Las Vegas is definitely a city where there is food everywhere you turn. There are super extravagant and off the wall restaurants that you can find in the world but what about the regular restaurants? Surely the locals can’t eat at these types’ of restaurants every day or else that would lead to a super expensive lifestyle.
Andiron Steak & Sea: Has been seen as one of the best places to get brunch in town. Andiron is recognized as one of Downtown Summerlin’s premier restaurants, and in this upscale new complex, that designation is impressive considering the number of good eateries to choose from. The team behind Andiron includes Kim Canteenwalla and Elizabeth Blau, long-time Las Vegas residents who’ve built restaurants all over the world. The elegantly designed restaurant is both beautiful and comfortable, providing the perfect backdrop to the wonderful food. The menu features a wide selection of quality steaks and seafood, an ice bar, and side dishes that perfectly complement the main entrees. A bar menu is also available and offers small plates like black truffle fries, crispy calamari, and sliders.
Ferraro’s: This is a restaurant is where locals go to have the most authentic Italian food next to going to Italy that is. This restaurant has the true motto of when you’re here your family because the owner goes out of his way to make sure that every single customer feels like they are at home. A Las Vegas favorite for almost 30 years, this family-owned restaurant is famous for its fine Italian cuisine created from time-honored family recipes. House-made sausages, family-recipe meatballs, and legendary Osso Buco are prepared from all-natural meats. Safe Harbor Certified seafood and freshly made pastas and sauces provide the foundation of Ferraro’s lunch, dinner and late-night menus. Many of its mouthwatering dishes can be made gluten-free, and gluten-free pasta and pizzaares available for an additional charge. Whole wheat pasta is available, too, and all of the pastas are house-made every day. For dessert, be sure to try the classic Tiramisu; crepes with Nutella, Mascarpone, a hint of orange zest and gelato or the Cioccolatissimo, hazelnut chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, ice cream and yogurt.
é by José Andrés: This restaurant is a secret gem and is a restaurant within a restaurant which can in a sense make it a little harder to find. Seating just nine people and with no set menu, é by celebrity chef José Andrés crafts a modern, intricately detailed avant-garde multi-course meal that tells a story like only a Las Vegas restaurant can. Sponsored by Visit Las Vegas.
The city of Chicago has been mainly been known for the violence that erupts throughout the city which causes people that to be scared to even visit. With the city being under constant scrutiny it’s hard to see or hear the good that there actually is in the great Windy City. Ranked as one of the top ten food places in America by the Washington post the cities great culinary qualities are often overshadowed by the culinary genius that is Chicago. The city has a lot to offer in many different aspects that need to shine just a little brighter for the rest of the world to see. There a lot of hidden gems in Chicago you just have to be willing to find them.
One of the best-kept secrets of the city of Chicago is definitely the locally infamous Chicago mild sauce. Now when it comes to the aloof condiment most Chicago natives don’t know how the sauce came to be they just know that life wouldn’t be the same without it. This sauce has been a hidden Windy City gem for about 54 years now. The creator, however, can be debated with some people arguing that the restaurant Uncle Remus created the sauce while others say that it was started at Harold’s Fish and Chicken shack. No matter where it started the sauce has been a staple ever since. With currently living in Georgia mild sauce isn’t the same as Chicago mild sauce making me miss it a lot and I had to put it on my food list for when I came back to visit. Honestly, I missed the sauce so much I bought a gallon of it just so that I could always have a piece of it while at home.
This sauce can be found at just about any restaurant in the city especially when it comes to the restaurants that sell fried fish and chicken. What is in this sauce? No one really knows due to it not being sold in stores but also no one cares too much. I believe that it is due to the mystery of just not knowing what is in this sauce and being able to guess the ingredients has definitely contributed to its longevity of the sauce other than its great taste. One of the key ingredients of the sauce that everyone knows that one of the main ingredients is barbecue sauce. KaNesha McGee, a Chicago native, says “Mild sauce is a taste that you can’t explain because there isn’t another taste quite like it which is why we love it so much. You should definitely put trying mild sauce on your Windy City bucket list, trust me your taste buds will thank you and be forever grateful that you did.
Now the city isn’t just about the mild sauce there are restaurants that everyone can enjoy, and you are guaranteed not to find anywhere else. With over half of the city being different ethnicities there are a lot of fusions of cultures in every part of the city. The city has a restaurant for every taste bud and palate so there is absolutely no reason for anyone to go hungry. These restaurants range from weird to ethnic and will definitely leave you wanting for more when you leave.
Vermiliona Latin- Indian restaurant that fuses the two countries known for their spicy cuisines and comes up with a delectable combination that doesn’t disappoint. Two entrees that are a must try are the Chicken Tikka Masala and Tandoori Skirt Steak. For those who have different dietary needs, there are vegan options available and the desserts are absolutely to die for. This restaurant located at 10 W Hubbard has been named one of the best restaurants in the city by different journalists and critics.
Parachute Chicagolocated at 3500 N Elston Ave is a Korean- New American fusion location located near the Avondale neighborhood. This restaurant is like down south cooking meets traditional Korean cuisine that has been driving its customers wild. The most popular dish is the Baked Potato Bing Bread. The potato bread is baked with bacon, scallions, and cheddar cheese and brushed with sesame oil before its skillet fried and oven baked.
The only restaurant in Chicago with “Macanese” food is Fat Rice. Their menu consists of a fusion of cuisine from Macau (the Portuguese province of China) along with Chinese and Portuguese if you are looking to try something new then look no further than the Arroz Gordo or “Fat Rice in English. The dish is similar to paella and is usually reserved for special celebrations in Macau. The bottom layer is made up of jasmine rice is mixed so Frito, chorizo, and salted duck and is topped with curried thighs, char Siu pork, linquica sausage, jumbo prawns, manila clams, tea eggs, croutons, Portuguese olives, pickled chilies. Sauces (mushroom soy and diablo hot sauce) are served on the side. This located at 2957 W Diversy.
Grace is one of the top African restaurants in the city where no matter who you are you are treated like family. Located in Uptown/Edgewater neighborhood this restaurant specializes in bringing traditional Ghanaian home cooking to the city of Chicago. Their fried plantains are to die for and the fufu and soup never disappoints. Although Grace has temporarily closed due to the untimely passing of the owner there has been talks to open this delectable restaurant back up so when it does make sure that you are one of the first people in line.
In most Chicagoans opinion it is a lot better to go to restaurants like these instead of the big chain restaurants. Chessica Doss, a Chicago native, describes the feeling that she gets from these restaurants as having a sense of family. Most natives will say that this is something that you just cannot get from big chain restaurants because there are always more rules and regulations around how to treat the customers that they lose sight of the personal effect that needs to come along with it. Each restaurant has something that makes them stand out from the rest. Some succeed in this effort while others fall by the wayside never to be remembered. With there already being so many different things that make the city of Chicago stand out from the rest like the bean or the music the restaurants have to stand out as well. Between having dinner in a train car to eating without any utensils at all these restaurants take the cake on having some of the most out their themes that you just have to experience at least once in your life. These are just a few of the amazingly different and delicious restaurant that you can only get in the Windy City.
To find out more about these restaurants as well as other different restaurants in the Windy City or other restaurants around the world follow me on all my pages listed below.
Each restaurant has something that makes them stand out from the rest. Some succeed in this effort while others fall by the wayside never to be remembered. With there already being so many different things that make the city of Chicago stand out from the rest like the bean or the music the restaurants have to stand out as well. Between having dinner in a train car to eating without any utensils at all these restaurants take the cake on having some of the most out their themes that you just have to experience at least once in your life. According to Thrillist.com these are the most unique restaurants in the city of Chicago.
All aboard this 40’s style dining car to The Silver Palm and enjoy a dining experience that you can’t get anywhere else. One of the best items on the menu is the artery-clogging 3 Piggy, piled with smoked ham, pork tenderloin, bacon, melted Gruyere, an onion ring, and a fried egg. Start or end your meal at the adjacent the Matchbox, the lives-up-to-its-name tiny bar with delicious, affordable, and fiercely strong cocktails.
El Ideas will definitely have you licking your plate when you visit. In the little-known suburb of Douglas Park sits a wildly different restaurant that turns fine dining on its head. This restaurant has absolutely no silverware at all. This restaurant’s sole purpose is to be different in every way and it shows that by being located in an unmarked building. The tasting menu-only, 24-seat restaurant opens into the kitchen, encouraging guests to converse with the chefs as they prepare inventive, modern American dishes like French fries and ice cream — a composed, liquid nitrogen-kissed dish of potato, leek, and vanilla — and wagyu-beet pierogi with dill and sour cream.
This next restaurant takes the term using every part of the animal literally. Frontier is definitely a carnivore dream when it comes to their menu ever bit of the animal is used from head to tail. On the menu, there are preparations of 10 proteins ranging from roasted goat to smoked free-range pig, salt-crusted salmon and even alligator stuffed with whole chickens. This restaurant is located in the suburb of West Town in Chicago.
As you can see these restaurants go beyond the realm of what you would typically think of when you hear the word fine dining. No doubt when you leave these restaurants you will be telling all of your friends and family and making plans to go back.
Every city has their own foods that you can only find by going there and the city of Chicago is definitely no exception to this. There are a lot of foods that are staples when you think about the Windy City like the famous Chicago deep dish pizza and Garret’s popcorn that helped put the city on the map when it comes to being a culinary hub. Now that these have been widely spread throughout the country there are more foods that are unique only to the city of Chicago. Here are some more great foods for you to try on your next visit to the city.
The Rainbow Cone at The Original Rainbow Cone located at 9233 S Western Ave. is one of the best spots to get ice cream in the city. The Rainbow cone is their signature menu item that is a variation of flavors that don’t seem as if they work together until you try it. The Rainbow cone is chocolate, strawberry, Palmer house, pistachio, and orange sherbet ice cream stacked on top of each other that will keep your taste buds on their toes.
The Mac at Cheesie’s is a late-night snack that has all of the college kids going crazy. The Mac is American cheese, Merkt’s cheddar and homemade macaroni and cheese on Texas toast with a Tomato soup dipping sauce. There are four locations throughout the city including a food truck that is available for catering orders.
Next, up would be the behemoth Marshmallow Sunday from Margie’s Candies at either location at the 1960 Western Ave. or the Montrose address. Margie’s is a true Chicago institution dating back to 1921. Sit in the same chair where gangster Al Capone enjoyed homemade ice cream and toppings. Marshmallow is the best addition to any one of Margie’s 13 ice cream flavors.
One of my personal favorites would definitely be the Italian beef from Portillo’ There are several locations throughout the city and no matter what time you go there will always be a long line of cars waiting to order at the restaurant. The Italian beef is thinly sliced and served on freshly baked Turano French bread. There are many ways to order an Italian beef sandwich. The standard sandwich is served by splashing a bit of our flavorful, secretly-spiced gravy on it. Some like their sandwich “dipped,” which means we dip the whole sandwich in our gravy. You can also order it “dry,” with very little gravy.
The city of Chicago is a big melting pot that a lot of people don’t see when they visit. With over half of the city being different ethnicities there are a lot of fusions of cultures in every part of the city. The city has a restaurant for every taste bud and palate so there is absolutely no reason for anyone to go hungry. These restaurants range from weird to ethnic and will definitely leave you wanting for more when you leave.
Vermilion– This is a Latin- Indian restaurant that fuses the two countries known for their spicy cuisines and comes up with a delectable combination that doesn’t disappoint. Two entrees that are a must try are the Chicken Tikka Masala and Tandoori Skirt Steak. For those who have different dietary needs, there are vegan options available and the desserts are absolutely to die for. This restaurant is located at 10 W Hubbard.
Parachute Chicago- This restaurant located at 3500 N Elston Ave is a Korean- New American fusion location located near the Avondale neighborhood. This restaurant is like down south cooking meets traditional Korean cuisine that has been driving its customers wild. The most popular dish is the Baked Potato Bing Bread. The potato bread is baked with bacon, scallions, and cheddar cheese and brushed with sesame oil before its skillet fried and oven baked.
The only restaurant in Chicago with “Macanese” food is Fat Rice. Their menu consists of a fusion of cuisine from Macau (the Portuguese province of China) along with Chinese and Portuguese if you are looking to try something new then look no further than the Arroz Gordo or “Fat Rice in English. The dish is similar to paella and is usually reserved for special celebrations in Macau. The bottom layer is made up of jasmine rice is mixed sofrito, chorizo, and salted duck and is topped with curried thighs, char siu pork, linquica sausage, jumbo prawns, manila clams, tea eggs, croutons, Portuguese olives, pickled chilies. Sauces (mushroom soy and diabo hot sauce) are served on the side. This located at 2957 W Diversy.
Grace- Grace is one of the top African restaurants in the city. Located in Uptown/Edgewater neighborhood this restaurant specializes in bringing traditional Ghanaian home cooking to the city of Chicago. Their fried plantains are to die for and the fufu and soup never disappoints.
Life with Iris 