Old Town is the most historic place in Chicago and a delight to visit. Most of the restaurants will be crowded on the weekends, but it is always a good idea to call for reservations any time. Better safe than disappointed. If you want to try and avoid crowds, try and go a bit early or late, not right at lunch or dinner time. There are not many restaurants to choose from, it is a rather small area but there is quite a variety, something for almost everyone. The prices are from the dinner menu, which tends to be more expensive, so if you are coming for lunch you can expect to pay a bit less.
Bistrot Margot
http://www.bistrotmargot.com
1437 N Wells St, Chicago 60610
Phone: 312-587-3660
Fax: 312-587-3668
Bistrot Margot is a small, quaint, family friendly French bistro with a relaxed atmosphere and casual dress style. Definitely make reservations, especially for dinner. They are open seven days a week, lunch from 11Am Monday to Friday, Brunch from 10:30 to 3 on the weekends and dinner every night. They are open till 11PM Friday and Saturday, 10Pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 9Pm on Monday and Sunday. Prices are on the moderate side for a restaurant of this type. Appetizers range from $5.95 to $7.95, Entrees $13.95 to $19.95 and all deserts are $5.96. Try the Poulet Roti, Jus Naturel Roasted Chicken with Garlic, Lemon, Herbs and Pommes Frites
Eat A Pita
http://www.eatapitachicago.com/
158 W Division St, Chicago 60610
Phone: 312-787-3010
Eat A Pita is a great place for a quick and economical lunch. No reservations, first come first served, but it moves fast and you can even order on the web site so your food will ready when you get there. The prices look even better when you consider that everything, including the soups are homemade daily. Burgers go from $3.25 to $4.25, Stir Fry Pitas from $4.75 to $8.50, Cold Pocket Pitas from $4.25 to $5.50, hot sandwiches from $3.95 to $7.95, Toasted Crispers from $3.95 to $4.95 – great grilled cheese. Nothing on the menu is over $10.00. They are open for lunch and dinner daily: 11am-9:45pm.
Fireplace Inn
http://www.fireplaceinn.com/
1448 N Wells St, Chicago 60610
Phone: 312-664-5264
The Fireplace Inn is a great place to come for their most famous dish, barbeque. Of course, they have plenty of other choices when you are in the mood for something else. They are open Mon-Thu: 4:30pm-12am, Fri: 11:30am-1:30am,
Sat: 9:30am-1:30am, Sun: 9:30am-12am. The style is casual and the prices are a bit on the high side, but the quality is tops. Appetizers go from $5.00 to $16.25, salads from $8.25 to $14.25, Entrees from $14.50 to $32.00 and sandwiches from $8.50 to $14.25
Topo Gigio
http://www.topogigiochicago.com/
1516 N Wells St, Chicago 60610
Phone: 312-266-9355
Fax: 312-266-8531
Topo Gigio is a place to look at when you are in an Italian mood and the prices are not bad. You will feel comfortable dressed up a bit and I do recommend reservations. As for the food, Appetizers go for from $5.95 to $12.95, Salads from $5.95 to $18.95 and entrees from $12.95 to $26.95.
O’Brien’s
http://www.obriensrestaurant.com/restaurant.html
1528 N Wells St, Chicago 60610
Phone: 312-787-3131
Fax: 312-787-3990
O’Brien’s speciality is steak and seafood and if you really want to impress someone, they provide transportation by Transportation by Limousine, O’Brien’s Trolley, Buses or a Horse & Carriage. Yes, it will cost, but imagine riding through Chicago in a horse drawn carriage. Dress is casual elegant and make reservations especially for dinner. They are open Monday – Thursday 11:00 am – 10:30 pm, Friday and Saturday 11:00 am – 12:30 pm, Sunday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm and you can hang out in the bar until 2am. You can even eat outdoors in the winter. As for the food, the prices are on the high end of the scale. You can expect to pay up to about $30 for an entree. Try the Sea Bass With wild mushroom risotto & a lemon caper sauce, Roasted Prime Rib of Beef With Yorkshire Pudding and Au jus or Chicken Breast Sauté With blue cheese artichokes, mushrooms and peppers over mashed potatoes in a white wine sauce.
Finkel’s World Famous Deli
http://www.finkelsdelichicago.com/menu.html
926 N North Branch St, Chicago 60622
Phone: 312-335-0050
Every one is in the mood for good deli food once in a while and Finkel’s is one where you can get breakfast or lunch, no dinner. They are open Hours Mon-Sat: 8am-4pm. Very casual and family friendly. Breakfast will cost from $4.25 to $7.55. A bowl of soup for $2.50, Salads from $2.75 to $7.50 and sandwiched from $4.95 to $9.95.
Hecky’s Barbecue
http://www.heckys.com/html/
1234 N Halsted St, Chicago 60622
Phone: 312-377-7427
Hecky’s is famous for their barbeque. They say the secret is in the sauce and you can take that home with you to see if you can replicate their success. It is a 100% casual atmosphere and very family friendly. They are open Mon-Thu: 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-12am and
Sun: 11am-9pm. You get a lot of food for your money too. Appetizers go from $2.75 to $5.99, Salads and Wraps from $3.99 to $7.99, Sandwiches from 45.99 to $ 7.99, Entrees from $9.99 to $18.99 and deserts are all under $3.00.
Joe’s
http://www.joesbar.com/
940 W Weed St, Chicago 60622
Phone: 312-337-3486
Joe’s is only open for dinner. They can be very busy when they have one of the shows going on. Definitely a young crowd and a very relaxed atmosphere. Appetizers go from $3.00 to $10.50, Salada fromr $4.75 to $6.00. Pizza is $12 or $13 and sandwiches and burgers from $4.75 to $7.00.
Kamehachi
http://www.kamehachi.com/locations/locations_oldtown.html
1400 N Wells St, Chicago 60610
Phone: 312-664-3663
They give you three choices of dinning rooms, so you can pick the mood and atmosphere from the up stairs bar to the regular dining room or year round out door patio. The decor is very up scale and modern and dress classy casual and the cuisine Japanese and Sushi. Lunch is Monday – Saturday 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM and Dinner Monday – Saturday 3:00 PM to 2:00 AM- Sunday 4:30 PM to 12:00 AM. You can make your reservations right on line, very convenient and as for the food, Appetizers range from $4.95 to $9.95 Entrees from $13.95 to $19.95 and Sushi from $3.95 to $175.00 for the Sushi Boat that serves from 3 to 5 people.
Las Pinatas
http://www.laspinatas.com/
1552 N Wells St, Chicago 60610
Phone: 312-664-8277
Mexican Food is fast becoming a favorite across the nation and at Ls Pinatas you can get the experience without it costing you an arm and a leg. They are open Mon-Thu: 11am-12am, Fri-Sat: 11am-1am and Sun: 12pm-12am. You can easily get a full meal for under $10. No reservations, they are very family friendly and have a relaxed and casual atmosphere.
Mizu
http://www.mizuyakitori.com/
315 W North Ave, Chicago 60610
Phone: 312-951-8883
Mizu is a relatively new kid on the block, being around since 2006 and is another choice for Japanese/Shusi. Definitely make a reservation especially on Friday and weekends. Nice up beat casual atmosphere and as for the food, Soup goes from $2.00 to $6.00, Salads from $4.50 to $12.00, Entrees from $3.50 to $12.00 and Sushi from $2.00 to $30.00. Give the Tempura a try. They are open Mon-Thu: 5pm-10:30pm, Fri-Sat: 5pm-11pm and Sun: 5pm-10pm
Old Jerusalem Restaurant
http://www.oldjerusalemrestaurant.com/
1411 N Wells St, Chicago 60610
Phone: 312-944-0459
Fax: 312-944-9978
Old Jerusalem will give you a taste of Mediterranean dishes. They are open Monday – Thursday: 11:00am – 10:30pm, Friday – Saturday: 11: 00am – 11:00pm and Sunday: 11:00am – 10:30pm. There is an old world, casual atmosphere and they are family friendly. They have a large variety of vegetarian dishes and make sure to leave room for one of the pastries, they are out of this world good. Appetizers go from $3.50 to $5.35, Entrees from $7.50 to $12.95 and Sandwiches from $5.25 to $6.35.
Orso’s
http://www.orsosrestaurant.com
1401 N Wells St, Chicago 60610
Phone: 312-787-6604
Fax: 312-787-3027
Orso’s is traditional Italian and pizza. They are very relaxed, family friendly and open Mon-Thu: 11am-11pm
Fri: 11am-12am, Sat: 12pm-12am and Sun: 12pm-10pm. Appetizers go from $4.25 to $12, Salads from $3.00 to $9.95, Entrees from $6.96 to $12.95 and the Pizza ranges from $6.95 to $12.95.
Salpicon
http://www.salpicon.com/
1252 N Wells St, Chicago 60610
Phone: 312-988-7811
Fax: 312-988-7715
Salpicon is another choice for Mexican. They are open for Dinner Sun-Thu: 5pm-10pm Fri-Sat: 5pm-11pm and Brunch
Sun: 11am-2:30pm. Very relaxed and family friendly. Appetizers range from $5 to $10, Entrees from $17 to $28.
Trattoria Roma
http://www.trattoriaroma.com/tr.htm
1535 N Wells St, Chicago 60610
Phone: 312-664-7907
Trattoria Roma is an upscale Italian restaurant and reservations are recommended. There is a bit of adventure here because they change the menu daily, but on average you can expect to pay about $8.00 to $30.00 for an entree. They are open Sun-Mon: 12pm-10pm, Tue-Fri: 12pm-11pm and Sat: 5pm
