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Eater’s Downtown Survival Guide

The Go-To Restaurants for Mindshare Chicago, June 2019 (2)

The Go-To Restaurants for Mindshare Chicago, June 2019

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Vernon Raineil Cenzon on Unsplash

Where to Eat Near Your Publicis Office

By Vox Creative
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By Vox Creative
Vernon Raineil Cenzon on Unsplash
This map was created just for you by Vox Media.

Working downtown means that you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to dining options. But that can also mean the potential for serious analysis paralysis: How do you decide? Luckily, we’ve done exhaustive research into this matter and are here to make sure you can eat well. Most of these spots can be found within a few blocks of the office, with a couple options a bit farther afield for days when you know that feedback on your new campaign won’t be coming in for a while. Besides, who couldn’t use a walk?

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Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe

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Whether you’re in to work early because of a client meeting or you never left (also because of a client meeting), you don’t want to miss the most important meal of the day. Wildberry covers all the breakfast bases, from homemade biscuits and gravy to red velvet french toast. But what Wildberry is really known for is its pancakes, so don’t overlook the Signature Berry Bliss, served with fresh berries, mascarpone, vanilla creme anglaise, and blackberry coulis.  

130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 938-9777
(312) 938-9777

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The Dearborn

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Need to take a client out? Celebrate a successful pitch? The Dearborn is where you want to be. The menu walks the line between decadent (hello, honey-lavender glazed duck breast) and down-home (housemade cheddar and chive milk bread), and all of it is straight-up delicious. The decor is fresh and modern, the wine list is stellar, and they have a whole section of the menu devoted to gin and tonics — what else could you need?

145 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 384-1242
(312) 384-1242

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Three Dots and a Dash

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Long day? Yeah, you deserve a drink. Preferably a strong one that also includes a dolphin made out of a banana. And an umbrella. And maybe a tropical flower. All of that and more can be yours at downtown’s best (and only) tiki bar! Three Dots is almost always packed, so get there early or make a reservation, and before you know it you’ll be sipping a classic Trader Vic Mai Tai, or the slightly less classic Aloha Felicia #3. There’s also a small selection of island-inspired finger foods to help soak up all the rum. Because there will be a LOT of rum.

435 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 610-4220
(312) 610-4220
View this post on Instagram

Tiki Twos-day.

A post shared by Three Dots and a Dash (@threedotsandadash) on

Also featured in:

Café Integral at Freehand Chicago

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Okay, avocado toast may be basic, but what about avocado toast made with dukkah, smoked olive oil, and pickled shallots on Publican sourdough? That’s what we thought. With its rotating pour-over selection that’s “specifically brewed to highlight the brightness of fine, hand-picked offerings made to order” and kabocha lattes, you might be tempted to dismiss Cafe Integral as hipster nonsense, but all of that will go out the window the moment you try one of its perfectly brewed drinks and house-made baked goods. Nothing wrong with a little nonsense every now and again, we say.

19 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 940-3699
(312) 940-3699

Pastoral

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Cheese. Wine. Bread. Charcuterie. If you need more than that to be happy, we’re not sure what to tell you. Pastoral’s Loop location is like walking into the biggest, most elaborate cheese plate you’ve ever seen, complete with everything from buttery raclette to funky stilton. Pick out your favorite items to do a self-styled picnic by the river, or go for one of their made-to-order sandwiches or salads. Wash it all down with an excellent selection of wines by the glass, and pretend you’re sitting next to the Seine instead of the El tracks.

131 N Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 454-2200
(312) 454-2200

Also featured in:

El Che Steakhouse & Bar

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Just outside the Loop but a lovely walk on a nice day, this Argentine open-fire steakhouse’s beautifully designed interior and stellar food make the trip more than worth it. Sit at the sleek black marble bar and sip a glass of malbec or a South America-inspired cocktail, or go with a group and share the parrillada board, which includes grilled beef short rib, flank steak, sweetbreads, morcilla, chorizo, and bone marrow, all cooked over an open flame before your eyes. Don’t skip dessert either — the buttery, crumbly alfajores are killer.

845 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 265-1130
(312) 265-1130

Also featured in:

Green Apple PHOever

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This food court restaurant may not look like much, but it serves possibly the best pho you’re going to find outside of Uptown. Its new location at Clark and Madison is slightly farther than it used to be when it was next door at Clark and Lake, but the extra few blocks are totally worth it for huge bowls of hot pho full of fresh meat and vegetables, as well as a good selection of Korean staples like bibimbap.

105 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 456-9995
(312) 456-9995

Two Zero Three Coffee & Wine Bar

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If you’re in search of a place where you can get both a cappuccino and a glass of cabernet, Two Zero Three is perfect. Located inside the Virgin Hotel, this cafe specializes in fun flavors of lattes like lavender-matcha and honey-ginger. There are plenty of outlets if you need to plug in a laptop or a phone, and their morning pastry menu transitions to cheese and charcuterie plates in the afternoon if you’re looking for something a little more wine-friendly.

203 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 940-4400
(312) 940-4400

MingHin Cuisine

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The original MingHin in Chinatown is a staple, so it only makes sense that the downtown outpost is just as incredible. Dim sum options like siu mai dumplings and fried turnip cake are available all day, while the dinner menu includes a Japanese seaweed salad and perfect Dungeness crab with salty egg yolk, among others. The cocktail list is something to behold — if you’re looking for SoCo Punch or a Midori Colada, MingHin has you covered.

333 E Benton Pl #300, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 228-1333
(312) 228-1333

Chicken with Fresh Mushroom

Posted by Ming Hin Cuisine on Tuesday, December 18, 2018

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Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe

130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

Whether you’re in to work early because of a client meeting or you never left (also because of a client meeting), you don’t want to miss the most important meal of the day. Wildberry covers all the breakfast bases, from homemade biscuits and gravy to red velvet french toast. But what Wildberry is really known for is its pancakes, so don’t overlook the Signature Berry Bliss, served with fresh berries, mascarpone, vanilla creme anglaise, and blackberry coulis.  

130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 938-9777
(312) 938-9777

The Dearborn

145 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60602

Need to take a client out? Celebrate a successful pitch? The Dearborn is where you want to be. The menu walks the line between decadent (hello, honey-lavender glazed duck breast) and down-home (housemade cheddar and chive milk bread), and all of it is straight-up delicious. The decor is fresh and modern, the wine list is stellar, and they have a whole section of the menu devoted to gin and tonics — what else could you need?

145 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 384-1242
(312) 384-1242

Three Dots and a Dash

435 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Long day? Yeah, you deserve a drink. Preferably a strong one that also includes a dolphin made out of a banana. And an umbrella. And maybe a tropical flower. All of that and more can be yours at downtown’s best (and only) tiki bar! Three Dots is almost always packed, so get there early or make a reservation, and before you know it you’ll be sipping a classic Trader Vic Mai Tai, or the slightly less classic Aloha Felicia #3. There’s also a small selection of island-inspired finger foods to help soak up all the rum. Because there will be a LOT of rum.

435 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 610-4220
(312) 610-4220
View this post on Instagram

Tiki Twos-day.

A post shared by Three Dots and a Dash (@threedotsandadash) on

Café Integral at Freehand Chicago

19 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611

Okay, avocado toast may be basic, but what about avocado toast made with dukkah, smoked olive oil, and pickled shallots on Publican sourdough? That’s what we thought. With its rotating pour-over selection that’s “specifically brewed to highlight the brightness of fine, hand-picked offerings made to order” and kabocha lattes, you might be tempted to dismiss Cafe Integral as hipster nonsense, but all of that will go out the window the moment you try one of its perfectly brewed drinks and house-made baked goods. Nothing wrong with a little nonsense every now and again, we say.

19 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 940-3699
(312) 940-3699

Pastoral

131 N Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60661

Cheese. Wine. Bread. Charcuterie. If you need more than that to be happy, we’re not sure what to tell you. Pastoral’s Loop location is like walking into the biggest, most elaborate cheese plate you’ve ever seen, complete with everything from buttery raclette to funky stilton. Pick out your favorite items to do a self-styled picnic by the river, or go for one of their made-to-order sandwiches or salads. Wash it all down with an excellent selection of wines by the glass, and pretend you’re sitting next to the Seine instead of the El tracks.

131 N Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 454-2200
(312) 454-2200

El Che Steakhouse & Bar

845 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607

Just outside the Loop but a lovely walk on a nice day, this Argentine open-fire steakhouse’s beautifully designed interior and stellar food make the trip more than worth it. Sit at the sleek black marble bar and sip a glass of malbec or a South America-inspired cocktail, or go with a group and share the parrillada board, which includes grilled beef short rib, flank steak, sweetbreads, morcilla, chorizo, and bone marrow, all cooked over an open flame before your eyes. Don’t skip dessert either — the buttery, crumbly alfajores are killer.

845 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 265-1130
(312) 265-1130

Green Apple PHOever

105 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60602

This food court restaurant may not look like much, but it serves possibly the best pho you’re going to find outside of Uptown. Its new location at Clark and Madison is slightly farther than it used to be when it was next door at Clark and Lake, but the extra few blocks are totally worth it for huge bowls of hot pho full of fresh meat and vegetables, as well as a good selection of Korean staples like bibimbap.

105 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 456-9995
(312) 456-9995

Two Zero Three Coffee & Wine Bar

203 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60601

If you’re in search of a place where you can get both a cappuccino and a glass of cabernet, Two Zero Three is perfect. Located inside the Virgin Hotel, this cafe specializes in fun flavors of lattes like lavender-matcha and honey-ginger. There are plenty of outlets if you need to plug in a laptop or a phone, and their morning pastry menu transitions to cheese and charcuterie plates in the afternoon if you’re looking for something a little more wine-friendly.

203 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 940-4400
(312) 940-4400

MingHin Cuisine

333 E Benton Pl #300, Chicago, IL 60601

The original MingHin in Chinatown is a staple, so it only makes sense that the downtown outpost is just as incredible. Dim sum options like siu mai dumplings and fried turnip cake are available all day, while the dinner menu includes a Japanese seaweed salad and perfect Dungeness crab with salty egg yolk, among others. The cocktail list is something to behold — if you’re looking for SoCo Punch or a Midori Colada, MingHin has you covered.

333 E Benton Pl #300, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 228-1333
(312) 228-1333

Chicken with Fresh Mushroom

Posted by Ming Hin Cuisine on Tuesday, December 18, 2018

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