail. Dinner is served daily until midnight in the dining room and 0100 in the bar. Lunch begins every day at 1100.
1028 North Rush Street
Tel: (312) 266 8999. Fax: (312) 787 5649.
Website:
www.gibsonssteakhouse.com Price: US$55. Wine: US$23.
Branch: 5464 North River Road, Rosemont
Tel: (847) 6928 9900. Fax: (847) 928 1615.
Lawry’s The Prime Rib Cut to order prime rib rules at this somewhat noisy, Tudor-styled establishment. The friendly personnel provide tableside service and the accompaniments, a spinning salad (salad spun and tossed with dressing), bread pudding and mashed potatoes. Chef Patrick Stewart’s special dessert, a fruit- and cream liqueur -filled chocolate bag is a must for chocoholics. Vegans, calorie counters and cholesterol watchers need not apply. No lunch.
100 East Ontario Street
Tel: (312) 787 5000.
Website:
www.lawrysonline.com Price: US$54. Wine: US$25.
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood is king at this friendly venue where deliveries of fresh fish come as often as the tide. The décor consists of high ceilings, dark woods, leaded glass, Frank Lloyd Wright-type chandeliers and photos of fish that may or may not be on the menu. Chowder is rich and served with plenty of clams, but save room for upside down apple pie with cinnamon ice cream. Open every day for lunch and dinner.
41 East Chestnut Street
Tel: (312) 397 9500.
Website:
www.mccormickandschmicks.com Price: US$37. Wine: US$25.
NoMI It is hard to decide which is better - the food, the service, the wine selection or the view of Water Tower and Lake Michigan. A friendly, efficient wait staff presents elegant cuisine in this busy restaurant. The diver scallops with onion ginger jam, mango and aubergine, and the beef tenderloin are gastronomical delights. Reservations are required. Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Park Hyatt Hotel, 800 North Michigan Avenue
Tel: (312) 239 4030.
Website:
www.nomirestaurant.com Price: US$65. Wine: US$38.
Seasons Impeccable service and artfully presented cuisine is wrapped in a setting of rich panelling, blue damask, a profusion of floral arrangements and a Magnificent Mile view. Contemporary American food includes succulent truffle dusted Colorado rack of lamb with fava beans, beets, wild ramps, carrots and mint emulsion. The special Chef’s Table, which can accommodate up to six people, is served in the kitchen.
Four Seasons signature dessert, the chocolate pyramid milk chocolate mousse with a crème brulée center and caramelized bananas, is scrumptious. Changing menu. Dinner reservations are recommended. Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Four Seasons Hotel, 120 East Delaware Place
Tel: (312) 649 2349.
Website:
www.fourseasons.com/chicagofs Price: US$75, Chef’s Table dinner starts at US$130 per person. Wine: US$46.
The Signature Room at the 95th From the 95th floor of the
John Hancock Center, the panoramic views are the best in the city. The room is plush and the food strictly American. The grilled shrimp ravioli and the New York strip steak are delicious, but chocoholics should really save room for the white and dark chocolate mousse cake. A luncheon buffet (a bargain at US$18) is served Mon-Sat. Dinner reservations are required. Open every day for lunch and dinner.
John Hancock Center, 875 North Michigan Avenue
Tel: (312) 787 9596. Fax: (312) 280 9448.
Website:
www.signatureroom.com Price: US$56. Wine: US$35.
Trendy Ben Pao Complementing
Ben Pao’s Chinese Pan-Asian cuisine is a Zen-inspired décor - bamboo, black wood, red accents and a ceiling-to-floor pillar fountain. The food is tasty and creative. Guests can choose from an array of Mandarin, Szechwan, Cantonese and Hunan items, but should definitely try the Old World egg roll, crispy garlic tofu or black peppered sea scallops. Dinner every night, lunch on weekdays. Reservations are recommended.
52 West Illinois Street
Tel: (312) 222 1888. Fax: (312) 222 0925.
Website:
www.benpao.com Price: US$24. Wine: US$24.
China Grill An open kitchen, a see-through bar that is illuminated with psychedelic colors, and black and red décor create a hip atmosphere at this trendy Asian-fusion dining spot. Portions are large and meant to be shared, but offerings like the Caesar salad with spiced cashews or the sweet soy marinated skirt steak with noodles and shitake mushrooms are so luscious you may want to eat them all yourself. If you can’t decide what to choose from the menu (it is decorated with quotes from Marco Polo’s diary), the friendly waiting staff will be happy to assist you. Lunch weekdays breakfast and dinner seven days.
230 North Michigan Avenue in the Hard Rock Hotel
Tel: (312) 334 6700.
Website:
www.chinagrillmgt.com Price: US$60. Wine: US$28.
Fogo de Chão High-beamed ceilings and brick walls create a ’ranchy’ effect and prepare the diner for
espeto corridor (continuous service). Each diner is given a two-sided chip. If the green side is facing up that means ’go.’ A
gaucho chef will immediately appear with a long skewer of one of 15 different cuts of meat, which he will carve at your table. Turn the chip to red, and you will be left to savour the numerous tasty morsels on your plate. Accompaniments include a massive salad bar, parmesan-flavored polenta fries, mashed potatoes, rice and beans, fried bananas and a fine wine selection. This Brazilian steakhouse, the newest craze in dining, is a carnivore dream come true.
661 North LaSalle Street
Tel: (312) 932 9330. Fax: (312) 932 9388.
Website:
www.fogodechao.com Price: Prix fixe US$48.50 dinner; US$28.50 lunch. Wine: US$31.
Heaven on Seven on Rush The walls along the wooden booths are lined with bottles of hot sauce in this New Orleans-style eatery. Tasty Creole and Cajun fare, such as gumbo, jambalaya or barbecue shrimp, toss calories to the wind, especially when finished off with pecan or chocolate peanut butter pie. Open for lunch and dinner Mon-Sat except for Wabash location which is open only for lunch.
600 North Michigan Avenue, Second floor
Tel: (312) 280 7774. Fax: (312) 280 8884.
E-mail:
eatcajun@heavenonseven.com Website:
www.heavenonseven.com Price: US$25. Wine: US$20.
Branches:
Heaven on Seven 111 North Wabash Avenue, Seventh Floor
Tel: (312) 263 6443. Fax: (312) 263 3777.
Heaven on Seven on Clark 3478 North Clark Street
Tel: (773) 477 7818. Fax: (773) 477 7856.
Kit Kat Lounge The martinis, food and entertainment all feature twists, spice and kicks at this cosy 1940s motif venue. While the Andrew Sisters warble away, diners can delight in such specialties as brie stuffed ravioli topped with tomato cream and artichoke hearts, coconut deep fried shrimp with pineapple horseradish, or key lime pie. Soon the lights will begin to flash, the music volume will increase, and a female impersonator will provide cabaret entertainment. Except for Fridays and Saturdays, there are nightly specials like the second main course at half price on Wednesday, a bottle of wine for one cent with two main courses on Thursday and half-price martinis on Sundays and Tuesdays. Closed Monday. No lunch.
3700 North Halsted Street, Lake View
Tel: (773) 525 1111.
Website:
www.kitkatchicago.com Price: US$38. Wine: US$26.
Park Grill Probably the best people-watching restaurant in the city,
Park Grill is located on the Michigan Avenue side of Millennium Park. Black chairs and booths accented with dark woods decorate this dimly lit venue. Outdoor summer dining is replaced with an ice rink in winter. Considering the restaurant is situated within one of Chicago’s most popular tourist attractions, dishes like the pork tenderloin are surprisingly tasty and reasonably priced. Service is another story.
11 North Michigan Avenue in Millennium Park
Tel: (312) 521 7275. Fax (312) 372 7275.
Website:
www.parkgrillchicago.com Price: US$38. Wine US$25.
Petterino’s The retro trend is alive and well at this eating locale adjacent to the Goodman Theater. White tablecloths, semi-circular red booths and caricatures of famous Chicagoans, like Harrison Ford (who grew up in the Chicago suburbs), decorate the walls, while Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald can be heard in the background. Tuxedoed waiters serve chops, seafood, Steak Diane and other sumptuous steaks. Lunch and dinner weekdays. Open Saturday and Sunday for dinner. Dinner reservations are recommended.
150 North Dearborn Street
Tel: (312) 422 0150.
Website:
www.lettuceentertainyou.com Price: US$40. Wine: US$27.
Scoozi!
A giant tomato hangs over the door, and inside, brick walls and earthy-tones of the trattoria-styled eatery emit an aura of warmth. The bustling bar and dimly-lit, two-tiered restaurant can be a bit noisy at times, but the din disappears when sampling the pastas, wood-oven pizzas (especially the pizza biancas), the Scoozi trio antipastini (a combination of Sicilian olives, bruschetta and caprese - mozzarella with cherry tomatoes and basil) or, for that matter, anything on menu. Dinner every night. Reservations advisable.
410 West Huron Street
Tel: (312) 943 5900.
Website:
www.lettuceentertainyou.com Price: US$25. Wine: US$28.
Wildfire Fish and meat glow in the visible ovens, grills and rotisseries of this 1940s- style supper club. Wood, stone, rounded banquettes, martinis and swing music create the mood. The chopped salad is big enough for two and guests are recommended to try anything that is crusted - clams, steak, mussels or fish. Open every day. No lunch. Reservations are recommended.
159 West Erie Street
Tel: (312) 787 9000.
Website:
www.wildfirerestaurant.com Price: US$47. Wine: US$22.
Budget Chicago Flat Sammies Flatbread ’sammiches’, pizza and people abound at this afternoon hotspot, just off Water Tower Square. Inside Chicago’s Historic Pumping Station, posters decorate
Flat Sammies’ oak walls. Grilled pesto chicken covered with mozzarella and sammie splash (an oil, vinegar and herb combination) is extra delicious when accompanied with fresh kettle chips and a nut-filled, fudge brownie. Open until 1700 (until 1800 weekends).
811 North Michigan Avenue
Tel: (312) 664 2733.
Website:
www.lettuceentertainyou.com Price: US$10.25.
Gold Coast Dogs Hot dogs are a Chicago lunch favorite and the diner-like Gold Coast serves up the finest. A steamed poppy seed bun, wrapped around a juicy frankfurter, topped with mustard, relish, onions, peppers or ketchup, is best accompanied by French fries and a soda. Open daily 1000-1800.
159 North Wabash Avenue
Tel: (312) 917 1677.
Price: US$5.50.
Lou Mitchell’s Restaurant The exterior neon sign is straight out of the 1950s, and, for that matter, so is the interior. Since 1923, customers have been attracted by the variety of freebies given here, such as doughnut holes or Milk Duds (caramel-covered chocolate candies) while waiting to be seated, a prune and orange wedge for breakfast and, for lunch, soft-serve ice cream. The food and service are good at this landmark restaurant, located near Union Station. Breakfast and lunch. No dinner.
565 West Jackson Boulevard
Tel: (312) 939 3111.
Price: US$9.
Pizzeria Uno Chicago deep-pan pizza was born at
Pizzeria Uno. Its cellar-like atmosphere has not changed much since it opened in 1943. Customers still clamour for Uno’s crunchy-crust pizza topped with fresh tomatoes, a thick layer of sausage and lots of mozzarella cheese. Be prepared to wait, because reservations are not accepted at this ever-popular restaurant. Open every day for lunch and dinner.
29 East Ohio Street
Tel (312) 321 1000. Fax: (312) 280 5125.
Website:
www.pizzeriauno.com Price: US$9. Wine US$18. Beer: US$3.50.
Wishbone Located across from Harpo Studios and the Oprah Show,
Wishbone is Southern comfort at very reasonable prices. Spacious and friendly, this is a good choice for down-home Cajun, soul and Southern food. The hoppin’ John or hoppin’ Jack (rice with black-eyed peas or black beans), baked bone-in ham, bacon and mushroomed studded grits and key lime pie all get raves. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday and Monday nights.
1001 West Washington
Tel: (312) 850 2663. Fax: (312) 850 3104.
Website:
www.wishbonechicago.com Price: US$17. Wine: US$16.
Branch:
3300 North Lincoln Avenue
Tel: (773) 549 2663.
Dinner on Sunday.
Personal Recommendations A La Turka Engraved copper tables, samovars and traditional musical, belly dancers (on the weekends) and tasty fare will have diners believing they have been transported to Turkey. There are even Turkish-styled eating areas where patrons can recline on cushions. The service is friendly, and ample servings include traditional stews, lamb dishes, and vegetarian items. The sultan’s wrap, a filo dough stuffed with chicken breast or beef and vegetables, is mouth-watering. Lunch and dinner daily.
3134 North Lincoln Avenue
Tel: (773) 935 6101. Fax: (773) 935 8894.
Website:
www.turkishkitchen.us Price: US$26. Wine: US$28.
Erwin Although the menu changes, the food is consistently good at this friendly, comfortable, sometimes noisy bistro in the Near North district. The décor is eclectic with window booths and quaint art - a hand-painted mural surrounds the main room. Delicious, homemade bread served with a bean purée accompanies main courses with a Midwest flair, like Great Lakes whitefish. The mushroom cakes are scrumptious. Although
Erwin does not serve lunch, it does do a fantastic Sunday brunch. Closed Monday. Reservations are recommended.
2925 North Halsted Street
Tel: (773) 528 7200. Fax: (773) 528 1931.
Website:
www.erwincafe.com Price: US$32. Wine: US$24. On Tuesday certain wines and martinis are half-price.
Russian Tea Time Located close to the Symphony Center and Art Institute, this venue, with its soft lights, round red banquettes and Russian music, sets the scene for vodka, stroganoff and many vegetarian dishes. Black bread, beet caviar and carrot salad accompany almost every tasty entrée. Ample combination plates for two include croquettes, stroganoff and other tasty morsels. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Dinner reservations are recommended.
77 East Adams Street
Tel: (312) 360 0000. Fax (312) 360 0575.
Website:
www.russianteatime.com Price: US$32. Wine: US$17.
Trattoria No 10 Trattoria No 10 is a cosy cellar restaurant serving contemporary Italian fare. Dishes, including field greens with candied walnuts, goat cheese and apple raisin vinaigrette and ravioli with lobster, creamed spinach, peas and lobster reduction, are as colorful as they are delicious. Those with a sweet tooth should save room for the dessert sampler that includes goodies such as Grand Marnier pâté and profiterole pastry puffs. Lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday. No lunch Saturday. Reservations are recommended.
10 North Dearborn Street
Tel: (312) 984 1718.
Website:
www.trattoriaten.com Price: US$42. Wine: US$28.
Tsuki One wouldn’t expect to find sleek décor (curved walls, brushed stainless steel accents and cobalt lighting) in a Japanese restaurant. Then again, one does not usually find
hotate volcano sushi (smoked salmon topped with scallop and torched Japanese mayonnaise) or spicy pinenut tuna, with pistachios and topped with tuna and ginger paste, on the menu, either. Portions are small, allowing the diner the opportunity to sample a variety of the plentiful maki and sushi selections. Service is friendly and the wine list, though not extensive, has some interesting choices. In the warmer weather, there is outdoor seating.
1441 West Fullerton
Tel: (773) 883 8722. Fax: (773) 883 8723.
Website:
www.tsuki.us Price: US$27. Wine: US$25.
Vinci If an Italian villa motif, flavorful Italian fare and low-key, competent service seem appealing,
Vinci is the place. A Portobello mushroom atop polenta and broth is the signature appetizer at this pre-theater stop. Pastas, like linguine with courgette, tomato, garlic and breadcrumbs, are the restaurant’s forte. Closed Monday.
1732 North Halsted Street
Tel: (312) 266 1199.
Website:
www.vincichicago.com Price: US$28. Wine: US$30.
Yoshi’s Café Yoshi Katsamura combines French, Japanese and Mexican cuisine and serves it elegantly in a simple setting. The multicultural, mishmash menu includes tuna tartare with guacamole and tortilla chips, rack of lamb and Kobe beef steak with wasabe mashed potatoes and a nightly selection of fresh fish. Save room for the mille-feuille of chocolate mousse and berries for dessert. Although lunch is not served, the Sunday brunch is excellent. Closed Monday. Reservations are recommended.
3257 North Halsted
Tel: (773) 248 6160.
Price: US$35. Wine: US$32.
Nightlife:When the sun goes down, Chicago comes alive with a variety of entertainment venues, which vary from the boisterous (dance clubs) to the serene (wine bars). The main entertainment districts are Lincoln Park, the Gold Coast, Old Town and Streeterville (north of the Loop), Greek Town (west of the Loop) and the newest hot spots - River North, Wicker Park and Bucktown. Rush Street, once
the happening place, has come back with its many new upscale restaurants and outdoor cafes. Most bars close around 0200 or 0300 on Friday and Saturday nights, but outdoor gardens close at 2300. Nightclubs stay open later and often have cover charges of US$3-20, weekend nights being more costly. Drinks vary from place to place, but beer averages about US$4 and cocktails about US$8. There is no dress code for bars, but there are for some clubs. The minimum drinking age is 21 years.
Check
www.chicagoreader.com,
www.cityofchicago.org,
http://chicago.citysearch.com or www.metromix.com for comprehensive reviews and details.
Bars: Looking for a happening singles bar? Visit
Original Mothers, 26 North Division, which was featured in the movie,
About Last Night;
Butch McGuire’s, 20 West Division Street; or
The Lodge, across the street at 21 North Division. Also popular with twentysomethings is the laidback
Bar Thirteen, 1944 West Division Street. The 20-something crowd also like to frequent
Sound Bar, 226 West Ontario,
Hard Drive, 151 East Wacker Drive,
Enclave, 213 West Institute Place,
Crobar, 1543 North Kingsbury, and
Jet Vodka Lounge, 1551 North Sheffied, which has a fuselage interior.
Diehard Cub fans spend their time at sports bars near Wrigley Field -
Cubby Bear Lounge, 1059 West Addison or
Hi-
Tops, 3551 North Sheffield. The spacious
Joe’s Bar, 940 West Weed Street, is a combination live music, Thursday night karaoke and sports bar. Its many TVs and 14 different satellite feeds make it a favorite hangout for avid sports fans.
If wine bars are more to your palate, get a grape education with every glass of wine at
Bin 36, 339 North Dearborn Street, or try
The Tasting Room, 1415 West Randolph. This chic, two-floor bar offers sweeping skyline vistas with every libation. For those who prefer the bubbly, there is
Pops for Champagne, 2934 North Sheffield, which boasts more than 140 different kinds of the stuff.
There are alternative country acts and a soul-gospel DJ at the 1940s-styled
California Clipper, 1002 North California. Map mavens frequent the
Map Room, 1949 North Hoyne Avenue, which, on Tuesday evenings, has a free buffet with different international cuisine each Tuesday, but you must purchase two drinks. For both sipping and scenery, nothing can compare to the spectacular views from the lounge of the
Signature Room at the 95th at the
John Hancock, 875 North Michigan Avenue.
Casinos: Though gambling is illegal in Chicago, there are several riverboat casinos located just outside the city:
Grand Victoria Casino, Elgin,
Hollywood Casino in Aurora, and
Argosy’s Empress Casino and
Harrah’s Casino in Joliet. Just over the border in Indiana, there is
Horseshoe Casino in Hammond,
Trump Casino Boat in Gary,
Resorts East in East Chicago, Indiana, and
The Majestic Star Casino in Gary.
Clubs: Dragon Room, 809 West Evergreen Street, has three floors of dancing, and the Romanesque fortress-styled
Excalibur, 632 North Dearborn, is an equally popular dance setting. Salsa favorites include
Rumba, 351 West Hubbard Street,
Rancho Luna del Caribe, 2554 West Diversey Parkway, and
2300 Nacional 27, 325 West Huron Street after 2300. There is jazz, blues and dancing at
The Cotton Club, 1710 South Michigan, which is patterned after the famous
Cotton Club in New York City’s Harlem.
Comedy: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Rick Moranis got their start at the popular
The Second City, 1616 North Wells Street, Old Town (tel: (312) 664 4032;
website:
www.secondcity.com). The city’s best stand-up comedian spot is
Zanies Comedy Club, 1548 North Wells (tel: (312) 337 4027; website:
www.chicago.zanies.com). Such notables as Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld and Jackie Mason have performed there. Teams compete for audience approval at
Comedy Sports, 2851 North Halsted (tel: (773) 549 8080; website:
www.comedysportzchicago.com). Expect to pay a cover charge of US$12-20 at most comedy clubs and some also require a two-drink minimum.
Live Music: Chicago has a healthy musical tradition covering everything - jazz, rock, country, blues and piano lounges.
Blue Chicago, 536 North Clark and
B.
L.
U.
E.
S., 2519 North Halsted Street, are where the tourists go to hear live performers. The neighborhood is iffy but the jazz is great at the nearly century-old
Green Mill, 4802 North Broadway. It also hosts the Uptown Poetry Slam on Sundays.
Buddy Guy’s Legends, 754 South Wabash, has also been around for quite a while.
House of Blues, 329 North Dearborn, at the base of Marina City, features rhythm and blues in the evenings and a Gospel brunch every Sunday. At the
Elbo Room, 2871 North Lincoln Avenue, sounds range from rock and acid jazz to funk, soul and pop. Other venues include
Metro, 3730 North Clark Street, popular with the pierced tongue crowd, and
Double Doors, 1572 North Milwaukee Avenue.
Useful booking numbers are
Jazz Hotline (tel: (312) 427 3300) and the
Concert Line (tel: (312) 666 6667). Tickets for rock concerts can be purchased from
Ticketmaster (tel: (312) 559 1212.
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