Best Places to Eat in Chicago

Imagine you’ve just gotten settled into your hotel room in Chicago. Whether you’re here for business or pleasure, you still have to eat, but you don’t want to eat just anywhere. Chicago is a city well known for its unique cuisine, but where should you go? Here are some of my top choices categorized by the type of food you might be seeking.

First off, if you’re in Chicago, you absolutely must try the pizza! My favorite place for pizza is Pizano’s Pizza & Pasta. With locations throughout the city, Pizano’s is the real deal if you’re looking for the famous Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza! The crust, made from an old Malnati family recipe is buttery and absolutely delicious.

However, if pizza isn’t what you’re craving, there are definitely other options. Some of the best Italian restaurants live right here in Chicago. We’ve got some amazingly authentic Italian food. Here are a few of my favorite places for a nice Italian meal.

Volare Ristorante Italiano offers an old-style cozy Italian eatery where what you see is what you get. Everything is made fresh from scratch, and they’ve been rated as having one of the best homemade pastas in Chicago by Zagat. Zagat has also listed them as serving one of the best Neapolitan pizzas in Chicago.

The friendly staff and top-notch service at Quartino Ristorante will cater to your every need. The restaurant offers house-made pastas daily, and the hearty portion sizes are great for sharing family-style. They also serve wine by the carafe. This is an excellent option for a group outing that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

If you’re looking for rustic handmade Italian fare and an extensive offering of Italian wines, then Piccolo Sogno is the place to go. The name means “little dream” in Italian, and it’s certainly fitting. The wine list consists of 400 bottles solely of Italian wines. The wait staff is highly knowledgeable and adept at helping patrons select the best wine for their meal.

For those looking for a bit more meat on their plate, you can’t go wrong with a steakhouse. You could check out a Chicago icon, Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse. Named for the legendary sportscaster, Harry Caray, the restaurant features USDA prime steak, burgers, and smokey barbecue.

If you’re looking for a classic American steakhouse, Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse is another Chicago icon. The steakhouse offers USDA Prime Angus Beef, as well as fresh fish and cocktails.

And my final suggestion for meat-loving carnivores is the highly acclaimed Chicago Cut Steakhouse. It’s no wonder it has garnered so much attention with its own dry-aging room on site. This upscale restaurant is optimal for celebrity sightings while offering a unique menu with a modern twist.

Chicago is a city where you can definitely find some great eats, but these are some of my personal favorites. You don’t have to take my word for it; the food will speak for itself. So whatever your reason for visiting Chicago, be sure to indulge in some of the local cuisines. You won’t regret it!

Article Originally Published on RichardSimonChicago.org