Travel Tuesday: Eating our Way Through Chicago

I loved our trip to Chicago so much. It felt like the perfect mini getaway not too far away. The weather was great, we got to spend time with friends and family, we walked a ton, and of course, we did our fair share of eating and drinking. And with all of the restaurants in Chicago, we could go back many times to do much much more. Below is a round up of our eating adventures.

For more Chicago posts you can read about our Goose Island Tour and my Scenes from Chicago post.

We stayed at the Public Hotel, which had two elegant, old school bars, the Pump Room and the Library and Coffee Bar, both offering incredible cocktails. The craft cocktail menu, small bites, low lighting, and general ambiance added so much to our hotel stay.

Our first morning in Chicago found us walking for miles along Lake Michigan then finally sitting down to brunch outdoors at LuxBar. Mimosas, Salmon Eggs Benedict, and a gigantic breakfast burrito were all delicious and enjoyed while people watching. Brunch on vacation is just the best.

My friend who was running the Chicago Marathon wanted to carb load the night before, and of course we joined her. Carmine’s was the place to be the night before the marathon. The red wine was flowing, and classic red sauce Italian dishes like my stuffed shells were being served up to noisy tables. The atmosphere was festive and perfect for the exciting weekend that was in it.

I couldn’t miss the opportunity to taste Champagnes by the glass at Pop Champagne Bar. It’s so rare to have the chance to taste several Champagnes in one sitting, and we took full advantage of the menu!

Finally, there was the post-marathon celebratory dinner at Hugo’s.We originally set out for Gibson’s but they were completely full, and the kind hostess had someone escort us to their sister restaurant Hugo’s, which serves the same steaks and great food. We felt so taken care of right off the bat; the hospitality all throughout Chicago was remarkable, and we really felt it the most at Gibson’s and Hugo’s.

We wanted the Chicago steak house experience, complete with giant cocktails, meat, and sides.

There were martinis and Manhattans and wedge salads, one of my favorite steak house dishes.

When the entrees started to arrive, my husband’s steak was way too rare, so they whisked it away and while it cooked brought him a complimentary shrimp cocktail so he had something while he waited. It was only a matter of minutes, and this little extra touch meant so much. The shrimp were so yummy too!

While my plate doesn’t look very appetizing here, it was simply amazing. I had the steak and crab cake combo, which came with two phenomenal sauces including their pink spicy mayo. 

My husband’s steak came covered in crab meat and asparagus and was out-of-this world. We also all shared chipotle corn and asparagus.

This meal was special, decadent, and so much fun, one of those must-do things if you get to Chicago. It kind of felt like dining in a bygone era, where we really slowed down to enjoy ourselves.