Basai Thai

Discovering this gem the evening before we left Chicago was our only disappointment with it!  I spotted it while shopping and dragged my husband back there for a quick bite because we were in a rush to get to Blue Man Group.  The food was reasonably priced, filling, and delicious.  I was surprised at how well I liked the chicken dish and the iced tea I ordered.  Don’t let its location inside a mall keep you from giving it a try.  Had we discovered this restaurant earlier in our stay, we would definitely have gone back especially since it was right across the street from our hotel! 

Blue Man Group

Our last evening in Chicago, my husband and I went to see Blue Man Group at Briar Street Theatre where they have an ongoing show.  Briar Street Theatre’s industrial look reminded me of the scene in the Matrix with all the tubes that fed the machines off the humans.  The show is silly and messy, but it’s a lot of fun.  It was perfect to top off our trip to Chicago.  We laughed and relaxed enjoying the silly antics, loud noises, and creativity of the Blue Man Group.  Don’t go to see the Blue Man Group expecting enlightenment or a plot line to follow.  The show is simply fun!  The experience is well worth the price.

The Cheesecake Factory

For breakfast I had an omelet with cheese, mushrooms, and red peppers.  It was basic but well prepared.  The portion was too generous for me to finish.  In the evening I returned for a piece of cheesecake.  The Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake and a Keoke Coffee were beautifully served and delicious.  Over the course of the week I returned for lunch one day and for cheesecake twice more.  The food was always tasty and the portions too generous to finish.  The cheesecake really is the star of the show at The Cheesecake Factory.

Souk

I was glad we took a taxi to the restaurant because I surely would’ve missed it if we drove ourselves.  The restaurant is in a somewhat nondescript building – at least from the outside.  Inside paintings of belly dancers adorn the red and gold interior.  While they also often have live entertainment, there wasn’t any the Tuesday night we were there.  The service was excellent.  I ordered the Souk kabob which consists of kefta, chicken kabobs, and sirloin kabobs.  It’s served with cardamom rice, tomatoes, and red onions.  My husband ordered the lamb shank.  For appetizers we ordered the combination platter.  All the food was delicious.  We enjoyed a relaxing, enjoyable dinner.

Johnny Rockets

If you’re craving a hamburger and fries “old-style” check out Johnny Rockets.  Not fancy for sure, but the food was good, service was friendly and efficient, and the smell reminded me of hamburgers and fries at my Grandmother’s house when I was a child.  I didn’t try one of their milkshakes.  The lady next to me was enjoying hers enough to make me wonder if I was missing out.  Thinking back, I wish I’d just ordered one because now I wonder if it was as good as it looked.

Gino's Pizzeria

With the motto “It’s worth the wait” prominently posted, you may set your expectations too high.  I waited the forty-five minutes for the pizza.  My first reaction upon tasting it was “It’s pizza.”  It’s good pizza, but it didn’t stand out as particularly special to me.  However, when comparing it to other restaurant pizza, I noticed it had a good ratio of sauce and the cheese didn’t have the overcooked texture restaurant pizzas sometimes have.  If you’re a pizza lover, this restaurant may be more to your taste than it was to mine.

Rosebud Steakhouse

Not in the mood for steak, I ordered prawns after hearing the tremendous portion of the chicken dish.  The serving of prawns was also large.  I was glad I’d also ordered a salad because the prawns didn’t come with a side of vegetables.  The food was good, but for the price should’ve included a vegetable to create a well-balanced meal.  It was interesting to watch the tuxedo dressed wait staff watch a Bears game between serving tables.  The cheers that broke out when the Bears tied the game on the television reminded me of movies set in Chicago - the classy restaurant with the Bears game on just like a sports bar.  The hometown enthusiasm is “The Real Thing”.

Steppenwolf Theatre

I went to watch The Pillowman at Steppenwolf Theatre.  The theatre staff was friendly, helpful, and attentive without being invasive.  The photo mural of actors who’ve performed at Steppenwolf adorns one full wall and is very tastefully done.  The downstairs theatre was full.  The seats seemed a bit close together, but that may have been because the gentleman sitting beside me kept getting into my space.  Everything from getting my ticket at the Fast Tix Kiosk to the concession stand to getting questions answered was handled with efficiency and a friendly attitude.  I would definitely attend another play at Steppenwolf Theatre the next time I visit Chicago. 

The Pillowman

Take the description “dark comedy” seriously.  There’s a strong emphasis on the dark in this exploration of abuse and the influence abuse has on a child’s psyche.  The love between brothers and the examination of physical versus mental torture is intense.  The intensity is broken by moments of hilarity, but even the humor provokes a guilty, nervous laughter.  I thoroughly enjoyed both the writing and the acting in this intense, dark play.  That said, it’s not a play for everyone.  Many will find its themes uncomfortable or distasteful; however, I found them bold and thought provoking.  The Pillowman examines the use of writing to alleviate the pain in a writer’s life as well as how childhood informs who a person becomes as an adult.

The Grille on the Alley

The Grille on the Alley is located inside the Westin Hotel.  I ate in the bar because it was a Saturday evening, and I didn’t have a reservation for the dining room.  They serve the same food in both areas.  I ate scallops, mushrooms, and drank a Red Velvet.  The three large scallops served in a rich sauce and with half a lemon were tasty, but the meal seemed lacking without vegetables.  I ordered sautéed mushrooms to complete the meal.  They were simple but good.  The Red Velvet was good but not something I’m likely to order again.  In all honesty, the pomegranate martini I make at home is better.  Smoking is allowed in parts of the bar, but no one was smoking in the area where I sat.  The décor was simple and tasteful but not wowing.  My dinner for one was over thirty dollars.  The service was excellent.  My water only got to the half-full mark when I took a large drink just before leaving.

The Signature Room at the 95th (John Hancock Center)

You may find you want to sit back and enjoy the view rather than look at the menu.  The view is certainly beautiful.  I ordered an angus burger served on a brioche bun.  The burger tasted fine but was nothing spectacular.  I enjoyed my cup of hot tea much more than the burger.  It’s worth lunch though just for the view.

The John Hancock Obervatory

The John Hancock Observatory provides a fabulous view that I very much enjoyed even though it wasn’t a very clear day when I was there.  The wall with the history of Chicago was really interesting.  I read it from one end to the other.  Visitors have the opportunity to buy a photo of themselves overlaid on scenes of the building.  There are fun and educational activities available for children of all ages.  The strategically placed descriptions and maps of the view are worth stopping to read.  Since you’re on your own once you leave the elevator, there’s none of the pressure that guided tours have.  You can really take your time and enjoy just being there and looking out  the massive windows!  All-in-all it’s a delightful experience to look out over the cityscape and the lake.