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CGR

Kosher Restaurants:

MEAT:
Milt's (BOOOOO).
Get chili, cornbread, and beans. Drink a beergarita. 
3411 North Broadway Chicago, IL 60657. 773-661-6384
Delivery available through Postmates
Open S-T: 11:30-10 F: 11:30-2 S: Call for hours

Shallot's.   Amazing sushi and great steaks though quite pricey.
7016 Carpenter Rd Skokie, IL 60077. 847-677-DINE
Delivery available. Shallots has their own app.
Open S-T: 11:30-9:00 Closed Friday Sat: 1.25 hours after Shkia-11:00

Ken's Diner.  The classic burger diner joint. Better than Milts.
3353 Dempster Skokie, IL 60076. 847-679-4030
Delivery Available
Open S-T: 11:00-8:30

Great Chicago. Used to be owned by Ken's, but sold to a different owner. Many of the same items.
3149 W. Devon Chicago, IL 60659. 773-465-9030
Delivery Available. Great Chicago has its own app.
Open S-T: 11-9 F: 10-3

Taboun Grill. Good Israeli food. Schwarma, Shnitzel, moroccan Cigars.
8808 N. Gross Point Rd Skokie, IL. 847-965-1818
Open S-T: 11-10 F: 11-2 Closed Saturday.

Mizrahi Grill. Similar to Taboun. Located in the northern suburbs. 
215 Skokie Valley Rd Highland Park, IL . 847-831-1400
You can order online via their website.

Tein Li Chow. Chinese food. Located in the Jewel supermarket which also has a kosher bakery and deli.
Takeout only.
2485 W. Howard Evanston, IL. 847-328-4642


The Sandwich Club. Burgers, deli sandwiches...etc.
4507 W. Oakton Skokie, IL 60076. 847-677-6020
Open S-T: 11-8 F: 11-2 Closed Saturday

Bebe's Kosher Deli
. Downtown Chicago- They have bagels/cream cheese on one side and deli sandwiches on the other.
Located in the French Market by the train station. Free parking with $20 French Market Purchase
131 North Clinton Chicago, IL 60661. 312-207-0572
Open M-T: 10-6 F: 10-1(winter) 2(summer) Closed Sat & Sun

Evita Steakhouse. Argentinian Steakhouse -
6112 N. Lincoln
Chicago, IL 60659 (773) 463-8482
Sundays to Thursdays from 5 pm to 12 am. Saturdays on winter time sometime after Shabbat to 12 am. Summer time Saturdays closed!!

Metroklub. Downtown Chicago-Only open during lunch M-Th.
In the Crown Plaza hotel. 733 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60661. (312) 602-2104
CLOSED

Hy Life Bistro. Connected to Slice of Life (see below). On the expensive side, though not quite Shallots levels.
4120 W. Dempster Skokie, IL 60076. 847-674-2021
CLOSED

Tacos Gingi. Mexican Place. Pretty much takeout only.
5128 Dempster Street, Skokie IL 60077. 847-983-0648
Open S-T: 11-8  F: 11-1 Closed Saturday

Hamachi Sushi. Sushi Bar and Chinese menu (Meat and chicken) They have their own app. 2801 West Howard Chicago, IL 60645. (773) 293-6904



DAIRY:

Emma's Bagel Cafe. Many breakfast options, but they have lunch dinner options as well like mac n' cheese. 9306 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077. 847-673-3030

Chalavi. 2931 W. Touhy Chicago, IL 60645. 773-338-9640

EJ's Pizzeria.   9149 N. Gross Point Skokie, IL 60076. 224-534-7215 On ubereats, and have their own app as well.

Bond Coffee. Starbucks type atmosphere and food. Has a drive through. Available via grubhub.
7555 N. California Ave Chicago, IL 60645


Slice of Life.(request Cholov Yisroel)4120 W. Dempster Skokie, IL 60076. 847-674-2021  CLOSED

Tel Aviv Pizza (Cholov Yisroel - Pizza is Yoshon), 6349 N. California Chicago, IL 60659. 773-764-3776

The Lincoln Cafe. Breakfast/lunch food as well as pre-packaged wraps and salads. Don't miss the bbq chicken pizza!!! Takeout only. Lincoln Cafe has their own app. Located in The BP gas station 6599 N Lincoln Ave. Lincolnwood IL 60712

Sarah's Brick oven. New place 12/18. Pastas and sandwiches. Located next to Hungarian Kosher Supermarket 4020 Oakton St, Skokie, IL 60076


Nuovo. Italian. Open lunch/dinner. High end dairy restaurant. 3750 W Devon Ave, Lincolnwood, IL 60712. (847) 213-1026


ALL DAIRY RESTAURANTS LISTED ABOVE ARE C"Y AT THIS TIME (9/2021) BUT DOUBLE CHECKING IS RECOMMENDED AS THINGS CHANGE

Activities:
Navy Pier
Millennium Park/The Bean
Segway Tour
Six Flags Great America
Botanic Gardens
Willis Tower Skydeck
Lincoln Park Zoo (Free, but their lot is pay to park, look for street parking)
Museum of Science and Industry


Hotels:
Fairmont Millennium Park
Park Hyatt Chicago>Category 6
Hyatt Regency Chicago>Category 4
Hyatt Regency O'Hare>Category 2
W Lakeshore>Category 5
W Chicago City Center>Category 5
Westin Chicago>Category 5
Aloft Chicago City Center>Category 4
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers>Category 4
Aloft Chicago O'Hare>Category 2

Shabbos Tips:

Public Transport options:

Guidebooks:

Other Tips
Parking at ORD: The cheapest place to park is in the O'hare lot G. It's $10/day. Be aware that you need to take a bus to the tram (in lot E) which takes you to the terminals. This can take 20-25 minutes
« Last edited by as2 on September 06, 2021, 09:41:00 AM »

Author Topic: Chicago Master Thread  (Read 556139 times)

Online ushdadude

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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1260 on: June 26, 2016, 10:24:29 AM »
If you count museums then any city can have a week worth of activities. I've been to maybe a handful of museums in my life that were actually enjoyable.

Adults go to zoos without kids? Did I miss the memo?

I'm seeing 1-2 days max in your list, at least for me. If you love museums, sure, enjoy the week.
So now we're getting into opinions. Objectively, Chicago has plenty to offer.

I will agree that la is boring and just about the food  ;D

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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1261 on: June 26, 2016, 10:44:43 AM »
PUTPAC = PITA

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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1262 on: June 26, 2016, 10:46:45 AM »

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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1263 on: June 26, 2016, 10:49:13 AM »
If you count museums then any city can have a week worth of activities. I've been to maybe a handful of museums in my life that were actually enjoyable.

Adults go to zoos without kids? Did I miss the memo?

I'm seeing 1-2 days max in your list, at least for me. If you love museums, sure, enjoy the week.
I think I can scratch out a 3-4 day slower paced trip:
1. Zip-line
2. Thrill-ride/boat tour + segways
3. Cubs day-game
4. Random fillers (bowling, mini golf, etc)
5. FOOD

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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1264 on: June 26, 2016, 10:50:28 AM »
It is! Just be prepared to get wet
Are any of the other tours worthwhile? Thrill ride one is only 30 mins...
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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1265 on: June 26, 2016, 12:21:34 PM »
Are any of the other tours worthwhile? Thrill ride one is only 30 mins...
I would do architecture river tour. It's pretty cool even if you're not into architecture.

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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1266 on: June 26, 2016, 02:30:00 PM »
Anybody stay at the intercontinental? Any orthodox shuls close by?
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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1269 on: June 26, 2016, 04:08:07 PM »
I'd appreciate any help, I'm looking for the best Chicago hotel (money is not an object) with easy access to daily Minyanim.

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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1270 on: June 26, 2016, 04:47:35 PM »
I haven't stayed at that one, however, for minyanim, there is Chabad of the Gold Coast as a 20 minute walk from the Intercontinental Hotel.
Any other option?
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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1271 on: June 26, 2016, 05:02:22 PM »
Any other option?

Stay anywhere close to Chicago Loop Synagogue (plenty of hotels).  There are daily mechitza minyanim.

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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1272 on: June 27, 2016, 01:23:38 AM »
Any other option?

Yes. There are many. When he said "close", then I thought that he meant walkable/Shabbos, so the Gold Coast location is a 20 min walk on Shabbos. There are plenty of drivable minyanim in that area. And some Kosher restaurants, too....
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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1273 on: June 27, 2016, 08:03:13 AM »
I think I can scratch out a 3-4 day slower paced trip:
1. Zip-line
2. Thrill-ride/boat tour + segways
3. Cubs day-game
4. Random fillers (bowling, mini golf, etc)
5. FOOD
I wound add MSI, even though it was pointed out that every city has tons of museums, IMO the MSI is special enough to be a bona fide attraction.

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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1274 on: June 27, 2016, 08:15:25 AM »
Yes. There are many. When he said "close", then I thought that he meant walkable/Shabbos, so the Gold Coast location is a 20 min walk on Shabbos. There are plenty of drivable minyanim in that area. And some Kosher restaurants, too....
Originally meant driving, but now I see that daily parking fees for the hotels downtown are $65-70 (!). Are there any nice hotels that are close to a shul and don't have crazy parking fees?

I guess we could uber everything but at the end of the day it will probably cost around the same amount and be less convenient.
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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1275 on: June 27, 2016, 08:18:28 AM »
I wound add MSI, even though it was pointed out that every city has tons of museums, IMO the MSI is special enough to be a bona fide attraction.
Even for adults? Never really enjoyed museums, always feels like a chore when DW makes us go with the kids.
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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1276 on: June 27, 2016, 08:36:54 AM »
Other than SF's Exploratorium and DC's Newseum, I can't think of any museums that I really had fun at.
I did enjoy D'Orsay in Paris and LA's Getty, but for their architecture and gardens than the art.

If you're of the same opinion, then spend 2 days in Chicago IMHO...
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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1277 on: June 27, 2016, 08:53:05 AM »
If you're of the same opinion, then spend 2 days in Chicago IMHO...
Generally agree but still think I can scratch out longer vacation.

So what's a better 3-4 day option? Was looking at Denver for rafting, zip-line, ATV. But then DW nixed the rafting idea because she's terrified of brain eating amoeba from the recent news (lol) and I found zip-line in chicago. Also specific to my babysitting situation and flight times out of the northeast I realized that we would only really have two full days there - you basically lose the last day with the 4 hour flight + 2 hour time difference.
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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1278 on: June 27, 2016, 09:19:05 AM »
Banff, Vancouver.
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Re: Chicago Master Thread
« Reply #1279 on: June 27, 2016, 09:52:58 AM »
Banff, Vancouver.

Seattle/Vancouver and you'll be extremely busy. I generally don't like art museums but Chihuly Gardens were breath taking