Come here for the free wi-fi, clean bathrooms, and to quietly sing the Wesley Willis song as you check out the memorabilia on the upper level. Do not, however, come here to eat.
The sausage pizza is a hubcap-sized disc of sausage in a deep dish pizza. Do not contemplate buying anything else. And grab a craft beer, you've got a 45-minute wait at least.
Get the bacon waffle, complete with bacon rum batter and bacon garnish. Get the flight of bacon as a starter. Don't like bacon? Go to a lesser place and contemplate your failed life.
Hit Frontera for lunch to optimize cost savings - it's still the same amazing Mexican food. Enjoy it knowing the tomatoes and chiles you're eating were grown on the roof of the building you're in.
Home of the inside out burger, with the cheese inside the beef patty. Get it on a pretzel bun, but more importantly: Enjoy an amazing craft beer before, during, and after. They've got a ton!
Some of the best BBQ you've had made by a series of guys who set out to cross BBQ borders and blend styles. Get a platter and add a taste of everything else. Try not to die of obesity.
Take your best shot of the Chicago skyline without leaving land. Wilco fan? You'll recognize the view from the front cover of the "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" documentary DVD.
It was meant to represent Lake Michigan, but now it just represents Married With Children. Get a picture in front with your hands down your pants a la Al Bundy!
More commonly known as "The Bean" this landmark in Grant Park allows for some very cool photographs. Good luck trying to get the famed "lying underneath shooting up" shot between the crowds.
Probably the best guitar store you've ever seen. And from a standard Strat, to a '52 Tele, to a $20,000 vintage Les Paul, they'll let you play anything you want.
The Signature Lounge offers the best view in Chicago and it comes at the price of a drink. Daylight and evening offer two distinct experiences so try and set aside time to come twice, it's worth it.
Possibly your best bet for an amazing used guitar anywhere, it truly is a no-BS used instrument store, and it's where the bands you love shop when they're in town.
Often referred to as "the corn cob towers." Replicate the cover of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco... if you can.
Get the Aztec bean-to-cup chocolate, with fresh-ground chocolate, water, chile, and allspice in a perfect drink. Pair it with the best huevos rancheros you've had outside Mexico.
Hole-in-the-wall offering 200+ craft beers. Great selection of drafts served in appropriate glass. Reasonable price. My favorite was the friendly staff guy who went around collecting empty glasses! Read more.
Snag the CB&J - an adult grilled cheese made with cashew butter and fig jam and a side of Stilton Mac & Cheese - and pair it up with one of many draught beers, or a rarity from the south bar fridge.
Don't be late, people wait in long lines just to get some of the best carnitas in Chicago.
What they do better than anyone in Chicago is roast goat. Rubbed in salt and steamed for five hours, then marinated in an ancho sauce and lard, what is normally a tough meat melts in your mouth. Read more.
Goat tacos. Goat stew. So amazing. One of Rick Bayless's favorite tacos in Chicago.
Holy cow this meal was incredible! Burrata and polenta fries were out of this world! Best I've ever had! Carbonara was very good. Local fish was over salted. Service was impeccable.
The newest addition to the Chicago bar scene serves a wide selection of beers with a 360-degree view into the brewing operation. Slide into a seat at the bar for a glass of Little Sumpin' Sumpin'. Read more.
One of the best beer and food bars in the city - amazing selection of craft brewed beers and amazing pizza.
Awesome selection of craft beers - try the brewery exclusive ones! No food here - just solid selection of brews plus free wifi!
We got a few small plates and everything was delicious. Beers were all solid and even my non-beer drinking friend had 2 flights. We also tried a cocktail which was amazing as well.
The Philadelphia equivalent to Intelligentsia opened its first Chicago café quietly (though the location, across the street from a Starbucks, certainly sent a message). Read more.
Where it all started! Random fact: Goose Island is actually an Island in Chicago. Try some rare beers that you can't get anywhere else!
Unbelievably good! One of the best places in Chicago. Small plates so be prepared to share.
Much less crowded than the River North location, plus a full bar. Much more social and date-like atmosphere.
My fav dish to order is the chorizo and avocado omelette. The red velvet pancakes are also a great choice.
Fountainhead boasts one of the chillest rooftops in town. It's sunny, it's got a small food menu, and there is literally no other rooftop bar in Chicago with a selection of drinks as good as this one. Read more.
Pizza enthusiasts flock to this far southern spot, where the crispy, extra-thin crust pies are some of the best in the city. Top them with shrimp, sliced beef, ground beef, anchovies or sausage. Read more.
It's legendary, and for good reason. You can't go wrong with any burger, and don't miss out on the Mac & Cheese. Check the tap list for killer craft beer from 3 Floyds, Revolution & others.
The beer garden is legendary, as is the beer selection. Pros know that the best action can be found at "Beer School" -- the bar-within-the-bar inner sanctum offering its own epic tap list.
Beer nerds and metal heads will want to zero in on Local Option, where a huge chalkboard lists the day's tap offerings, likely to include lesser-known styles and tough-to-find brews. Read more.
Sit in the 400 level (between 412 and 429) for great unobstructed views of Wrigley, and get a Chicago Dog (w/ grilled onions, tomatos and celery salt) from the stand behind home plate. It's fantastic.
Any chance you get to go on a weekend, order the philly cheesesteak egg rolls! Also, you can substitute your burger bun for a pretzel bun for $1
Guy enjoyed the "big flavor" and tenderness of the sauerbraten and the rindsrouladen, a beef roll. Loyal customers enjoy the liver dumpling soup and listening to the live polka band. Read more.
Get the char pup with everything: it's a Chicago style but slightly better! Their milkshakes, especially the oreo, are spectacular.
Everything on the menu is delicious but my absolute favorite is the plate-sized chocolate chip pancakes! The owners are there all the time and the service is always great!
Butchers breakfast on the weekend (especially their breakfast potatoes)-- and amazing mochas you can take to go. Also recommend the return of the gyro!
When cinnamon, honey yogurt, pink onion and mint come together in a chicken taco, the results are magically delicious. Add in the fact that this is the most adorable taco shop in town. Read more.
Trenchermen is a beautiful restaurant, with a wonderful ambience. Offering an array of seasonal menu offerings, it is the perfect place for a weekend brunch in Wicker Park. Read more.
Sample platter can feed an army. Ribs are but dry, but sauces are amazing. The brisket is outstanding. The chili is best I've ever had. Just eat here. From staff to food, it's stellar.
Drop in for a plate of chicken and waffles or pancetta benedict and wash it down with a cold beermosa. Read more.
If food could be coined in such a way, the pizza pot pie would be easily one of the seven wonders of the world, resting at the top of the food pyramid for deliciousness! A must have in Chicago!
If you're looking to go fancy then this is certainly one of the best places to do it. Reservations will have to be secured months ahead of time. Certainly good for a romantic date night. Read more.
FYI: You pay by the pound price they marked (ex. meat counter style). Go in, get a number, they call you, they cut the size for you, then you wait for your number to called. Eat. Get carbs. Happy.
Large cuts of prime meat, huge sides, desserts that feed a minimum of 3 people. I can't not speak more highly of this place.
Whiskey shrimp and braised pork shanks you can't go wrong with either one of these! Goat cheese wontons are a great appetizer!!!
This is Chicago's favorite chicken place. There's nothing like getting some mild or hot wings topped off with lemon pepper!! People all over the US loves Harold's!!
Would highly recommend going to this location over the original. It is much more spacious and has a good patio out back.
Fresh taps and beers only a few days old. Don’t forget to ask to see the cellar options for some tasty award-winning Barleywines too!
Be warned hop-heads: this brewery focuses on classic lagers, smoke beers, and European sours. In other words, tricky stuff prone to flaws that lesser brewers need all those hops to cover. Great stuff!
