I was in Chicago as a tourist and enjoyed Frontera Grill. But I don't know if people do / would go there for summer associate lunches.

What is on that plate --- a pizza? Or is that the plate design?

One word - Giordano's

When did Bosley start sponsoring ATL?

Can we stop doing these podunk second cities and cut to New York? Seriously?

VTK: Vong's Thai Kitchen...upscale thai food (make it a wet lunch for bonus points with the summers)

Shaw's. Hands down the best seafood place in town. Makes Catch 35 look like Long John Silver's.

11:30 - Chicago is New York with far better scenery, hotter women and more pay (once cost of living is taken into account).

If the summer associates don't eat at Chipotle, then the terrorists have already won.

#1 - Fogo de Chao - Brazillian steakhouse - simply awesome
#2 - De Cero - upscale Mexican - amazingly fresh and amazing tastes (the name means "from scratch")

I have taken summer associates and clients to both and have never been disappointed.

Sushi Wabi

I regularly take summers there. It is the best sushi near downtown.

Thanks for the Spanish 101 lesson, caca-head.

Thanks for the Spanish 101 lesson, caca-head.

Sushi Wabi

I regularly take summers there. It is the best sushi near downtown.

Thanks for the Spanish 101 lesson, caca-head.

Thanks for the Spanish 101 lesson, caca-head.

11:33 - I've worked and lived in Chicago and New York - wish I could agree, but you're wrong on all counts (except cost of living).

What's better than a huge plate of stone crab legs at Joe's?

Patio seating at Japonais is a good standby.

Vong's Thai sucks. My picks are Topolobampo (sister restaurant of Frontera - it takes reservations), Joe's Stone Crab, Blackbird, and Sushi Wabi.

oooh, Bistro 110 is a nice pick. I second that. Frontera grill as well, or Topolopambo (sp?), which is the other half of frontera.

Lat, I think you started with the wrong list. While the list is quite good, many of the best restaurants on here are nowhere near the CBD. Try Chicago Magazine, in which they sort by neighborhood.

Anyway, of those on the list, I recommend to SAs that they do whatever they can to eat for free at Avenues, Catch 35, Everest, Seasons, Tru, Spiaggia, and MK (although Tru, Spiaggia, and MK are a little far from most offices).

For a great pastrami head to Manny's for sure. If you are interested in public service keep an eye out for the Mayor, city councilment, judges, etc.

Firm not buying? Head to Monk's Pub for the best burger in the loop. Also, The Gage on Michigan Ave has great scenery *wink*. And Potbelly's of course (Chicago is the home of the original after all).

Not on the list but also great options: Fulton's on the River, Flatwater, 16, China Grill.

PS. Self-entitled punks in my high school used to get free inappropriately-expensive lunches from law firms all the time, it was no big deal.

#1 - Fogo de Chao - Brazillian steakhouse - simply awesome
#2 - De Cero - upscale Mexican - amazingly fresh and amazing tastes (the name means "from scratch")

I have taken summer associates and clients to both and have never been disappointed.

11:40 - I have lived in both places as well, and you are wrong. Chicago is a better city all around. Better steaks, better pizza, beaches, and unlike New York, in the summer it does not smell like garbage.

Some of the places mentioned above are pretty far from the loop (e.g. Japonais). Sushi Samba, A Mano has good gelato and cheap, Custom House

Le Colonial
Joe's Stone Crab

Oh yeeaaahh, I'd know what to do with a second-city like Chicago -- bend it over my desk and tell my office-mate to cover his eyes!

Alinea

C. Trotter's
Nomi (indoors, sitting at the windows if possible)
Spiaggia (probably the finest Italian, in a city with countless good Italian places)
Arun's (the ultimate in fine Thai)

Note: For the above six, at even the most generous firms, you will need to cover some of the cost (and don't leave it to the associates to cover). They're all best for dinner (plus you can have wine), but Nomi works well for lunch (and has a decent outdoor sushi option).

Blackbird
Custom House (great burger; superb truffle mac & cheese)
Sepia (dinner)

Catch 36 (lunch)
Le Colonial (lunch or dinner)
Spring (dinner)
RL (lunch)

Some good alternatives (i.e., not on the usual summer circuit):

Chicago Diner (vegetarian)
Mia Francesca (better for dinner, obviously, unless it's Race Judicata day)
Adobo (Mexican/southwestern; good margs "up" if you're there for dinner; great table-side guac)

Sushi: Coast; Japonais; Mirai

Pizza: Due; Gino's East ; Lou Malnetti's (for "New Haven" style, try Piece; there is no decent NY style pizza in town). Due is really the only remotely civilized in terms of setting, and has decent outdoor seating.

How about Cafe Spiaggia? Unlike big Spiaggia, it's open for lunch.

Manny's Deli, or Perry's Deli

11:43 -

As far as women go, New York is an actress/model hub - in fact, New York has some of the best-looking women (and people) in the world (second to handful of international cities and perhaps L.A.).

As far as pizza goes, that's really a matter of personal taste - I prefer thinner crust, lighter slices than Chicago-style pizza (which I do appreciate from time to time!).

I'll grant you steaks and beaches, and the summers are less garbag-ey in Chicago.

But overall, the energy here (in NY) is just unbeatable. The diversity, the sense of scale, the options - it's why NY residents pay the (admittedly *high*) price to live here.

David Burke's Primehouse. Skip the lunch menu and get a dinner steak. Kickin' donuts for dessert (lame name but very tasty)

Harold's Chicken Shack. But be sure to go to the South Side ones that have bullet-proof glass on the ordering counter.

People outside of Chicago often don't know that Chicago has great thin crust too.. Instead of that floppy foldable mess, the crispy square-cut pieces of a good thin crust pizza are way better than even deep dish pies.

Aigre Doux (230 W. Kinzie) is phenomenal. Get dessert!

Alinia? Trotters? Tru? Everest?

Are you F-ing crazy? Trotters doesn't do lunch at all, and a dinner will run $350 a person at least. The other three are similar.

Nice that you know how to run a internet search for the most expensive restaurants in Chicago, but no summer is eating there on the firm's dime.

My picks:

Joe's
Shaws
Gibsons
Tavern on Rush

Aigre Doux (230 W. Kinzie) is phenomenal. Get dessert!

trattoria no. 10
(10 N. Dearborn St. downstairs)

WORST. PIZZA. EVER.

Sorry, disagree on NY v Chicago. In Chicago you can have a normal existence and a decent apartment (and even save some money or pay down student loans) while still doing all of the things you can do in NY -- restaurants, bars, etc. Granted, NY is definitely "hipper" than Chicago in terms of the people at the best clubs, but who on this board really goes to the best NYC clubs? And to the guys on this board, there are too many really rich hedge fund guys and I-bankers for you to have a chance with the models/actresses. Lawyers don't impress anyone. Plus, Chicago's waterfront is gorgeous and NY's is crap, and I say this having lived on the water on the UWS in NY. Biggest disadvantage of Chicago? Nowhere cool within 2-4 hours, unlike NYC where you can take the train to Boston, DC, or go the Hamptons, etc., for cool weekend trips.

11:43 - on the nose, my man. I don't know if the women are hotter (lets be honest: they're not), but they aren't far off, and they are much more accessible. The food is so many times better, the beach is great, the open spaces in the CBD don't make you clausterphobic, everything is cheaper, and did I mention how much better the food is? Oh, and NO GARBAGE ON THE SIDEWALKS, yay!

What 12:03 said.

Catch 35, Nick's Fishmarket, Trattoria No. 10, Sushi Wabi, Japonais, The Gage, China Grill, Petterino's, Nomi, Vivere

Two words: Hot Doug's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Doug's

Avec and Blackbird are solid picks.

Meiji for sushi is so much better than Japonais or SushiSamba (SushiSamba is terrible).

Winston and Strawn to Wow Bao!!!

12:12's Hot Doug's post earns a 180.

Doug Sohn for president!

If a summer asked me to take them to Trotter's/Everest/Tru, I'd laugh in their face.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Nine. It's always been one of my favorites. Stay away from Kevin. That place is terrible. The fact it's on the Reader's list is a joke.

Topolo is the best lunch option in the city.

Keefer's (or Tavern at the Park for cheaper options)

Shaw's & The Gage are both overrated.

Hot Doug's is worth the trip, especially once foie is legal again.

Coalfire is the best pizza in town...flat & crispy.

Nick's Fish Market is outstanding.

That NYC garbage smell is actually one of the few things I miss about NYC. So is the pizza.

Obviously summer: Joe's, Fogo, Gibson's, Morton's, Smith and Wollensky's, Keefer's

Off the beaten path for summers: Custom House, Cafe Spiaggia, Le Colonial, Blackbird, Blue Water Grill, Green Zebra

If you can get it for dinner: Alinea, Tru, Spiaggia, Charlie Trotter's (which I think's overrated, but it's the name)

Two more words: Mr. Beef.

Le Colonial was not as good the last time I was there. And Nine used to have an awesome seafood platter appetizer that was the only reason I used to go there. Last time I was there they didn't have it any more.

China Grill is highly overrated.

Bongo Room is way too loud for conversation.

Hot Doug's rocks!

Los Nopales is a good choice as mentioned on the list. Plus it is BYOB so if you work at Jenner & Block you won't go over the $55 per limit on lunches.

coalfire is a GREAT suggestion (good work, 12:16). Other spots west on Grand Ave: Twisted Spoke, La Scarola, and Bari (go to the deli counter in back for the best sandwich in the city).

11:56 is correct. Harold's Chicken rules. Especially at 3 am.

Another good pick -- El Gallo De Oro -- 2952 W 63rd St --(63rd and California). Best burritos in town. Again, especially at 3 am.

GuyIncognito, you sound like those people who grew up in Podunk and lived in New York for a year or two and now constantly badmouth other cities. Let me guess, how many sentences do you start with "Only in New York...."?

New Yorkers who grew up there or have lived there for decades, don't talk like that - and they love Chicago. You are throwing around the word New York like an insecure American tourist throwing around dollar bills.

The fact is, New York is great, but so is Chicago. They're great in different ways and in a lot of the same ways.

Depends what you want. Estimating the high end of most firm budgets , I'd say:

Seafood - Shaw's or Joe's. Catch 35 sucks.
Steak - Morton's. Unless you want atmosphere, then head to Gibson's.
French - Marche.
Sushi - Sushi Wabi. Only because of proximity. If you venture out on the north side on weekends or at night, hit Rise on Southport.
Chinese - Lao Szcheuan (sp?). Its in Chinatown, so its kind of far away from downtown. But, it's the best Mandarin/Hunan food in the city.
Pizza - Lou Malnati's for Chicago style. No really good NY-style za around the Loop area.

HEAVEN ON SEVEN

I grew up in NY, went to school at U of C, and now live in NY. Love both cites (although not Hyde Park). Nothing like going to Wrigley and then hitting the bars. Girls are also more approachable in Chicago. In NY, they all have their game faces on and are looking over their shoulder just in case someone better comes along. Chicago, they're just trying to have fun.

Hot Doug's is great, but getting out there can take a while. At least it's cheap, or else you'd blow your budget on the cab ride over. Also, you need to get there very early or very late -- at noon the line stretches around the corner.

Superdawg!
Or you can skip the lunch all together and just go to Wrigley. Lunches can last several hours anyways, why not spend it in the Friendly Confines? Get a brat and an Old Style.

12:35 - best suggestion so far.

We're in the Sear's Tower and for lunch we've done:

Chicago Firehouse Restaurant (steak/chophouse)
Shikago (pretty awesome asian food)
Pazzo's (Italian....decent but not fantastic)

and today we're going to Flat Top...I'll let you know how it is.

Joe's Stone Crab (mentioned by a bunch of people above) also has great steak. One of the top 5 in the city.

Lao Szcheuan is the best Mandarin/Hunan food in the city, but it's not really a SA lunch place. My downtown pick is definitely Trattoria No. 10

The second hardest task in the world: Getting a NY lawyer to move to transfer to Chicago.

The hardest task in the work: Getting the same lawyer to move back.

I'd go Malnati's, Perry's Deli, and Hot Dougs on the lower price scale.

In 100 dollar per person range I'd go with Gibson's, Rosebud, and Roy's

On the elite end, its Spiaggi, Nomi, and Arun's.

I echo the mentions of Spiaggia. I had one of the best Italian meals of my life there. The veal chop was amazing.

Chicago is an excellent restaurant town.

11:46--the fact that you have an office-mate is just another reason why Chicago trumps NY.

12:52,

12:26 here. Its quite accessible by train, but it would only be for the most adventurous SAs (or a local kid). It's not exactly a nice neighborhood down there. However, you can do it in an two hours if you have some time to kill. Trattoria No. 10 is a solid pick.

And liquid lunches at Wrigley for day games are always a good way to go.

The Wiener's Circle

A delicious steamed bagel from CBA

In defense of officemates -- I actually really liked having one at my NY v5 firm for my first year -- they put us with second year associates and then after 6 months or so with another 1st year. It was great always having someone to talk to and to ask questions. But by the time I got my own office, about 3 months into my second year, I was ready to stop being bothered by the stupid first year constantly asking me questions.

Steaks (the only lunch that matters, ranked in order):
1) Chicago Chop House
2) Tavern on Rush
3) Gene and Georgetti's
4) Joe's (yes, Joe's)
5) Capital Grill
6) Morton's
7) Smith and Wollensky's
8) Ruth Chris
9) The Palm
10) Allen's New American Cafe (not a steakhouse, but does a good steak)

I don't like Gibson's seasoning, which is why it is absent.

12:25 - I grew up in the Bronx actually, lived here most of my life, but made plenty of time to live and work abroad. I have nothing to prove, and if you actually read my post(s), you'd see that I think Chicago has a lot to offer. It isn't New York, but it's a wonderful city in its own right.

I have a complicated relationship with New York - I'm a big advocate, but I'm also the first to count its (many) shortcomings as a functional metropolis. What it lacks, it lacks in spades, and what it has, it shares with few - but it's the single best place in America to live, work, and play.

12:58,

Which Rosebud? The quality varies considerably. Also, who is going to truck out to Arun's for lunch (or even dinner)? It is awesome food, but that's really far from the Loop.

Pazzo is awful. Go to Coco Pazzo for great Italian (by Merchandise Mart)

12:38 "Sear's" Tower... Really?

Chop House is garbage. Joe's is the best.

Chop House is overrated. Palm is vile.

I'll second Topolobampo/Frontera both are excellent. I don't think you'd get away with Charlie Trotters, Alinea, Blackbird, Tru, or Arun's... unless you have a really generous partner. But they are all *excellent* Chicago restaurants--none are really lunch places anyway.

If you do want to try some local favs, as someone mentioned, Manny's is awesome, and Harold's has some *damn* fine chicken. And I'll also second Lao Szcheuan--best Chinese in the city, bar none.

Stay away from Pazzo or the Rosebud on Rush (touristville). Coco Pazzo isn't bad and the Rosebud on Taylor is the one to go to if you want that sort of thing.

If you are TTT like me, I recommend Dave & Buster's on Clark. Not for the crappy food but for the cheap booze and ability to pretend you're gunning down your clients and bosses instead of zombies in House of the Dead 4.

Also, Gibson's dishwashers take out the trash about 1:15 PM, I found almost a whole Porterhouse and a credit card receipt with the whole card number on it.

I really like Joes . . . both for seafood and steak. I'd agree it's one of the top five steak places in the city. I made sure I went there at least once a week.

The bar side of Shaws is another good spot, especially if the associates are in a rush. Service is fast, and the food is consistently good. Much better than Catch 35.

And I also love the kobe burger at rockits.

Kobe burger at Rockits (especially if they bring the foie back).... yum. Coco Pazzo, Topo and De Cero also very good.

Does La Scarola do lunch? It's not fancy, but that is some damn good Italian food. Costa's over in Greektown is quality too.

Who the hell would take a summer to Trotter's or Everest? Those places are reserved for the high-end clients. And even then, only for a closing dinner or something like that.

12:38 - didn't you get the memo? you're laid off

12:38 here. Sorry for the typo. Long day already.

Youtube Steak Charlie's. Across the street from Franks. A can't miss.

I like the sushi at Blue Water Grill and the burger at Naha. It's not downtown, but I also recommend the BBQ at Smoke Daddy.

Naha is great for lunch outside on a sunny day. I also like Red Light (food is mediocre, but loved the desserts), Gioco, Joe's, One North, and South Water Kitchen.

Wiener Circle--The most famous hot dog place in the country

Someone brought up the Wiener's Circle at the first summer associate lunch and the suggestion was not met with welcome or enthusiasm.

Make sure to order the chocolate shake at Wiener Circle.

Wiener Circle is a great choice, provided you are having a summer associate lunch while shit faced at 3:00 AM. In fact, in that case, it is probably the only choice, outside of Five Faces, Lincoln Town Gyros or that diner on the corner of Clark and North that used to be called Mitchels.

But on the serious, I always liked Atwood Cafe (at the Burnham Hotel) for a summer lunch. Rhapsody is also good. India House in River North is good for a less formal lunch (they serve a buffet during the day, but it is good, if you like Indian food, obviously).

The buffet at India House is actually pretty damn good.

That diner at Clark and North is awesome at 3 AM.

It's probably more important to talk about places that are readily accessible to downtown. I love Gibson's and Tavern as much as the next person, but it's doubtful we're going to take a lunch excursion out there.

1) The Signature Room has an amazing view of the city and pretty good food.
2) If it's nice out, May Street Market in west loop and Flatwater or Fulton's (both on the river) are great options.
3) The Mambo Grill is a lot of fun for lunch, slightly cheaper (though not cheap by any means) and has good food.
4) For seafood, McCormick and Schmicks and Blue Water Grill are my favorite. I have to agree that Catch 35 is overrated.
5) Lou Malnati's pizza is the best, hands down.
6) Make you firm take you to Little Italy for Italian. La Vita is incredible; so is Rosebud and there are many other good ones there.

I've eaten at the following restaurants (mentioned throughout the thread) multiple times:

(1) Custom House - weird waitstaff, smells moldy, food is hit or miss

(2) Catch 35, Joe's, McCormick and Schmick, Shaw's - if you've ever been to New England prepare to understand that Chicago does not have good seafood

(3) Nick's Fishmarket - consistently mediocre to horrible food and smells musty

(4) Signature Room - seriously? you mean the one in Macy's? The Macy's that used to be Marshall Field's?

(5) Lou Malnati's - best pizza, especially the crust

(6) Mirai - best sushi, but out of the way

(7) Burke's Primehouse - best steak, everything else is damn good too

(8) India House - good buffet, crowded, you'll smell like an Indian for a few hours after you leave

(9) Frontera/Topolo___ - very good food, slow, annoying waiters

(10) Rosebud - all locations suck to different degrees

(11) Le Colonial - very good food, great atmosphere

signature room is not in macy's. It's in the hancock.

1:25 PM, how could you omit Keefer's?

Their NY Strip au Poivre is the best steak in the city.

Nick's Fishmarket is great. Joe's Stonecrab is one of the top 3 seafood places I have been to, and I lived in New England for years.

The Signature Room is nowhere near Macy's or Marhsall Field's or any other store you are thinking of. It is the top floor of the Hancock Building. I have a hard time believing that anyone making that mistake actually lives in Chicago.

5:15 PM, you're right about the seafood in Chicago. I swore off sushi here after returning from my last trip to Nobu 57. However, if you head out to Bob Chinn's in Wheeling you can get fish and crab that equals pretty much anything you'll find in New England.

5:15 here - sorry, confused Signature Room with Walnut Room - I'm not a native, so sue me (oops wrong crowd).

Although it is a bit of a hike from office locations, Tanoshi is amongst the best and most innovative sushi that I have ever had. Imagine Morimoto's but at about 1/3 the price.

For sushi, Sushi Samba Rio is fun, but for good sushi I head to Sushi Wabi or Starfish. Italian lunch, there's no contest: Cafe Spiaggia. French is surprisingly tough: there isn't much open for lunch (I still miss Pili Pili), but Cyrano's is great for dinner. I've busted the dinner budget taking summers out to Moto and Blackbird -- totally worth it -- but stayed within budget at Avec. As a summer, I couldn't get anyone to take me to North Pond for lunch and as an associate, I fully appreciate why -- it's just too much of a PITA to leave the Loop during the day. But for dinner, it's a great idea.

Not in any order: Keefer's, Seasons, any restaurant at the Peninsula, Powerhouse, MK, Blackbird, Pegasus, Tavern on Rush (for people watching), Everest.

Skip Signature Room unless you like a view and avoid Le Colonial like the plague.

Shui Wah's in Chinatown for amazing dim sum.

You all must be nuts- how come none of you mentioned Portillo's? And none of you mentioned Weiner's Circle either?

Horrible advice: Arun's, the Gage (for food, anyway), Bistro 110. Excellent advice: Blackbird/Avec, Coalfire for pizza, India House for buffet. Most of the interesting restaurants in the city (at any price range) aren't downtown, though. Sorry, kids.

For non-sushi fish (I actively dislike some of those mentioned--Catch 35, Joe's, Nick's Fishmarket), I'd suggest Spring, but it's not downtown and doesn't do lunch. Custom House probably has good fish (same chef as Spring), but not much choice on the menu.

For coffee, there's the Intelligentsia store on Jackson. When hung over, Skrine Chops near the Board of Trade (either a "skribeye" or a bbq chicken sandwich with mashed potatoes).

Do LA! Who cares about these other cities?

Blue Water Grill (think there is one in NYC as well, but I heard the ambiance in the one here is a little fancier); Keefer's; Vivo; Nacional 27; Mambo Grill; Carnivale (Jerry Kleiner restaurants are always fun); Mercat a la Planxa. So many amazing restaurants here, it's hard to choose - many great places are outside of downtown and really wouldn't work for a summer associate lunch though

And I second the comment about the Kobe beef burger at Rockit - v. tasty.

SF < CHI < NY

If you want to go into a meat coma, head over to Brazzazz or across the street to Fogo de Chao.

Brazilian churascurrias = manly man's heaven.

It's not like you're going to do any work after lunch anyway.