I’ve been to Chicago many times and can offer suggestions on the traditional, delicious restaurants to dine in. You would surely leave satisfied with a full belly from each. On our recent trip to the Windy City, we were set out to experience something different than your typical Chicago Dog and Deep-Dish Pizza.  Our mission was quite successful, which makes me happy to share it with you. Whether you live in Chicago or are visiting for a short while, below are 3 dining experiences that will leave your mouth watering for more!

RPM Italian’s

RPM Italian came highly recommended by friends who frequent Chicago. We should’ve known it would be excellent because there was only one 4:30pm reservation time available on a Friday evening. And these reservations were made weeks in advance! This normally would be a little early to eat dinner, but no way we were going to pass it up!

I am so glad we didn’t! RPM is an Italian restaurant with a modern twist. It has all of your traditional favorites, plus so much more! The ambiance is hip yet comforting with light music playing throughout. You may feel as if you need to dress up by looking at the menu, but “cute-casual” is ok to wear.

Everything is made in house and seasoned to perfection! They suggest sharing many dishes so that’s exactly what we did.

To start, we ordered:

Rosemary Focaccia Warm Bread with Whipped Lardo

Prime Beef Meatballs

Zucchini Fritti

 

 

All three were divine! Although it is tough to choose, if I had to select a favorite, I’d go with the rosemary focaccia bread. It was crispy and warm, which was perfect to kick things off. You can also top your bread with a piece of your meatballs as well. Oh, and the zucchini was like a soft pillow.  They literally melt in your mouth. See how hard it is to pick a favorite? Next up was dinner! We ordered the following entrees + side:

Short Rib Bolognese with Hand Cut Pappardelle & Rosemary

 

Chicken Parmesan

Crispy Brussel Sprouts

Although these were classic items you can order on most Italian menus, they were so flavorful! We were somewhat full from our appetizers, but were sure to make room for as much as possible. Feeling overstuffed was worth every bite. I can confidently say we experienced one of the best Italian restaurants we’ve had in a long time.

Please take my advice and make reservations. You’ll be sad to miss it! Don’t forget to check out RPM Steak if you have the time. I hear it is equally delicious!

 

Three Dots and a Dash

Following our terrific dinner at RPM Italian, we were encouraged to head out to the Tiki Bar, Three Dots and a Dash, which was a short walk away. We were told to walk up the street and we’d find it in an alley. Yes…AN ALLEY! Typically, this would be the number one reason why I would go the opposite way, but there was something intriguing about going to ducked off Tiki Bar. It was the opposite of the experience we were having, but we were up for it! As soon as you get past the fact that you’re in an alley and enter their establishment, everything transforms. They did such a fabulous job with the décor that you’ll feel as if you’re on a beach- with no water of course. There were private rooms as well as a main, common area for eating and drinking. You can also sit at the bar if you choose. There’s an extensive selection of drink options, which make it hard to choose just one- but trust me- one is all you’ll need. We settled on the Mai Tai. It was fruity, tropical, and STRONG! Be careful with these here and ensure you’ve eaten a nice hearty meal as we did.

What I enjoyed most about this place is how unique it was. You don’t see tiki bars in the middle of big city alleys often, but here we were! It was fun and the perfect way to cape off the night. This is another establishment that takes reservations, as they offer food as well. Even if you are not eating, make reservations. We barely got in for a drink and it was only about 7pm. I can imagine how quickly they fill up throughout the evening.

 

Woven & Bound- Marriott Marquis – S Prairie Avenue

I know I know… No one is really thrilled to eat at a hotel when they’re surrounding by so many other restaurants within a short distance, but please… consider staying here because:

-The hotel is outstanding and still on the newer side

-You are still a short driving distance from the heart of Michigan Avenue while being in a peaceful, yet fun hotel

-The food is amazinggg!

Our intentions were to stop in for a quick drink while we waited for the evening’s festivities, but we ended up having appetizers, as well as brunch the next morning! For appetizers, we ordered the Midwest Charcuterie Selection with house capicola, house rillettes, la quercia prosciutto, house mustard, pickles, and bread and the Avocado Fries (yes… avocado FRIES!) with Sriracha Aioli. My goodness! Both were better than they sounded, which explains why we came back for brunch! As you can expect, the brunch also hit the spot!  Our selections were the Omelet with Makowski’s Sausage, Caramelized onions, Sweet Peppers, Toy Box Mushrooms, and Swiss as well as the Crunchy French Toast with macerated berries, and banana. What I can appreciate about this restaurant is their ability to take traditional selections and turn them into something creative and different. The taste was not compromised while transforming these items, which is the best part! It was great to have such a nice dining experience right in our hotel!

Hopefully the next time (or first time) you are in Chicago, you try one or all of these locations. We of course mixed in some of the traditions, but the best parts were the new ones experienced. I definitely came, saw and conquered… per usual. Until next time Chicago!