Mentioned by Choose Chicago
Famous Iconic Chicago Restaurants
"Executive Pastry Chef Erika Chan has a thing for ice cream sandwiches. These “Chan-wiches” are works of art, with rotating flavors of ice cream sandwiched between housemade cinnamon, chocolate spice, or chocolate nib cookies. Black walnut, Irish cream, and lemon gingersnap sandwiches have all been hits, but blueberry cheesecake is Chan’s personal favorite."
"Arami‘s cuisine can be something of classic ingredients and forwards thinking procedure, having a focus on quality and freshness. Representing the civilization and maintenance drawn in Western cuisine, Arami prides itself on attracting enjoyment and art. In Arami’s entry is really a torii gate, conventional in Japan to indicate a transition, originally found out shrines."
"Arami is an elegant restaurant with a unique modern design for its interior. Its bright and vibrant setting and delicious menu options are some of the reasons why the restaurant is always packed with hungry foodies. Arami is a gem on the Chicago Ave strip."
"Always a contender for the top sushi spot in the city, Arami consistently presents what's surely among the best sushi in Chicago. Chef Nelson Vinansaca has garnered acclaim for his..."
"Since 1928, Calumet Fisheries has been smoking the tastiest fish on the South Side. Sitting above the banks of the Calumet River, the no frills shack has used the same natural wood-burning practices for over 60 years. There's no seating—except for the car or bicycle you rode up on—for the goods are usually consumed as soon as they're served."
"Calumet Fisheries gives customers a glimpse at a long-forgotten piece of Chicago on the city’s South Side, just seven minutes from the Indiana border and east of the Chicago Skyway. Enjoy precious smoked salmon, trout, and shrimp — the small smokehouse is right outside the restaurant. Each morsel is delicate and sweet."
"Don't miss this James Beard-honored monument to smoked fish on the far South Side, in business since 1948. Get a paper bag of salmon, shrimp, or black cod and be prepared to eat in the car or on the sidewalk. View this post on Instagram"
"Humboldt ParkWhat you’re getting: Shrimp JibaritoThis Humboldt Park joint is on our list of the top 10 shrimp shacks in Chi, and might also be an excellent late-night fried-food contender since you can dine until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. While you should definitely try the massive fried shrimp po-boy, the off-menu Shrimp Jibarito is a sandwich you won’t want to pass up. Crisp, fried plantains with a sauteed shrimp filling are made to order for an impressively balanced jibarito."
"Aside from bearing the name behind one of Chicago’s legendary steakhouses, Gibson’s Bar and Steakhouse in Oak Brook boasts a beautiful outdoor patio landscape. Guests enjoy the waterfall that blocks out city noise and aligns nicely with the restaurant’s assortment of fresh seafood dishes."
"LakeviewWhat you’re getting: Baby Spanish octopus a la plancha with spicy red pepper coulisWith quirky touches to emulate (or mock) a fish shack, DMK’s seafood outpost dishes up ocean classics with a modern twist. From standard oyster po-boys and lobster rolls, to perfect pieces of rainbow trout and sweet, buttery shrimp, and fennel-and-chili-spiced octopus a la plancha, it serves it all wild caught. With “sea sippers” like the “Three Hour Tour,” a double-rum, guava, and lime concoction, you’ll need at least three hours of imbibing on the patio."
"A post shared by Fish Bar Chicago 🐟 (@fishbarchicago) on Sep 26, 2018 at 3:04pm PDT. As the name suggests, this casual restaurant on North Sheffield Avenue offers a wide range of fish dishes and manages to fuse the New Orleans approach of grills and gumbo to a New England aesthetic that includes lobster, crab and much more besides. A diverse menu includes Faroe Island tuna steak and steamed mussels, while the basics are also well covered - check out the spiced shrimp on a bed of grits as a snack option."
"The Fish Bar is a shack style establishment with a focus on sustainable fish and seafood menu items that are as fresh as you can get. The chef Michael Kornick is a James Beard-nominated professional with 5 of these prestigious recognitions to his credit. Menu items include both East and West coast raw oysters, Oyster Po’ boys, Maine Lobster rolls, gumbo, Octopus a la plancha, and a variety of craft beers and sea sippers."
"West Rogers ParkWhat you’re getting: Dungeness crabs (and crawfish, shrimp, and mussels) by the pound with Cajun seasoningSome friendly advice about this little, Cajun-style seafood joint in Rogers Park: even if you’re wearing the lobster bib, things will get sublimely messy. The BYOB restaurant serves up some of the freshest seafood in the city (think giant, spice-encrusted crabs and plump shrimp immersed in garlic butter) ordered by the pound. Everything will arrive at your paper-covered table tossed together in a big plastic bag with your choice of heat level and spice -- lemon pepper, garlic butter, Cajun, or all three mixed together “maniac!"
"The Angry Crab is reputed for its wide assortment of seafood menu items which offer your choice of Cajun style cooking or you can choose to go easy on the spices. They serve their seafood selections by the pound and also provide a variety of fish baskets, sliders, and specialty sauces to complement your meal."
"A bib is suggested when dining at this little seafood restaurant. Cajun seasoning adds a unique element to the fresh seafood on offer, with four levels of spice to choose from depending on how daring you are. Here, there are no reservations, but the dungeness crab and lobster tail makes it worth the wait."
"Irish owned but utterly American, The Dearborn can be found at the intersection the Theater District, satisfying food and lively ambiance. Pastry Chef Julianna Westgor has a playful style riffing on ice cream truck treats in the summer and warming things up in the winter with adults only hot chocolate and fried banana bread with hazelnut chocolate ganache, malted milk jam and hazelnut crunch ice cream. Her peanut butter chocolate dream is just that and don't leave without someone ordering the gooey butter cake with burnt honey ice cream and orange caramel drizzle."
"The reviews are right, the food was great, the cocktails were great. We left Raised due to poor service and seating and came here. The fish and chips are..."
"Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s most popular tourist destinations—and with good reason. The 3,300-foot (1,010-meter) pier jutting into the waters of Lake Michigan, originally constructed in 1916 as a freight dock and public space, encompasses almost 50 acres (20 hectares) of exhibits, rides, parks, and family attractions.More"
"The Poetry Foundation Library is another attraction that you can’t find anywhere else in Illinois. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find it anywhere else in the US. There are only a handful of poetry libraries in the entire world, but the good news is that the Chicago version is one of the best."
"Chicago's Poetry Foundation is all about the study of poetry. It was the first place in the city of Chicago to focus only on poetry as an art form, which was the dream of Poetry magazine's Harriet Monroe. The foundation's goal is to heighten public and cultural interest in poetry."
"We love this sophisticated home of Poetry magazine for its underplayed elegance and hushed presence among bustling River North. It’s not shouting, “Look at me!. ” in any way or trying to be the biggest or tallest; it’s just quietly doing its job."
"Named for Marchesa Luisa Casati, an Italian muse and patron of the arts renowned for hosting parties teaming with interesting people, food, wine and song - this is your romantic sweet spot. The Main Salon is inspired by the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice or dine in The Apartment modeled after a Parisian pied-a-terre. Start with European cheese and charcuterie, caviar service or medallions of foie gras for moments of sheer decadence."
"Fortunately, you don’t have to take a 10-hour flight to get a French croissant. Bonjour Café Bakery is the perfect place to grab a chocolate croissant on the go or sit, relax, and enjoy a warm quiche. This cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating, making this the perfect place to enjoy warm weather with fresh pastries."
"For when you want a pastry to go with your coffee, the Bonjour Cafe should be your top pick. Unsurprisingly from the shop’s name, this French-style bakery has a changing seasonal selection of fresh baked goods. They range from rose-flavored macarons, eclairs, and croissants."
"Photo courtesy of Copyright Field Museum, photography by Lucy Hewett. The exterior of this hulking marble facility only hints at the historic treasures inside. The architect's goal was boldness and he achieved it with massive columns and striking galleries filled with natural light."
"We walked to the Field Museum from the RV park we were staying at and had a couple of hours to explore. We love how the museum pass gives us the opportunity to do this!. Since we get in for free."
"After the aquarium, walk over to the Field Museum. This is one of the largest natural history museums in the world and one of my favorite hot spots in Chicago."