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Reading over Bo's post on Chicago shows, there was a recent comment on the restaurants in Chicago. Having lived there for a while, it brought back a flood of memories, and a thought:

"What's your favorite restaurant while you're on the road?"

Of course, this brings up the secondary question, does it make it easier to do a show in a big city if you know some of the insider places to eat? Of course it does!

Not an easy question to answer, but way more fun than outing buy/sell. So I'll give it a start with some of my favorites:

Chicago downtown:

When doing one of the downtown shows, (Gold Coast, HA Tribune Tower, Wells Street/Old Town), you have to try Chicago Pizza. There are a lot of 'em too, but my favorite is Lou Malnati's.  There's one just down Wells Street from the show, and many scattered about town. You might like Edwardo's better, for the stuffed spinach pie; or Gino's East (one the originals, again near the Wells St. and old Gold Coast locations). And of course, Giordano's: the one on Rush Street is always packed.

And if you're at Wells Street, you must stop in at Al's Beef, right on W. Ontario. Grab some eye-talian beef on a giant hoagie bun with some peppers and onions, and some fries to go with it. No booze, but hey, you're working!

For breakfast, you gotta try Tempo, on Chestnut, just off LaSalle; or Walker Brothers Original House of Pancakes, just off State Street on Bellevue. Both touristy, especially on weekends, but both a classic slice of Chicago life. Give yourself plenty of time, though, because there's always a line. The Ohio House looks like a dive, and it is, but it was one our favorite spots for lunch when I worked in River North a few years ago. They talked about tearing down the nasty motel next door, but so far, I think it's still going. The HoJo's on LaSalle is good, too, but not as good, nor as classic.

Top end restaurants in Chicago. There are many, many. Best martini is Naha, on Clark Street. The strip steak with the mac and cheese is to die for. Specialities vary with the season, from basics like the steak, to sumptuous Mediterranean delights. Not cheap by any means, but worth an anniversary meal. Quiet, relaxed, elegant without being stuffy. Plan for it.

Right across the street is perhaps the finest Mexican cuisine in town: Rick Bayless' Frontera Grill, and it's big sister right next door, Topolobampo. Frontera does not take reservations, but Topo does. Frontera is loud and boisterous, and you can get a great margarita with some guac while waiting for your table; or you can reserve way in advance for a spot at Topo. Both places serve up Mexican cuisine that is out of this world. Not your usual tex-mex rice, beans and cheese, but exquisitely prepared dishes, heavily researched and lovingly prepared by the kitchen staff. Our office was in the same space as Rick's test kitchen -- we ate there several times a month and it never got old. Clark & Illinois in River North.

Asian food is also tops in Chicago. Try Naniwa for sushi, again right down Wells Street, south of the old Gold Coast show location. The sushi chefs are quick, efficient and the fish is as fresh as anything in Chicago. The tekka don is quite awesome if you like sashimi and rice. If you're doing Bucktown, try Bob San on Division. Hotter, hipper and more lively than Naniwa, it nonetheless is run by the same guy - Bob. They used to serve a mean oyster shooter at Bob-San. Panang Thai, right on Chicago and Clark is a sleeper, too. Inexpensive, relaxed, good pad thai or curry, if that's your style.

I'm kinda sad that I'm not going back to Chicago this year. The restaurants definitely make the shows easier to take downtown. And I haven't even mentioned Fogo de Chao, the Billy Goat, Blackbird, Portillo's for dogs and burgers, Rosebud on Rush, or my all-time favorite fancy place to eat: Spiaggia. Nestled on the second floor in the Bloomingdale's building, with a killer view of Michigan Avenue, the food and ambience here is romantic, elegant and expensive. Wear a coat and tie if you want a table here. It's definitely worth the experience if you have a 10K show. 

Do I have a favorite show in Chicago? Not anymore, since Amy moved Gold Coast to Grant Park. But I definitely miss the restaurants. Now I've rambled on too long. What's your favorite city for shows, and the best places to eat there? Nelsie, I know you've got a few. How about the rest of you?