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NYC and Chicago food recommendations?

Alex_311927

Hi, I'm heading out to New York City and Chicago on business next month and am really looking for some different and new/interesting food recommendations for both places. It's so tough to choose as there are thousands of potential joints.

I've never been to Chicago but have been to NYC twice, so I've already been to the following, and am not looking to go back:

-Katz Deli

-Momofuko Noodle Bar

-Balthazar

-Maloney's at the Palace

-Mighty Quinn's BBQ

-Eataly

-Peter Luger

I'll be staying in Midtown Manhattan for about 4 days and Chicago for 3 days.

For Chicago I've got Joe's Stone Crab reserved and nothing else.

I'm open to any recommendations for any food type and budget, ideas?

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Comments

torridice_498271

Chicago - Stop in at the French market, lots of good stuff there. Any of Rick Bayless's places. Fogo de Chao.

robert.c.brown15

New York - The Nomad and Bouchon Bakery Cafe (Columbus Circle) would be my recommendation. Bouchon is really well done and The Nomad is a blast. The bar program is fantastic and all of the food is incredible.

Le Coucou is fantastic, but probably impossible to get a reservation. Worth a try though? If you're into that for a dinner.

Then you can do the salons at the big restaurants if you want. Per Se, Daniel, Jean-Georges, Eleven Madison Park - they all have a la carte salon menus. Per Se will give you a jacket if you don't have one on.

tshewman

EMP is unfortunately closed and doing a summer menu on the beach. Chefs table at Brooklyn fare is awesome as is per se and Daniel. Cosme was REALLY good so would also recommend. Chicago, Alinea, Grace, purple Pig, and North Pond immediately come to mind.

aaron.c.schroeder

In Chicago, to my mind, if you're looking for pre fixe, destination dining, you want Grace, Alinea, Next, Oriole, Schwa, Goosefoot, or 42 Grams. These are at the highest price points, and are meals that last hours, and are chalk-full of well-deserved Michelin stars. In the cases of Schwa, Goosefoot, and 42 Grams, a bit of advanced preparation, since each is BYO.

If you're looking for less extravagant, but still excellent fine dining, here's the list I'd give you.

Breakfast/Brunch

- Lula Cafe: They have a great dinner service as well, but it's one of the only restaurants in Chicago where the brunch is treated with as much attention as dinner. And they serve all week, a commitment made by literally no other excellent Chicago restaurant I know of.

- Dove's Luncheonette: Run by the people who run the Publican, a mock diner with excellent food and usually a wait

- Big Jones: A brunch staple

Dinner

- Bavette's: Best steak in the city and one of the hardest reservations to get. Almost a speakeasy atmosphere, it's not stuffy and starched like a lot of steakhouses. You'll have to plan in advance to get a table, but ask to be seated "in the basement". A good wine list, but also has free corkage. If you can't get in and want an awesome steak experience, try Swift and Sons or Maple and Ash. Both are pretty glam and have contemporary restaurant sensibilities. Avoid Gibson's or Lawry's. Lots of people talk about these places, but their tourist joints and do not live up to their reputations.

- Monteverde: Another hard reservation to snag, it's easily best Italian in Chicago, a city replete with wannabe Italian places. One of Food and Wine's best new restaurants, and the chef, Sarah Greunberg, was a Top Chef runner up and the sous chef at Spiaggia for several years. I've eaten here twice in the last year, and easily two of my best meals.

- Girl and the Goat/Duck Duck Goat: Stephanie Izard joints and basically share plates-focussed. So popular that they aren't ashamed to rush you a bit, but the food and atmosphere are absolutely worth it.

- Topolobampo/Frontera Grill/Lena Brava: Rick Bayless restaurants, and they're as good as the hype. Reputed to be some of the best Mexican/Latin American fine dining in the country, I can vouch for their being the best Latin American in Chicago.

- Longman and Eagle: Most relaxed Michelin-starred fine dining I know of. Great beer list, and probably the best whisky list in Chicago, if that's your thing. Every dish I've had here has been memorable. Doesn't take reservations (relaxed, like I said) but I've never had too long of a wait. Also, these guys run Dusek's, another really interesting spot if you're looking for something further south.

- Really good places I don't have time to write about: Giant (another really difficult reservation), Publican, Maude's Liquor Bar (owned by Bavette's), Parachute (Michelin-starred Korean), or Balena (Chris Pandel is the best). For pizza, avoid everything advertising itself as Chicago-style. That stuff is insipid lasagna. Try Coalfire, Bebu, or Piece.

Dessert

- Mindy's Hot Chocolate: James Beard Award, best desserts I've had in the city

- Little Goat: Another Izard location

- Bang Bang Pie Shop or Hoosier Mama Pie Co.

torridice_498271

I second staying away from the "Chicago pizza" tourist traps. Awful food

Alex_311927

Great stuff, will check all these out.

coryhansen78

Great recs on this thread! I'll add a couple:
Chicago - Aviary for cocktails
New York City - Empellón Taqueria (they do a great brunch too)

JasonWirth_68226

If you dont get Italian beef in Chicago its like going to LA and not getting In N Out. Al's beef is the worst, maybe because they franchised, the original off Taylor might be OK. Portillos is the best all around beef but not many downtown locations. If you're near the Sears Tower in the look the Luke's is a good option. I always get the beef wet with gardineria.

JasonWirth_68226

People may think that deep dish is a tourist trap but its good and worth trying. Lou's, with the butter crust, is probably the best. Just keep in mind that it takes 45mintes to bake so its not very fast.

Chicago style hotdog is a must too.

Lee_627222

I know you've already went to NYC at this point, but if you're ever going back I would go to:
Mu Ramen at 1209 Jackson Ave in Long Island City (Queens).

NanXiang Soup Dumpling at 38-12 Prince St in Flushing (Queens)

Meskrem Ethiopian at 123 MacDougal St, Manhattan

Cask Bar and Kitchen at 133 E. 33rd St. in Manhattan (it's where I met my wife!)

Sik Gaek at 49-11 Roosevelt Ave in Woodside (Queens)

Spring Shabu-Shabu (all you can eat Shabu-Shabu/Hot Pot restaurant) at 136-20 38th Avenue in Flushing (Queens)