Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Best curries in Hyde Park. Also the only place that serves mock duck (in a dish called "Fred's Gluten"). BYOB.
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Snail Thai Cuisine
1649 E 55th StBest curries in Hyde Park. Also the only place that serves mock duck (in a dish called "Fred's Gluten"). BYOB.
Oft-overlooked sandwich shop. For breakfast, try the McMorry. Great for soaking up a hangover. Also has WiFi.
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Morry's Deli
5500 S Cornell AveOft-overlooked sandwich shop. For breakfast, try the McMorry. Great for soaking up a hangover. Also has WiFi.
Great pastries and espresso drinks. Shaded patio ideal for sitting and reading a book with a latte and a croissant.
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Bonjour Cafe Bakery
1550 E 55th StGreat pastries and espresso drinks. Shaded patio ideal for sitting and reading a book with a latte and a croissant.
Amalgamation of Indian food and comfort food. It won't be the most authentic curry you've ever eaten, but this place is a gem.
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Rajun Cajun
1459 E 53rd StAmalgamation of Indian food and comfort food. It won't be the most authentic curry you've ever eaten, but this place is a gem.
Thai restaurant and bar with a trendy ambiance and live music on weekends.
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Chant Restaurant In Hyde Park
1509 E 53rd StThai restaurant and bar with a trendy ambiance and live music on weekends.
One of the best Indian restaurants in Chicago. You have to go downstairs and through a revolving door, but the space is huge and well appointed.
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Gaylord Fine Indian Cuisine
100 E Walton StOne of the best Indian restaurants in Chicago. You have to go downstairs and through a revolving door, but the space is huge and well appointed.
Although a little isolated (across the street is a vacant lot), this is possibly the best coffee shop on the south side.
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Robust Coffee Lounge
6300 S Woodlawn AveAlthough a little isolated (across the street is a vacant lot), this is possibly the best coffee shop on the south side.
Nuevo Leon Restaurant
1515 West 18th StreetVery good, very inexpensive Mexican food.
Sushi Naniwa
607 N Wells StMy favorite Chicago sushi place.
Upscale Italian restaurant near nightclubs and bars. Large enough that you only need reservations on weekends.
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Quartino Ristorante
626 N State StUpscale Italian restaurant near nightclubs and bars. Large enough that you only need reservations on weekends.
One of the contenders for "original" Chicago deep dish pizza. Small, but worth the wait.
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Pizzeria Uno
29 E Ohio StOne of the contenders for "original" Chicago deep dish pizza. Small, but worth the wait.
Demera Restaurant
4801 N BroadwayExcellent Ethiopian food.
Bridgeport Pasty
3142 S Morgan StOld fashioned English pasties--plus some experimental ones.
The first restaurant I ever ate at in Chinatown, I still return often.
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Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S Archer AveThe first restaurant I ever ate at in Chinatown, I still return often.
Recently opened barbecue restaurant. Good food, good beer and whiskey selection.
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Porkchop Hyde Park
8307 S Harper AveRecently opened barbecue restaurant. Good food, good beer and whiskey selection.
Native Foods
218 E Harper CtVegan restaurant chain's Hyde Park outpost.
Greek restaurant, but also one of the best breakfast places in Hyde Park.
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Salonica Restaurant
1440 E 57th StGreek restaurant, but also one of the best breakfast places in Hyde Park.
Local chain (3 locations) with outstanding brunch menu. This is the closest outpost.
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Bongo Room
1470 N Milwaukee AveLocal chain (3 locations) with outstanding brunch menu. This is the closest outpost.
Incredibly affordable, cafeteria-style breakfast place. Brusque service staff but really good food. Locally famous for offering free breakfast to all comers the day after Obama's reelection.
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Valois Restaurant
1518 E 53rd StIncredibly affordable, cafeteria-style breakfast place. Brusque service staff but really good food. Locally famous for offering free breakfast to all comers the day after Obama's reelection.
I'm not sure why this place isn't more crowded. Great service and high quality Italian food. Full bar, including Italian liqueurs (Campari, Frangelico).
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Piccolo Mondo
1642 E 56th StI'm not sure why this place isn't more crowded. Great service and high quality Italian food. Full bar, including Italian liqueurs (Campari, Frangelico).
The waits can be a little long--the only staff is a husband and wife cook/wait team and a dishwasher--but the food is great. You will have to specifically request the check when you're done. BYOB.
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Cafe Corea
1603 E 55th StThe waits can be a little long--the only staff is a husband and wife cook/wait team and a dishwasher--but the food is great. You will have to specifically request the check when you're done. BYOB.
Sightseeing
A really odd assortment of attractions, and a different visiting exhibit every few months. Highlights include a German UBoat and an HO scale model train (complete with Seattle, Chicago, and Rockies).
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Iziko Lomhlaba Wamaphupha Nokusebenza
5700 S Lake Shore DrA really odd assortment of attractions, and a different visiting exhibit every few months. Highlights include a German UBoat and an HO scale model train (complete with Seattle, Chicago, and Rockies).
Apart from a fairly unsettling animatronic version of former mayor Harold Washington, a really enlightening place to visit.
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I-DuSable Museum of African American History
740 E 56th PlApart from a fairly unsettling animatronic version of former mayor Harold Washington, a really enlightening place to visit.
Strong collection of artifacts from the Eastern Mediterranean, including Assyria, Persia, and Egypt. Occasional visiting exhibits from other institutions with complementary holdings.
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Oriental Institute Museum
1155 E 58th StStrong collection of artifacts from the Eastern Mediterranean, including Assyria, Persia, and Egypt. Occasional visiting exhibits from other institutions with complementary holdings.
Chicago's natural history museum. One of the three most important such museums in the United States, and probably top ten in the world. Diverse fossils, cultural artifacts, old school dioramas, gems.
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I-Field Museum
1400 S Lake Shore DrChicago's natural history museum. One of the three most important such museums in the United States, and probably top ten in the world. Diverse fossils, cultural artifacts, old school dioramas, gems.
One of the most important art museums in the western hemisphere. Holdings include world-famous works by Picasso, Seurat, Manet, and Van Gogh.
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I-Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveOne of the most important art museums in the western hemisphere. Holdings include world-famous works by Picasso, Seurat, Manet, and Van Gogh.
The main branch of the Chicago Public Library is an architectural treasure. Take a close look at the facade of the upper floors and then watch Batman: The Dark Knight.
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Harold Washington Library Center
400 S State StThe main branch of the Chicago Public Library is an architectural treasure. Take a close look at the facade of the upper floors and then watch Batman: The Dark Knight.
This is where you catch a boat to take boat tour on the Chicago River, pointing out some of the more iconic parts of the skyline. Book ahead of time: http://www.architecture.org/rivercruise
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First Lady Architecture Tour
112 E Wacker DrThis is where you catch a boat to take boat tour on the Chicago River, pointing out some of the more iconic parts of the skyline. Book ahead of time: http://www.architecture.org/rivercruise
Essentials
Little independent grocer open until 2 a.m. Great assortment of imported candies, good fruit (esp. in summer), and quick meals.
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Open Produce
1635 E 55th StLittle independent grocer open until 2 a.m. Great assortment of imported candies, good fruit (esp. in summer), and quick meals.
The largest grocery store within easy walking distance of my apartment.
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Treasure Island Foods
1639 N Wells StThe largest grocery store within easy walking distance of my apartment.
Drinks & Nightlife
Cove Lounge
1750 E 55th StYou'll never feel so at ease in a dive bar.
Recently opened bar with gastropub fare and live music. From the same people behind the renowned Longman & Eagle in Logan Square.
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The Promontory
5311 S Lake Park Ave WRecently opened bar with gastropub fare and live music. From the same people behind the renowned Longman & Eagle in Logan Square.
Live music most nights, but one Saturday a month is Windy City Soul Club, a soul dance party. Cheap drinks.
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The Empty Bottle
1035 N Western AveLive music most nights, but one Saturday a month is Windy City Soul Club, a soul dance party. Cheap drinks.
The Hideout
1354 W Wabansia AveLive music and sometimes standup comedy.
Famous hipster taco bar. The tacos are really quite good, and so are the margaritas, but it's typically pretty crowded.
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Big Star
1531 N Damen AveFamous hipster taco bar. The tacos are really quite good, and so are the margaritas, but it's typically pretty crowded.
Very good pub fare in the heart of the loop. Near the theater district, so a nice place to grab a bite before or after a show.
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Miller's Pub
134 S Wabash AveVery good pub fare in the heart of the loop. Near the theater district, so a nice place to grab a bite before or after a show.
Next door to Bridgeport Pasties. Enough said.
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Maria's Packaged Goods and Community Bar
960 W 31st StNext door to Bridgeport Pasties. Enough said.
The 96th floor of this building has a bar with very overpriced drinks, but a spectacular view of the city (especially, I'm told, from the women's restroom). I recommend going on a weekday at sunset.
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875 North Michigan Avenue
875 N Michigan AveThe 96th floor of this building has a bar with very overpriced drinks, but a spectacular view of the city (especially, I'm told, from the women's restroom). I recommend going on a weekday at sunset.
Karaoke most nights of the week. Gets a little crowded, mitigated somewhat by a recent expansion.
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Brando's Speakeasy
343 S Dearborn StKaraoke most nights of the week. Gets a little crowded, mitigated somewhat by a recent expansion.
Bowling alley and pool hall; the food and drink are serviceable, but I would really only recommend this place if you want to bowl or play pool.
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Seven Ten Lanes Hyde Park
1055 E 55th StBowling alley and pool hall; the food and drink are serviceable, but I would really only recommend this place if you want to bowl or play pool.
Shopping
The only used book store in Hyde Park (O'Gara and Wilson departed for the Indiana suburbs last year). This was the predecessor to the famous Powell's City of Books in Portland, Oregon.
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Powell's Books Chicago
1501 E 57th StThe only used book store in Hyde Park (O'Gara and Wilson departed for the Indiana suburbs last year). This was the predecessor to the famous Powell's City of Books in Portland, Oregon.
Excellent place to find new books in Hyde Park. Reputedly Obama's favorite bookstore.
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57th Street Books
1301 E 57th StExcellent place to find new books in Hyde Park. Reputedly Obama's favorite bookstore.
The best used book store in Chicago. Three and a half stories of books.
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Myopic Books
1564 N Milwaukee AveThe best used book store in Chicago. Three and a half stories of books.
Kimbark Beverage Shoppe
1214 E 53rd StLiquor store. Good for all your staples.
Midsize upscale liquor store. Reasonably priced considering the merchandise. It closes early, though, so plan ahead if you want some really nice wine or spirits.
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Binny's Express
4700 South Lake Park AvenueMidsize upscale liquor store. Reasonably priced considering the merchandise. It closes early, though, so plan ahead if you want some really nice wine or spirits.
Arts & Culture
Harper Theater
5238 S Harper AveFirst run movie theater with beer for sale in the lobby!
Bar/club with frequent live music and dancing (although often not at the same time).
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Double Door
Bar/club with frequent live music and dancing (although often not at the same time).
Blues club with live blues until 4am seven days a week. Full bar and a surprisingly complete menu of southern food.
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Kingston Mines
2548 N Halsted StBlues club with live blues until 4am seven days a week. Full bar and a surprisingly complete menu of southern food.
The Green Mill
4802 North BroadwayFamous jazz club replete with legends about Al Capone.