Restaurant Recommendations for Chitcago

[E4 No More]

My grandson is graduating from the Navy's boot camp on Friday, February 4th. I'm looking for restaurant recommendations for the Chitcago area, (yes, I know I'm risking my life). Preferably, not a chain restaurant, or a place that specializes in fish.

[MacGyver]

Of course the pizza is good if that’s your thing. Giordano’s is good.  Lou Malnati’s is the one I’d pick  

Its not fancy, but it’s always good.  There’s a Weber restaurant downtown.  They cook over the biggest kettle grills you’ve ever seen. 

[kvmx00]

+1 for Lou Malnati's, love their "Crustless" pizza.

[joe4vol]

Giordano’s is across the street form the Willis Tower if you go there. 
My son and graduated about 10 or 11 years ago and I didn’t feel unsafe anywhere that we went. Stayed in Lincolnshire. Went downtown on the train and passed through neighborhoods that didn’t look safe. 

[E4 No More]

1 hour ago, joe4vol said:

Giordano’s is across the street form the Willis Tower if you go there. 
My son and graduated about 10 or 11 years ago and I didn’t feel unsafe anywhere that we went. Stayed in Lincolnshire. Went downtown on the train and passed through neighborhoods that didn’t look safe. 

Heck, it wasn't that long ago that someone was murdered on one of those trains by a stray bullet.

[GlockSpock]

3 hours ago, MacGyver said:

Of course the pizza is good if that’s your thing. Giordano’s is good.  Lou Malnati’s is the one I’d pick  

Its not fancy, but it’s always good.  There’s a Weber restaurant downtown.  They cook over the biggest kettle grills you’ve ever seen. 

A Weber restaurant. Now I’m interested. 

[Luckyforward]

Congrats to your grandson and to your family!

[OldIronFan]

If you are looking for pizza Pequod's Pizza is the place to go. I spent about two months trying them all. I was flying into Chicago on Sunday or Monday, working the week, and flying back out on Thursday or Friday so I had plenty of time to try them all. Pequod's was one of those places that combined everything to achieve the best all around pie but did so with the second best of each key area. They had the second best crust, the second best tomato character, the second best sausage, and the right amount of cheese and other toppings. All of those second bests combined to hit it out of the park. It is a dive of a place though. 

Lou Malnati's has some of the best crust but lacks in many other areas. 
Giordano's has some of the best sausage out there but their crust is doughy, thick and not that appealing plus they load it up with too much cheese which muddles the flavors. 
Gino's East has some of the freshest best tasting tomato character and is a solid all around good pie but not the top of the list. 
Bartoli's and My Pi were good but not that memorable honestly. Bartoli's did have a nice crust. 

If you are not after Pizza there is always 
Gibson's Bar & Steakhouse or Gene & Georgetti's which are Chicago standards that never disappointed me. 

[FUJIMO]

Salernos Chicago for pizza and lasagna

Smoque for BBQ

They also have a couple good bakeries

congrats and enjoy the trip!

[Johnny Rotten]

John Handcock building top floor, Signature Room...