Help with Chicago--O'Hare and Loop restaurant

[LHBryan]

I'm hoping some of the Chicago folks can give me some advice. Next Wednesday my parents are flying into Chicago, and DH and I are driving from WI to spend the day with them before we all drive back to WI together. When discussing our plans over the phone, we specifically talked about them flying Southwest into Midway. Much more manageable airport. Unfortunately, I just found out they're flying into O'Hare, so that's where we have to pick them up. I'm sure people drive to O'Hare all the time, but I fear the chaos, rush hour traffic (arrival 8:40am), and generally not being able to coordinate our plans so we can actually find one another. The info on O'Hare's website is not particularly detailed in this regard. As far as I can tell, our options are: 1) park in the hourly lot and meet them at baggage claim; 2) wait for them in the "cell phone parking lot," although I don't really understand how this works; or 3) tell them to meet us downtown (which I feel bad about doing b/c I just know they'll have tons of luggage). Any suggestions from those who have experience dealing with O'Hare?

Secondly, once we make it downtown and park, we're spending the day at the Art Institute. We'll probably grab lunch there, then look around Millenium Park around 4:30 or 5:00. I would like to be able to walk from Millenium Park to an early dinner before driving back to WI. An early dinner will also help us avoid the worst of rush hour traffic.

Any suggestions for dinner restaurants walking distance from AIC/MP? We don't mind walking several blocks or taking a short taxi ride, but we will have been on our feet all day, and I'm 7 months pregnant. In terms of cuisine, we all love food and are fairly open (although no Mexican or anything extremely "avant garde" for Dad). I'm looking for something nice and relaxing, but not too upscale or shi shi. Maybe French bistro-like? Another catch is I have gestational diabetes so I'd like to avoid the temptation of a menu dominated by large bowls of noodles.:)

TIA!

-Laura

[aggie94]

2) wait for them in the "cell phone parking lot," although I don't really understand how this works;

I know you asked specifically about O'Hare, which I am not familiar with, but the cell phone lot at Phoenix Sky Harbor works like this: there is a parking lot at the edge of the terminals (right as you drive into the airport) where you can pull in and wait (for free) without the traffic nazis coming around and telling you you have to move your car. There is also an electronic board there displaying arrival times. Once your guests (in this case, your parents) have picked up their luggage at baggage claim, they can call you on your cell phone and you can drive right over to their terminal and pick them up curbside. They're already there waiting, so you don't have to worry about circling around the terminal for fear of the traffic nazis, and you are also so close that they don't have to wait long outside on the curb. It's really very convenient.

[Grace]

Hi Laura

Since I live five minutes from O'Hare, my house is basically our "cell phone lot". :) But O'Hare is not a problem at all - don't be afraid! Although the traffic from O'Hare to downtown at 9 am will be a big pain. If you can find a place to go for breakfast or something (I could give you a suggestion) and then drive down around 10:30, that would make your life a lot more pleasant.

Anyhow, I would do the cell phone lot (editing to add, I just read Eva's post and I agree with everything she said). What I do when people come in, is I check the flight status on my computer, then my party calls me when they touch down. That's when I leave my house. By the time they get to baggage claim and pick up their luggage, I'm there. Then I tell them to call me again and tell me which door they will be coming out of. The doors are marked with the terminal number and door number, (ie. Door 1A is terminal 1, the first door, A. 1G is still terminal 1, but the last door of the terminal). Once they get to baggage claim, they'll be able to look up above the door right next to the baggage claim they'll be standing at and be able to tell you which door very easily. The doors are marked from the outside as well, so you'll be able to look up along the curbside area for the door numbers. The cops won't let you stop and wait anymore (they used to), so if they're not standing out there when you drive up, you'll have to circle around. But really, that's not that big of a deal at all.

And I have to say I COMPLETELY disagree with you about Midway. I HATE that airport. I refuse to fly in and out of it. Perhaps it's smaller, but the way in and out from the street is very confusing, and it's so much farther from where you are coming!

Anyhow, as I mentioned, I would then find a place for breakfast and wait until the rush hour has cleared up before getting on the highway downtown.

I don't have any particular recommendations for an early dinner other than say Reza's (middle eastern), but that's not near Millenium park, although you could drive there (there is metered street parking all around it - you wouldn't have to pay for another garage) and it's right next to the entrance ramp to the 90W back to WI. Maybe some others will have better ideas (although Reza's is one of my all time favorites). We don't eat out downtown very often at all.

Enjoy your trip! And don't stress out about O'Hare. It's easy. :)

[Kristal]

Although I always fly into O'Hare over Midway, I wouldn't consider myself an "expert" on it since I usually take a taxi or public transportation back home. Of the options you listed, I would probably park in the temporary lot and meet your parents at baggage claim. My mom flew in to Chicago for a few hours one time, and we met her in baggage claim and grabbed a quick bite to eat there. It was pretty easy.

As for restaurants, here are some that are relatively close (within half a mile) to the Art Institute. I haven't been to any of them, so I can't tell you if they are good or not. Hopefully you will find something. :)

http://www.rhapsodychicago.com/cuisine/

http://www.riversrestaurant.com/default.php

http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.display&pageid=96&id=87

http://www.southwaterkitchen.com/

http://www.312chicago.com/

http://www.ariachicago.com/

http://www.atwoodcafe.com/

http://www.catch35.com/

http://www.customhouse.cc/

http://www.lastradaristorante.com/

http://lloydschicago.com/

http://www.porterssteakhouse.com/

http://www.leye.com/restaurants/rest_home.jsp?id=33

http://www.ristorantewe.com/

[Grace]

Coming back to add, Kristal's idea of parking and meeting them at baggage claim and getting some breakfast there is a really good one. The traffic out of O'Hare at that hour is frustrating. Anything you can do to stay out of it until around 10:00 or 10:30 would be a great idea.

[Kristal]

Coming back to add, Kristal's idea of parking and meeting them at baggage claim and getting some breakfast there is a really good one. The traffic out of O'Hare at that hour is frustrating. Anything you can do to stay out of it until around 10:00 or 10:30 would be a great idea.


I was just going to come back and say Grace would know better than I! :D (And I totally agree with you about Midway; I hate that airport, too.)

I will say the dining options at O'Hare are extremely limited. In fact, I think you can only eat at the Hilton once you've reached baggage claim. We had breakfast there, and it was pretty bad. But if you just want to kill some time and wait until the traffic eases up a bit, it might be your best bet.

[Grace]

Yes, Kristal's right, and that's why I didn't really mention it as an option before (parking and staying at O'Hare), but it really might be easiest.

Alternatively, you could drive out of O'Hare, and get off at River Rd (just barely off O'Hare property and before you actually enter the main highway - 90E to downtown). There are lots of hotels there with restaurants for breakfast.

There's the Hyatt, Westin, Doubletree, Hotel Sofitel (I think they have good croissants and coffee there!) as well as the Embassy Suites, all up and down the same short stretch of River Rd. So that might be a good option as well.

[sillybeans]

You actually might want to consider parking at the River Road (?) Park and Ride and taking the El into the city. I don't drive so I don't know the latest status on this, but last week the Dan Ryan was down from 8 lanes to 1, and traffic was backed up halfway to the Wisconsin boarder.

Frankly, I live downtown and pretty mych avoid driving at all costs--I even go to the grocery store at 8 am because it seems like traffic always sucks.

Of the restaurants on Kristal's list, I'd recommend Catch 35 (35 W. Wacker) for some of the best seafood in Chicago. Atwood Cafe is closer to the AI/MP and wonderful as well. Another spot I like is Trattoria 10, at 10 N. Dearborn, downstairs. Yummy Italian, with ravioli the house specialty.

For French Bistro, you could take a cab to Brasserie Jo on Hubbard, then grab a cab back to the Grand Ave. blue line El stop.

Grace and Kristal--I have to add that I DESPISE Midway as well! OMG! I can't believe I finally found other people who don't like it! The walk to the train is about 3 miles long, and there's no decent food options. And all that stuff about how they're always on time? Today the delays are worse than O'Hare's.

HTH,
Tracy

[ChristyMarie]

I don't mind Midway at all, but I'm much closer to O'hare. Oh well. And come on, Harry Carry's at Midway? Decent airport food. :D

With both of you being unused to O'Hare and there's some construction that has blocked some of the exits, I would park in the close, hourly garage and meet your parents at baggage claim. A little more walking and cost but probably easier overall.

[Grace]

You actually might want to consider parking at the River Road (?) Park and Ride and taking the El into the city. I don't drive so I don't know the latest status on this, but last week the Dan Ryan was down from 8 lanes to 1, and traffic was backed up halfway to the Wisconsin boarder.



This is another great idea I hadn't thought of. I obviously don't use Chicago public transportation much! :o But I don't drive much either - my car is a 1999 Honda and it only has 56K miles on it.

But anyway, the traffic backup because of the Dan Ryan is something I forgot about and will make the already terrible drive I mentioned even worse. I would choose this option for sure, especially because the parking at the River Rd. lot is a million times cheaper than downtown parking would be. All around a much easier and cheaper way to go.

[Krysia1031]

Sillybeans - great suggestions! If you don't want to drive down, you could take the El (CTA train - Blue line). The Blue line actually begins from O'hare airport, but I'm nots ur ehow much parking there costs. If you hop onto to River Rd. to get some breakfast, the Rosemont station (located along River Rd) is right there. http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/rail/rail.html
Trains usually run every 7 - 10 minutes and it would take you downtown in approx. 40-50 minutes. You could get off at the Washington stop, which would put you at Dailey Plaza (Washington and Dearborn) literally in the middle of downtown. Millenium Park is a 3 block walk from there and you also do some shopping along State Street if you wanted to. You would literally be right in front of Marshall Fields...sorry Macys (whatever I still can't get used to that).

(Train fare - one way $2.00 per person. Parking at Rosemont station is $3.00 for 18 hourse).

Restaurants - Love love love Catch 35, very fresh seafood. Atwood Cafe also very inviting and close to the park (2 blocks) and also close to the Washington train station if you decide to go that route. There is also an awesome group of restaurants, that include a French Bistro (one of my favs) called Marche, but there is also Red Light (asian) and Gioco (italian), also great. http://www.marche-chicago.com/

[EDA0805]

I lived in Chicago for four years, and though it's been another four years since that time, I still have some favorites:

To begin with, I prefer Midway to O'Hare. Food-wise, Potbelly is there and that's a fast, easy, DELICIOUS lunch. Oh how I wish they'd put one in my city.

I worked in the Bloomingdales building which is farther north than you might want to go, but in that area there's a L'Appetito in the Hancock building (Italian deli, sandwiches). I think there's one in the south loop as well. Their chicken salad is really good. If you can wait to eat lunch until you get to the city, that's a good choice.

For seafood I liked Shaw's, though you may not be eating much of that since you're pregnant (I'm also about 7 months along). Maybe this is a cheesy suggestion since it's a chain, but I always liked Wildfire. Their steaks were good, as were their mashed potatoes and salad. I tended to eat out mostly in Lincoln Park, where I lived. I'd have a bunch of rec's for you if you were interested in that area!

[LHBryan]

You guys are terrific! I can't thank you enough for all this helpful info. You've eliminated my fear of O'Hare and never being able to find my parents. (I've driven to Midway once and agree it's a complete pain, but have no experience with O'Hare whatsoever. My bias stems from DH, who recalls a much smaller, early 1990s version of Midway.)

We all prefer to use mass transit, so I think we'll try that, especially since we'll be able to lock my parents' luggage in the trunk. I'm sort of spacy these days and am not sure why I didn't think of this option. Spending hours in traffic on the Dan Ryan, then hunting for a garage downtown, paying $40 to park, etc. would really spoil the fun. And, I'm so short-fused as a pregnant woman!:o So, the current plan is to meet them at baggage claim, drive to River Rd. for cofffee and snack at Hotel Sofitel, then take the El downtown. (Thanks for the links!) This will also help M&D feel more comfortable using transit on their own when they go back to Chicago for a few days at the end of their trip.

The restaurant recommendations sound perfect. I can't wait to check out their websites. Grace, I'm saving your Reza's suggestion for when DH and I are there with a car. We're always talking about how much we miss Middle Eastern food and how we haven't been able to find a good place up here!

Thank you again!:)
-Laura

[Grace]

Spending hours in traffic on the Dan Ryan, then hunting for a garage downtown, paying $40 to park, etc. would really spoil the fun.

Your plan sounds like a great one! And just FYI, the highway you would have driven (and the one you will be going along on the EL train) is the Kennedy. The Kennedy goes from O'Hare to downtown. Once it passes through downtown and continues south and east, it is called the Dan Ryan. That's the part that's under construction, but backs the whole system up all the way back through the Kennedy. Not that it matters what it's called, but just so you know where you are and if you talk to anyone about directions, you won't get confused. If you did drive, you wouldn't actually have ever gotten on the Dan Ryan - you would have exited before the Dan Ryan.

But anyway, I hope you have a great day in Chicago! :) I hope you have great weather too. It's usually pretty hit or miss, but being from Wisconsin, you're used to that too I guess.

[tyroleancutie]

Laura, unfortunatley our school restaurant is closed next week otherwise I would have recommended the place for a late lunch :)