Guidebook for Chicago/Oak Park
Food Scene
Go around Christmas time when the Zoo puts their Christmas lights up and you can see it from the restaurant.
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Mon Ami Gabi
2300 N Lincoln Park WGo around Christmas time when the Zoo puts their Christmas lights up and you can see it from the restaurant.
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5020 N Sheridan RdMy favorite Sunday brunch stop
Amazing food, elegant ambience, its own vegetable garden, all locally sourced ingredients, excellent service
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Inspiration Kitchens
3504 W Lake StAmazing food, elegant ambience, its own vegetable garden, all locally sourced ingredients, excellent service
Very cozy and quaint atmosphere. Owner often escorts you to your table
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Chez Joel Bistro Francais
1119 W Taylor StVery cozy and quaint atmosphere. Owner often escorts you to your table
Bistro Campagne
4518 N Lincoln AveThe best French food in Chicago!!
It is hands down the best Afghan restaurant in the country
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Kabul House Restaurant
2424 Dempster StIt is hands down the best Afghan restaurant in the country
Great ambience. Gorgeous views. Personable service.
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Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse
58 East W Oak StGreat ambience. Gorgeous views. Personable service.
When you arrive, you will ask, did he really want me to come here? It's a hole in the wall grocery store in front and a small restaurant in the back but they make the best gorditas in Chicago. It is a must for authentic Mexican.
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Tey's Grocery Store
5400 West 31st StreetWhen you arrive, you will ask, did he really want me to come here? It's a hole in the wall grocery store in front and a small restaurant in the back but they make the best gorditas in Chicago. It is a must for authentic Mexican.
Another off the beat, local joint which is a must. Very simple, very crowded. Always busy. The Italian food here from Chicken Marsala to the arrancini balls are some of the best Italian fare I have had outside of Italy. Very family. Small eating area. Small Italian grocery store. Bring cash because they do not accept credit cards. Owner is almost always there orchestrating like a grand conductor. Very Chicago
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Freddy's Pizza
1600 S 61st AveAnother off the beat, local joint which is a must. Very simple, very crowded. Always busy. The Italian food here from Chicken Marsala to the arrancini balls are some of the best Italian fare I have had outside of Italy. Very family. Small eating area. Small Italian grocery store. Bring cash because they do not accept credit cards. Owner is almost always there orchestrating like a grand conductor. Very Chicago
Not the greatest food in the world, but the ambience cannot be beat. Right in the park. Right in front of a small lagoon. It is a very nice place to spend a Sunday afternoon.
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Cafe Brauer
2021 N Stockton DrNot the greatest food in the world, but the ambience cannot be beat. Right in the park. Right in front of a small lagoon. It is a very nice place to spend a Sunday afternoon.
ok it is supposed to be a grocery store, but it is really like an indoor italian street market. Check it out!
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Eataly Chicago
43 E Ohio Stok it is supposed to be a grocery store, but it is really like an indoor italian street market. Check it out!
Homestead On The Roof
1924 W Chicago AveFrom Western to California is the city's "Little India". Blocks upon blocks of sari stalls, jewelry stores, sweet shops, fast food canteens, halal butchers, and of course restaurants, restaurants and more restaurants. If you have any penchant for South Asian culture and cuisine, it is worth a looksie
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West Devon Avenue
West Devon AvenueFrom Western to California is the city's "Little India". Blocks upon blocks of sari stalls, jewelry stores, sweet shops, fast food canteens, halal butchers, and of course restaurants, restaurants and more restaurants. If you have any penchant for South Asian culture and cuisine, it is worth a looksie
From Broadway to Sheridan is a collection of Vietnamese restaurants and stores in quaint and picturesque boutique locations.
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West Argyle Street
West Argyle StreetFrom Broadway to Sheridan is a collection of Vietnamese restaurants and stores in quaint and picturesque boutique locations.
The cafe in the Restoration Hardware store is a wonderful treat for Chicago visitors. Brunch is served on weekends. There is usually a long line on the weekends and the restaurant does not take any reservations so be prepared for a long wait. The restaurant is the courtyard of the building. It is covered.
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Restoration Hardware
1300 N Dearborn StThe cafe in the Restoration Hardware store is a wonderful treat for Chicago visitors. Brunch is served on weekends. There is usually a long line on the weekends and the restaurant does not take any reservations so be prepared for a long wait. The restaurant is the courtyard of the building. It is covered.
A new restaurant which has shot to the top of the Chicago food scene. Written up in Conde Nast magazine. I recently had dinner here. The cocktails are fantastic and the bartenders know their stuff down to the region.
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Income Tax
A new restaurant which has shot to the top of the Chicago food scene. Written up in Conde Nast magazine. I recently had dinner here. The cocktails are fantastic and the bartenders know their stuff down to the region.
Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant
5846 N BroadwayAwesome Ethiopian food and cocktails
It is close and good in a pinch, especially if you arrive late at night. Has Gyros, Shish-kebabs and is only a 2-minute walk. Open nightly until 10:30pm
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Pete's Red Hot's
6346 Roosevelt RdIt is close and good in a pinch, especially if you arrive late at night. Has Gyros, Shish-kebabs and is only a 2-minute walk. Open nightly until 10:30pm
About a mile west on Roosevelt Road. (almost near Harlem Ave). You will need a car, but it is open nightly until 12:30am for late arriving guests.
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Salerno's Pizza of Oak Park
7128 Roosevelt RdAbout a mile west on Roosevelt Road. (almost near Harlem Ave). You will need a car, but it is open nightly until 12:30am for late arriving guests.
Drinks & Nightlife
Hopleaf
5148 N Clark StLarge selection of Belgian brews. Food served too in back.
Cool crowd. Martinis! Mostly gay, but friendly to all. Small place, usually pretty crowded.
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Marty's
1511 W Balmoral AveCool crowd. Martinis! Mostly gay, but friendly to all. Small place, usually pretty crowded.
Rainbo Club
1150 N Damen Avehipster dive bar
Charlie's Chicago
3726 North BroadwayGay venue. Country music. Country dancing.
FitzGerald's
6615 Roosevelt RdLocal music venue
Sidetrack
3349 N Halsted StDo not miss Showtunes night! Lot of fun. Primarily gay
Z Bar
108 E Superior StSophisticated
Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar
954 North California AvenueSophisticated
RM Champagne Salon
116 N Green StSophisticated
The Press Room
1134 W Washington BlvdSophisticated
Lost Lake
3154 W Diversey AveCocktail bar
Delilah's Chicago
2771 North Lincoln AvenueOver 800 varieties of whisky
Big Chicks
5024 N Sheridan RdVery fun place. Super gay. Super friendly. Mixed-ages.
Pub Royale
2049 W Division StAnglo-Indian cuisine and brewery
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
7245 Lake StWalgreens
1931 W Cermak RdJewel-Osco
7036 Roosevelt RdTrader Joe's
483 N Harlem AveSightseeing
Formerly a country club, now a part of the Park District. Great golf course. Excellent restaurant inside. Call ahead to make reservations for either
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I-Cultural Center ye-South Shore
7059 S South Shore DrFormerly a country club, now a part of the Park District. Great golf course. Excellent restaurant inside. Call ahead to make reservations for either
One of the world's most celebrated architectural genius. Learn more about him and his contributions to Chicago and the world
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Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
951 Chicago AveOne of the world's most celebrated architectural genius. Learn more about him and his contributions to Chicago and the world
A beautiful place of worship. Every Bahai temple in the world is a masterpiece and this one is no exception
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Indlu yokuphila kaBaha'i
100 Linden AveA beautiful place of worship. Every Bahai temple in the world is a masterpiece and this one is no exception
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph St
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark StA zoo in the park!
The University of Chicago
5801 S Ellis AveThe center of the free thinking world
Parks & Nature
If you have any interest in botany, the docents are very helpful and knowledgeable. My mother is a docent here.
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Lincoln Park Conservatory
2430 N Stockton DrIf you have any interest in botany, the docents are very helpful and knowledgeable. My mother is a docent here.
One of the best conservatories in the nation.
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Garfield Park Conservatory - Administrative Office
300 North Central Park AvenueOne of the best conservatories in the nation.
North Avenue Beach
Great people watching!
Kathy Osterman Beach House
5800 N Lake Shore DrChicago's Gay Beach.
Trust me--it's a nice place to spend a day. Christmas season is very nice with lots of lights. Fall is great with their Pumpkin festival. There is a small restaurant (nothing fancy) also.
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Lake-Cook Rd & Turnbull Woods Ct station
Trust me--it's a nice place to spend a day. Christmas season is very nice with lots of lights. Fall is great with their Pumpkin festival. There is a small restaurant (nothing fancy) also.
Arts & Culture
it does not get a lot of attention but deserves a lot of attention
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I-DuSable Museum of African American History
740 E 56th Plit does not get a lot of attention but deserves a lot of attention
Probably the largest collection of Mid-east ancient artefacts outside of the British Museum or the Cairo Museum. (Baghdad's Museum was pretty much destroyed). Small museum, with most artifacts packed in the basement and brought out in rotation.
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Oriental Institute Museum
1155 E 58th StProbably the largest collection of Mid-east ancient artefacts outside of the British Museum or the Cairo Museum. (Baghdad's Museum was pretty much destroyed). Small museum, with most artifacts packed in the basement and brought out in rotation.
Wonderful garden. Check out their website for their concert series in the park
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I-Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E Chicago AveWonderful garden. Check out their website for their concert series in the park
Concerts in a bucolic park atmosphere. Summer home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) but has a full summer concert schedule. A must to-do if you are in Chicago during the summer. You can choose to do lawn tickets and bring your own food to picnic in the park while watching the performance or you can buy the pavilion tickets to have a seat. Sort of like Wolftrap in WDC or Hollywood Bowl in LA.
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Ravinia Festival Box Office
418 Sheridan RdConcerts in a bucolic park atmosphere. Summer home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) but has a full summer concert schedule. A must to-do if you are in Chicago during the summer. You can choose to do lawn tickets and bring your own food to picnic in the park while watching the performance or you can buy the pavilion tickets to have a seat. Sort of like Wolftrap in WDC or Hollywood Bowl in LA.
Entertainment & Activities
collegeofcomplexes.org Every Saturday eve at 6pm where all manner of Chicagoans give their schpeels on everything from the history of revolutions to the deep state. Sometimes crazy speakers, sometimes not so. Established 1951. Dappers East Restaurant, 2901 W Addison, Chicago. (Addison & California)
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Dappers East
2901 W Addison Stcollegeofcomplexes.org Every Saturday eve at 6pm where all manner of Chicagoans give their schpeels on everything from the history of revolutions to the deep state. Sometimes crazy speakers, sometimes not so. Established 1951. Dappers East Restaurant, 2901 W Addison, Chicago. (Addison & California)
Improv. The inspiration for Saturday Night Live and a host of cultural icons like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Stephen Colbert, Ed Asner etc.
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The Second City
230 W North AveImprov. The inspiration for Saturday Night Live and a host of cultural icons like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Stephen Colbert, Ed Asner etc.
Steppenwolf Theatre
1650 N Halsted StThe birthplace of the vibrant Chicago theater scene
Court Theater
5535 S Ellis AveStudents from U of C are the actors