The Most Unique Restaurants in Chicago
Lets Get Crazy and... EAT!
Look no further ravenous ladies and gentlemen, have I got a restaurant tour in store for you!
Maybe it's just me, (since I am a bit over-the-top myself), but whenever I'm about to explore a brand new city, I always, always search for the craziest, most bizarre, and most unique dining experiences I can possibly find! Chicago, home of the deep-dish and ‘dawgs’, is also home to the most amazing, fascinating and exotic dining experiences you will ever encounter. These unique Chicago restaurants are "crazy" and not in a "I'm about to eat a goat's head and cockroaches" kind-of-way but more so in an awe-inspiring and amazing way. Call it bizarre, crazy, delectable, atrocious, or even daylight robbery ($500 price tag sushi) but they are certainly the 4 most unique Chicago restaurants!
Get your napkins ready!
1. Alinea
How to describe the beauty of the great Alinea in mere words! Let's just say, if Bobby Flay's Bar American were a Coach bag, then the Alinea would be a one-of-a-kind alligator Hermes Birkin. There is nothing, NOTHING that can touch the expertise of Grant Achatz and his miraculous team. This is Not a restaurant folks, this is a museum, and rightly so.
You walk into Alinea, and you are served 20-something pre-planned plates of magic after magic. Each dish is artfully prepared with complicated instructions along with it. Imagine powdered Iberico ham, a ravioli flavor bomb of truffle emulsion, lemon soda powder, lots of liquid nitrogen and even a dish you chew up and spit back out. The restaurant doesn't have décor, each and every dish has its own décor! The dining experience is an absolute marvel. The holy grail of cuisine.
It will transform the way you eat, prepare and even think about food forever. Ready to be transformed?
Location: 1723 N Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: 312-867-0110
Cuisine: Modern American
Price: $$$$$
Parking: Valet
Attire: Formal (Jacket required!)
Reservations: Yes
Kids: No
Alcohol: Full Bar
Alinea's Unique Food & Restaurant
2. Hot Doug's
I know, I know, Hot Doug's is no haute cuisine, and you anticipated a decent amount of pretension in this list! Yes, there are no Parigi silk napkins from Armani but there IS a decent amount of disgustingly scrumptious grease and dawgs! (We are in Chicago folks.)
Have you ever had the urge to eat a celebrity? And in the form of an encased meat no less? Well, now you can. Take your pick of the Salma, Kiera or one of the many deliciously, luxurious flavors of Doug's. Luxury and Hot dogs? It can't be true! It's too gruesome! True indeed! Pick from the Cognac-Infused lamb, demi-glace venison with fig goat's butter, atomic rib-eye and elk! The big whammy and star of the show, are these *amazing* duck fat fries. Available ONLY Friday and Saturday's for the low price of $3.50!
Remember folks, this is a homey joint so CASH only!
Location: 3324 N California Ave Chicago, IL 60618
Phone: 773-279-9550
Cuisine: Fast Food
Price: $
Parking: Street
Attire: Casual
Reservations: No
Kids: Yes
Alcohol: None
Hot Doug's Hot Dogs!
3. Ed Debevic
Ed Debevic’s is a diner-must for those who love all things gimmicky. The place is done up in complete 1950’s glory, with outfits, paper hats and all. There is fifties tunes playing with typical kitschy décor and diner food. What makes this place unique?
The super duper, rude and obnoxious waitresses. They’ll snap at you, throw your receipt and talk back like no one’s business. If you walk in with an open-mind, a good sense of humor, then the verbal assaults and dancing waitresses will amuse you to no end. The food is what you’d expect from diner food, but the milkshake is fabulous! As a plus, there’s a photobooth to take black and white strip pictures!
Location: 640 N Wells St. Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312-664-1707
Cuisine: American
Price: $$
Parking: Lot
Attire: Casual
Reservations: Yes
Kids: A Must!
Alcohol: Wine & Beer Only
Food, Fighting and Fun!
Signature Room at the 95th
Location, location, location! It's what my mom always told me and I guess its true! The Signature Room at the 95th boasts a magnificent view! (Perfect for a romantic date/celebratory dinner). Although not renowned for their superb food, the view (360 degrees of the Chicago skyline) is absolutely gorgeous. I recommend going at night or right before sunset!
Go for drinks and dessert, because at night, you get a pianist thrown in for free! Where else can you go to sip mojitos 95 floors up watching the sunset over Chicago's skyscrapers? It's like getting the Eiffel Tower without buying a plane ticket to Paris! Last Note: Make sure you don't have a fear of heights!
Location: 875 N Michigan Ave. / John Hancock Center Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-787-9596
Cuisine: Modern American
Price: $$$
Parking: Garage
Attire: Dressy, Business-Casual
Reservations: Yes
Kids: No
Alcohol: Full Bar
Breathtaking Views - 95th Floor
Where is the Signature Room?
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