Best of Chicago?

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by BigHeavy, May 26, 2012.

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  1. Lognar

    Lognar Initiate (0) Apr 10, 2012 Illinois

    I really recommend a restaurant called The Gage. It's a gastropub (think of it as upscale pub food) across from Millenium Park on Michigan Ave between Monroe and Madison. They have a decent craft beer selection, TONS of whiskeys and scotches, and the food is killer. My wife and I have eaten here about 5 times over the last couple years and we've never had even close to a bad meal. http://www.thegagechicago.com/

    Burger Bar http://burgerbarchicago.com/ has really good burgers. It's the place that introduced me to craft beer. They were pairing Bourbon County Brand Stout with a few of their burgers a while back too.

    I would also recommend the Shedd Aquarium.

    And honestly, if you have access to a car. 3 Floyds isn't a bad drive.
     
  2. Kwaz

    Kwaz Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2012 Illinois

    The food is great but the beer selection is pretty awful. As a proxy, Stone IPA is the only thing on here thats remotely "pale."
    http://www.thegagechicago.com/images/menus/thegagelibations.pdf
     
  3. BFro

    BFro Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2012 Illinois

    If you want to do the museums, check out the websites. I know there's a "city pass" type thing that gets you admission to multiple places, including Shedd and other museums. I don't remember how much it is though. Shedd Aquarium is awesome. Definitely gets pricey if you start to pay for all the mini "attractions" once youre in there. But it's one of the best aquariums in the country. But like a few people have been saying, you really need to pick what you wanna do and supplement with one or two of the other things. You're unfortunately going to have to pick weekend beer/bar tour or museum tour. Cost is probably about equal, so you don't have to worry about that. :wink:
     
  4. DROOO

    DROOO Initiate (0) May 5, 2009 Illinois

    i will fully co-sign this. i want to own The Death of Venus.
     
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  5. Payne

    Payne Initiate (0) Mar 1, 2012 Illinois

    I hit up Half Acre on Saturday night and they still had tons of Galactic Double Daisy Cutter. Limit 4 tall boys per person ~$20 for a 4-pack. It is some good stuff for sure!
     
  6. ravot

    ravot Initiate (0) Mar 20, 2012 Illinois

    they tweeted this morning that they were sold out. they had a good chunk in the afternoon on saturday when i went. it looked like it would last the day through sunday for a bit, doubtful for monday. But yeah it's gone.
     
  7. Vav

    Vav Savant (1,025) Jul 27, 2008 Illinois


    Snap, didnt know this was happening, thanks!
     
  8. dmsulli

    dmsulli Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2012 Colorado
    Trader

    I don't know if anyone mentioned this yet, but if you're a Bank of America card holder, this weekend is their "Museums on Us" weekend for June. I think it's one free admission per card holder.

    http://museums.bankofamerica.com/

    Be sure to check out the Lichtenstein exhibit at the Art Institute!
     
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  9. jegross2

    jegross2 Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2010 Illinois

    can we sticky this post plz lol
     
  10. 71gto

    71gto Initiate (0) Jun 3, 2009 Illinois

    Shedd FOR SURE. Love that place.
     
  11. C2H5

    C2H5 Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2012 Illinois

    get a pizza puff, seriously.
     
  12. dmsulli

    dmsulli Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2012 Colorado
    Trader

    THESE. EVERY one of these places are amazing and amongst the highest food reccomendations I can give. Crisp (and possibly Del Seoul) is BYOB.

    Also, has enough been made about the prevalance of BYOB spots here in Chicago? I thought most people find it somewhat unusual when they come to the city.
     
  13. bpgpitt10

    bpgpitt10 Pundit (805) May 12, 2008 District of Columbia

    I'll throw in another nod for the Architecture boat tour. It sounds dumb, but it's basically a boat ride down the river with a history lesson all along it. It's my absolute go-to when people come into town.

    Hancock signature room... I don't love this place, but if you are jonesing to get up high and have a view over the city, skip the Sears (uh... Willis) Tower and go here. You don't pay an entry fee so you just go up to the bar, have a drink, and go on your way. Nice way to break up the day if you are doing tons of walking around and need a rest.

    Also, I'll say Avec for a nice dinner if you are looking for that. Not great beer (though Province across the street normally has one-off FFF stuff and you can wait there since Avec doesn't take reservations), but the food is amazing and it's SUPER reasonably priced. My gf and I spend about $70 including drinks when we go. Get the bacon wrapped dates and focaccia bread.
     
    Kwaz likes this.
  14. Kwaz

    Kwaz Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2012 Illinois

    Big time agree with both Architecture boat tour as my go-to for out of towners and Avec for a great meal.
     
  15. beelzebubbles

    beelzebubbles Devotee (371) Mar 1, 2006 Illinois

    Yeah, that beer list isn't very interesting. Too bad, the Gage used to a great place for beer & food in the Millennium park area.
     
  16. SalukiAlum

    SalukiAlum Initiate (0) Dec 19, 2010 Colorado

    Baeball in town? Cubs or Sox?
     
  17. Lognar

    Lognar Initiate (0) Apr 10, 2012 Illinois

    I should clarify that last time I was at the Gage, they had a tap list on a chalk board behind the bar, so the website is not an accurate reflection of what they have for craft brews.
     
  18. jkaiser150

    jkaiser150 Initiate (0) Jul 23, 2009 Florida

    there is a childrens museum at navy pier that is free if you belong to any other childrens museum across the us. it is insanely huge and fun, could spend 4 hours there and still not see everything, parking is terrible, it's like $25 four blocks away for all day
     
  19. howopeeps

    howopeeps Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2011 Ohio
    Trader

    Anyone do the revolution beer tour yet thinking about going next wednesday
     
  20. ravot

    ravot Initiate (0) Mar 20, 2012 Illinois

    i haven't. been meaning to do. time are the tours? the brewery or the pub?
     
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