Bandera

535 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 312-644-3524

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. Expect a crowd at this lunch hotspot. Bandera serves superb American fare, and the selection of entrees ranges from roast prime rib to jambalaya. Ask a local, and they'll likely tell you that neglecting Bandera's famous cornbread is an unforgivable mistake. The Western-style interior offers a cozy respite, especially on "brisk" winter afternoons. The authentic wood-burning stove is a nice touch.
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Bice Ristorante

158 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60611 312-664-1474

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. Italian management recreates Milan's original Bice at this Michigan Avenue outpost. The stylish place offers sleek Art Deco touches and attentive service. Try an authentic risotto, carpaccio of tuna or swordfish, Milanese veal chop, or a sampler of four delectable pastas. All desserts are made on the premises, and homemade gelato is particularly noteworthy. EL: Red Line to Grand/State
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Bistro 110

110 E Pearson St, Chicago, IL 60611 312-266-3110

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. This Continental classic has a popular jazz brunch on Sundays. Regulars line up year-round to sit at the outdoor tables (enclosed in winter) that boast lovely views of the famous Water Tower. Check the long chalkboard for info about the day's news, stock quotes, sports results, and lots of other useful facts. Cuisine includes favorites like pommes frites, wood-fired pizzas, and breakfast classics like omelets and eggs Benedict. Desserts are a highlight, as well. EL: Red Line to Chicago
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Boston Blackie's

164 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 312-938-8700

Description: RIVER NORTH. In the mood for a thick burger and a pile of fries washed down with a cold beer? Head to Boston Blackie's, where you won't find a hint of pretension. Here, the friendly waitstaff and bartenders happily serve up potato skins, onion rings, burgers, and bottled and on-tap beer to eager patrons. If you're planning on hanging out later in the evening, get there before 10pm ­ closing times can vary.
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Caliterra Bar & Grille

633 N St. Clair St, Wyndham Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611 312-274-4444

Description: STREETERVILLE. This hotel eatery's tasty menu adds Californian style to Italian standards. The seasonal menu changes each month, and on Sundays, the kitchen is abuzz preparing for an over-the-top Sunday brunch. Plus, live jazz can be heard in the Calittera Bar. If you're feeling indulgent, dine at the chef's table, which seats 18 amid racks of wine bottles. The full bar serves draft and bottled beers, Scotch, bourbon, and over 100 wine varieties.
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Deca Restaurant + Bar

160 E Pearson St, The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, 12th floor, Chicago, IL 60611 312-573-5160

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. This elegant, welcoming restaurant offers an inviting art-deco interior and a lovely view of Chicago's skyscrapers and the hotel fountain. As such, it's a charming spot throughout the day and night. The brasserie-inspired menu features an abundance of soups, salads, and appetizers; main courses include the Berkshire pork chop with buttered spaetzle, beef bourguignon and soft shell crab.
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Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop

830 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 312-337-9330

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. Famous Ghirardelli chocolate, made by the Italian chocolate maker, is served in upscale style at this Chicago favorite. The place serves plenty of ice cream drinks, along with amazing hot fudge sundaes and a dish called "Strike it Rich" that's as decadent as it sounds. This is also the perfect place to buy a souvenir; vast assortments of chocolates are boxed and ready to give ­ or keep.
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Indian Garden

247 E Ontario St, 2nd Flr, Chicago, IL 60611 312-280-4910

Description: STREETERVILLE. A wise and inexpensive lunch option, Streeterville's India Garden features a spicy repertoire of chicken, lamb, fish, and seafood dishes. House specialties include reshmi kebab (prepared in the tandoor oven) and fish goa curry served with basmati rice. Popular with the business crowd is the lunch buffet, which offers a diverse sampling of North Indian favorites. Vegetarian options are also available.
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Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

60 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 312-379-5637

Description: RIVER NORTH. This classic dinner club-style restaurant boasts a vaulted ceiling, dark wooden furniture, and excellent lighting, making it an ideal place for a power lunch or entertaining important clients. Partner of the famous Joe's Stone Crab in Miami, this River North gem features a selection of fresh seafood and steaks. Of course, rumor has it that the stone crab claws alone are worth the trip.
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NoMi

800 N Michigan Ave, Park Hyatt Chicago, 7th floor, Chicago, IL 60611 312-239-4030

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. This restaurant offers an impressive view of the city as well as an upscale, elegant environment. Start off with peeky toe crab salad or a scallop tart. Next, order monkfish brochette, wild striped bass, or even the always-enticing veal strip loin. A full bar offers a vast array of wines and liquors. For added glamour, experience the romance of outdoor terrace dining by candlelight when the weather's pleasant.
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Pizzeria Due

619 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 312-943-2400

Description: RIVER NORTH. Two true Chicago staples, Uno and Due, serve classic deep-dish pies and are the local shrines that started the Chicago-style phenomenon. Expect a crowd at either of these sibling pizzerias, and be prepared to wait. As you do, dream of a bacon cheeseburger pie, a shroom version, or the signature pizza, loaded with sausage, pepperoni, romano and mozzarella, and loads of veggies and tomato sauce. If, for some reason, you don't crave a pizza, consider burgers, salads, and everything from steaks to seafood and pastas.
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Pizzeria Uno

29 E Ohio, Chicago, IL 60611 312-321-1000

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. The place for Chicago-style pizza. Pizzeria Uno, while quintessentially American in theme and cuisine, deserves particular recognition for its fabulous thin-crust and deep-dish pizza pies, which send lunchtime crowds away full and happy. On the go? Check out their fabulous "Priority Lunches," which include everything from Chicken Spinoccoli (baked chicken and broccoli in pesto cream sauce) and classic Chicago pies to fish-and-chips and sirloin tips. If pizza isn't your bag, they also serve tasty sandwiches, burgers, and pastas.
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RL

115 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 312-475-1100

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. Owned by fashion guru Ralph Lauren, this contemporary American restaurant has a cosmopolitan air about it. Rich leather furniture, mahogany paneling, and chic African style prints define the decor. The menu is just as fashionable and features notable items like Alaskan halibut, jumbo sea scallops in a cucumber-tomato salad, Amish chicken, and grilled lamb.
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Rosebud on Rush

720 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611 312-266-6444

Description: RIVER NORTH. Basic Italian favorites in traditionally huge portions are what you'll find at this popular restaurant, which includes a breezy outdoor area, the Cocktails and Cabaret room downstairs, and the elegant upstairs room with an azure-blue domed ceiling and large windows looking out over the bustling street. On the menu you'll find great chops, steaks, garlicky rigatoni, veal, and a popular stuffed chicken concoction called Chicken Vesuvio. EL: Red Line to Chicago/State
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Sayat Nova

157 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611 312-644-9159

Description: RIVER NORTH. Armenian eats that can't be beat keep locals lining up at this East Ohio Street gem. The prices are just as good as the food and make for a great value, especially for midday diners. Kebabs, chops, baba ganouj, and hummus are just a few of the house specialties that await guests. Twice a month, DJs spin tunes, turning the unassuming eatery into a popular nightspot. A full bar serves bottled beer and wine.
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Shanghai Terrace

108 E Superior St, The Peninsula Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611 312-573-6695

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. Located on the hotel's fourth floor, this serene, elegant restaurant serves consistently delicious pan-Asian cuisine in a dining room that hearkens back to Shanghai in the early 20th century. Try dim sum at lunch or Cantonese steamed fish or wok-fried lobster for dinner. Outdoor seating on a lovely terrace is available seasonally.
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Signature Room at the 95th

875 N Michigan Ave, John Hancock Tower, Chicago, IL 60611 312-787-9596

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. If you haven't wined or dined at The Signature Room yet, your next trip will undoubtedly have to include this Chicago landmark. The high-stepping destination is a place not only to see and be seen but also to take in the beauty of the city with a 360-degree bird's eye view. Nurse a martini and laugh over the fact that you didn't make it to the Sears Tower. The menu features traditional American cuisine.
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The Capital Grille

633 N Saint Clair St, Chicago, IL 60611 312-337-9400

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. One of the many reasons The Capital Grille has become a carnivore's mecca for Chicagoans and visitors alike is the melt-in-your-mouth, dry-aged in-house beef. Everything from the signature Veal Chop with Roquefort butter sauce to Steak au Poivre with Courvoisier cream is tantalizing. "Wine Spectator" magazine granted The Grille a "Best of Award of Excellence" for their 300-bottle wine list. The decor is simple yet elegant with Tiffany lamps, sumptuous carpeting, rich brown and forest green hues, and large windows. A lovely wine room is available for private events and occasionally serves as an additional bar.
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The Lobby

108 E Superior St, The Peninsula Hotel, Chicago, IL 60611 312-573-6760

Description: RIVER NORTH. Come for breakfast, lunch, high tea, dinner, or dessert, and enjoy expansive views of the city's bustle from grandly proportioned windows. Extensive breakfast options range from traditional standards to decadent Nutella-stuffed French toast with banana brulee and "Nasi Goreng" Balinese fried rice with eggs and chicken satay. Live cello and piano music are available in the evenings. Note to chocolate-lovers: A buffet bar serves up the richest treats with coffees every Friday and Saturday night giving you energy to dance the night away while a contemporary jazz trio and singer perform.
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Volare

201 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 312-410-9900

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. If you find yourself in need of a little pampering, try this cozy Italian eatery, where white tablecloths, an open kitchen, crystal chandeliers, and superb service make you feel as if you've just returned home from the war. While most pastas are nothing short of excellent, risotto Volare and osso buco are worth special attention. During warmer months, ask for a sidewalk table.
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