Road Trip Chicago

[chasy]

Bavettes is probably 15+ years old and still booked to the gills each and every day. It is a printing press.

[El Hoze]

I somewhat lived in River North for a number of years about two blocks from Bavette’s. It is very good…great ambiance, but I would argue not necessarily worth killing yourself trying to get into. I would say the same thing for Au Cheval, their more casual place in Chicago, and 4 Charles their place in NYC (that makes getting into Bavette’s look easy). They are certainly killing it. For me, my favorite restaurant in River North (and probably Top 10 anywhere…though there is some personal nostalgia involved) is Frontera Grill. When I am in Chicago I will typically eat at the bar at Frontera every night. For how busy and touristy it is and how long it has been around it is consistently extremely good.

[BG318]

On 5/17/2025 at 12:11 AM, El Hoze said:

I somewhat lived in River North for a number of years about two blocks from Bavette’s. It is very good…great ambiance, but I would argue not necessarily worth killing yourself trying to get into. I would say the same thing for Au Cheval, their more casual place in Chicago, and 4 Charles their place in NYC (that makes getting into Bavette’s look easy). They are certainly killing it. For me, my favorite restaurant in River North (and probably Top 10 anywhere…though there is some personal nostalgia involved) is Frontera Grill. When I am in Chicago I will typically eat at the bar at Frontera every night. For how busy and touristy it is and how long it has been around it is consistently extremely good.

I'm in at Gibson's, and on a wait list for Bavettes. I'm very satisfied with the scenario because there's so many things to do anyway. It'll give me something to shoot for next trip. Love Rick Bayless as a chef - I went to Topolabampo the first time I was in town. I am definitely thinking about Au Cheval if my stomach can handle it.

[BG318]

Just got home! Great trip, made even better from all the suggestions. Really, I thank you all.

I looked into most of the suggestions as well as a few of my own ideas. Time, location, operating hours, and availability determined what I wound up doing.

I wanted to try the classic, iconic places because the world is quickly changing and I want to see them before they vanish. I also tried to get into some newer places, but was beaten to the punch . Gives me a reason to return, which I will.

Some pics 

Cafe Meli. Rolled into town @ 430AM. Spectrum (bar) next door still rocking. Went for a short walk of about 20 minutes. By the time I returned the place was shut, chairs up, lights out, two guys outside finishing off a bottle of Patron.

Garrett's Popcorn. I don't even like popcorn but that stuff rocked!

Wrigley Field. Don't go changing.

Gibson's. Best steak. Seriously.

[BG318]

2008 Lusi in the Viagra Triangle. Actually walking back to the hotel afterwards.

Oz Park

Mr Beef. Combo sandwich light dip.

Here is approximately where I lost my leather cigar case. 1 CoLa, 1 '08 Lusi, and 1 '08 VR Famoso. (sob)

[Chibearsv]

Nice, did you save room for a "slice" of cake at Gibson's  

 

[BG318]

Best Deep dish .

Second best..

Biggs for a cigar after returning back to the hotel to confront the horrible reality of the missing CoLa, and grabbing the travel humidor.

Chicken Vesuvio, apparently a Chi Town exclusive. Never seen it anywhere else.

Great trip, made better by my FOH brethren.

[BG318]

51 minutes ago, Chibearsv said:

Nice, did you save room for a "slice" of cake at Gibson's 

The guy at the next table and I opened a small catering business with his slice!

[Chibearsv]

11 hours ago, BG318 said:

Chicken Vesuvio, apparently a Chi Town exclusive. Never seen it anywhere else.

I never knew that. I've certainly eaten a lot of it though.

[BG318]

9 hours ago, Chibearsv said:

I never knew that. I've certainly eaten a lot of it though.

This was at Geno+Georgetti.

Gene, excuse me.

[barrygoodvibes]

Great pics and great stops! Very sorry to hear about the lost cigar case. Come back in the summer and lets do an FOH cigar meetup!

[BG318]

15 minutes ago, barrygoodvibes said:

Great pics and great stops! Very sorry to hear about the lost cigar case. Come back in the summer and lets do an FOH cigar meetup!

Thanks again for the recommendations.! Really great food and baseball pilgrimage! Love to have a smoke out there!

There's probably someone from the CTA enjoying my Lancero as we speak..

[Dr vonPuffenberg]

11 hours ago, BG318 said:

2008 Lusi in the Viagra Triangle. Actually walking back to the hotel afterwards.

Oz Park

Mr Beef. Combo sandwich light dip.

Here is approximately where I lost my leather cigar case. 1 CoLa, 1 '08 Lusi, and 1 '08 VR Famoso. (sob)

Damn that Italian Beef looks good.

[BG318]

6 hours ago, Dr vonPuffenberg said:

Damn that Italian Beef looks good.

It was. I only ate about a third of it because I had a lot of stops to make. It was 10 AM when I had it.

[chasy]

3 hours ago, BG318 said:

Thanks again for the recommendations.! Really great food and baseball pilgrimage! Love to have a smoke out there!

There's probably someone from the CTA enjoying my Lancero as we speak..

Your CoLa turned into a blunt wrapper most likely.

You hit a ton of the classics - Gibson’s, Mr Beef, Gene & Georgetti! I’m now realizing I need to get a dinner Gene & Georgetti soon.

[BG318]

4 hours ago, chasy said:

Your CoLa turned into a blunt wrapper most likely.

You hit a ton of the classics - Gibson’s, Mr Beef, Gene & Georgetti! I’m now realizing I need to get a dinner Gene & Georgetti soon.

Yeah, I even had room for these -

[BlueWS]

Italian Beef sammy at 10am!?! Oooof. I don't think all my internal organs are fully on-line at 10am.

[El Hoze]

Back when Chicago was my second home I could walk to Gene & Georgetti in about 30 seconds. It was always our go-to on cold and snowy days when we didn’t want to go too far and wanted to do a long late lunch/early dinner type of thing as it’s open all day and kind of lends itself to that. 

[BG318]

15 hours ago, BlueWS said:

Italian Beef sammy at 10am!?! Oooof. I don't think all my internal organs are fully on-line at 10am.

 I had to risk it for the brisket!

[Chibearsv]

[Lucas Buck]

Nice travelogue. Sorry about your lost cigars! 😭

[BG318]

On 5/22/2025 at 3:05 PM, El Hoze said:

Back when Chicago was my second home I could walk to Gene & Georgetti in about 30 seconds. It was always our go-to on cold and snowy days when we didn’t want to go too far and wanted to do a long late lunch/early dinner type of thing as it’s open all day and kind of lends itself to that. 

Bet that place is very atmospheric on a snowy day!

[Namisgr11]

So, is it Lou Malnati's that's your favorite deep dish? My wife is from Chicago, and it's always been her number one starting decades ago.

[BG318]

7 hours ago, Namisgr11 said:

So, is it Lou Malnati's that's your favorite deep dish? My wife is from Chicago, and it's always been her number one starting decades ago.

I would have a tough time picking between Lou Malnati and Giordano's. I may have to go back soon and include any other possible contenders. Tough job.

Top pic is Lou Malnati.

Next two are Giordano's.

Bottom one is an English still life I saw at the Chicago Art Institute, which I found funny because it looks like a deep dish.

[BG318]

8 hours ago, Lucas Buck said:

Nice travelogue. Sorry about your lost cigars! 😭

Thanks, it was fun to explore such a great city, and on a whim.

If I had lost three cigars of that caliber at home I would still be freaking out, but it didn't really bother me because I had more back at the hotel, and I was having such a good time anyway. I will miss the cigar holder because I had it for over 30 years.