Local places with reasonably priced meals near Hotel Monaco

We are in need of some recommendations for breakfast, lunch and dinner during our trip. We are used to the small town restaurants where the food is great and prices are pretty cheap. We enjoy pizza, seafood, a good burger, bbq, Italian food, tapas, steak, but don%26#39;t want to break our budget either(about $50-70 day). One day we want to go to somewhere nice but the rest of stay we need to stay within our budget.

There are always neighborhood places that have good food for reasonable prices if you%26#39;re just looking for dinner (i.e. not a top name restaurant.) All suggestions don%26#39;t have to be local places but I%26#39;ve always found that the best places are usual local. I%26#39;ve already begin to check Metromix.com

I want to avoid tourist traps such as Rainforest and Hard Rock Cafe%26#39;s. Also want to avoid overcrowded places, smoke fulled bars, etc. What are some places we shouldn%26#39;t miss?? We are planning to stay at Hotel Monaco if that helps.

Any thoughts and suggestions are appreciated:)

Thanks!

Local places with reasonably priced meals near Hotel Monaco

I am assuming from your previous posts that there will be two of you. Trying to feed two people for $50-$70 per day in Chicago could be a challenge. If you skipped breakfast (or it was included in the cost of your hotel) and did something cheap for brunch/lunch you might be able to do it.

Actually, I rather enjoyed the restaurant at the Monaco a few weeks ago (South Water Kitchen). It isn%26#39;t cheap, but not incredibly expensive either. They had a nice outdoor dining area that was out of the way. I also like Heaven on 7 for Cajun/Creole (should be in your price range).

Local places with reasonably priced meals near Hotel Monaco

Yeah I guess I should assume things will cost more in a place like Chicago. Should I plan more like on $100/day then?

Corner Bakery is a block or so away from the Monaco if you%26#39;re looking for something quick and cheaper.

sounds good thank you. once i get my list more narrowed down I%26#39;ll post the restaurants and then get feedback that way. I still need to do a bit more research and planning on my own.

Stef, I%26#39;m sure you know the high price of rental space and operating expenses in Chicago create the higher prices, close tables, etc. If there are resonably priced options, people flock to them.

That being said, I%26#39;d strongly suggest you getting CTA visitor%26#39;s passes. They%26#39;ll more than pay for themselves for just getting around to the attractions. Then you can also go into the neighborhoods where the cost of dining is somewhat cheaper than the Loop, River North, Mag. Mile areas. You%26#39;ll still have a hunt for places within your set budget, but it will be easier to find them.

Think about getting Italian Beef sandwiches (Mr. Beef on Orleans), Chicago-style hotdogs (Portillo%26#39;s on Ontario), burgers (Boston Blackies on Grand) and the like for lunch when you are in the Loop, River North, Mag. Mile areas.

I%26#39;ve already mentioned a few places on your other thread for you to consider that would be very good food at a reasonable price (for example, Duke of Perth when they are having their all-you-can-eat fish n%26#39; chips dinners under $10 on Wednesdays and Fridays, Heaven on Seven for gumbo).

If you are going to the Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder is only two blocks away on N. Clark (cash only) and there is a nice grill area in back of the Cafe Brauer (by the swan paddleboats) that serves burgers, chicken sandwiches and so forth.

You could always go on a picnic to save some bucks since the weather is getting pretty nice. You%26#39;d be pleasantly surprised at the variety of things you could get at a specialty store such as Fox and Obel or in a deli at a supermarket (such as Treasure Island).

Although it is a restaurant group, you might look at the options on the Lettuce Entertain You website. They have restaurants for all types of cuisine (from Tru and Everest for gourmet dining to Mitey Nice Grill - in Water Tower Place - and RJ Grunts near the Lincoln Park Zoo, their first restaurant).

If you are coming up to Lakeview, which is the neighborhood just north of Lincoln Park: The eastern part of Lakeview is called Boystown - or East Lakeview (see the website of East Lakeview for more information). To the west of Boystown is Wrigleyville (where Wrigley Field is located). Further west is the N. Southport area, where the Music Box Theatre and, a couple of my favorite restaurants, Tango Sur and Deleece, are located. Further west of that is the Roscoe Village area. There still are a goodly number of nice eateries reasonably priced here but they are getting more expensive; and they may be within your budget - or just a little higher. I%26#39;ve mentioned several for budgets in past threads - such as LaTavernetta on N. Broadway (for Italian - not open on Saturdays), Joy%26#39;s Noodles and Rice on N. Broadway (for Thai), the Chicago Diner (for vegetarian) on N. Halsted, Nookies Tree (cash only) on N. Halsted and Stella%26#39;s Diner on N. Broadway.

Hope this information helps you a bit!