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[punchnpie]

I looked around but only found an old thread on dining in Chicago, so don't send me to the search engine.

3 questions:

1) I'm going to the Palmer House next month. I'm tempted to eat in their restaurant just because it's convenient, but have also traveled enough to know that big name hotel restaurants can be a disappointment. Anybody eat at the Lockwood restaurant?

2) Are there any good veg*n restaurants near the Palmer House? Again, I don't want to go miles away just to eat bad tofu when I can have a decent salad in the hotel and stay near the conference.

3) Anybody have dinner at Heaven on 7th lately? I'm seeing mixed reviews online.  I've enjoyed my experiences there, but they were >10 years ago and back when I ate meat. Is this a no go now for a vegan?

I'm dining on the university's dime, so as long as I stay within their generous per diem, price is no object. I'm not going to drink, so a restaurant's wine selection, etc. is of no interest.

Thanks.

[scampster]

I've never been, but a friend raves about the Green Zebra in Chicago (for vegetarian fare):

http://www.greenzebrachicago.com/

[mignon]

There's good veg Indian food within walking distance--can't remember the restaurant name, but ask the concierge.

[sugaree]

There aren't too many great restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the Palmer House. The Gage on Michigan Ave. is around the corner and is excellent, but I don't know about its vegetarian options? There is a trio of Italian restaurants (Italian Village) just west of the Palmer on Monroe that you might be tempted to try, but don't! They are NOT GOOD (imo, of course).

[punchnpie]

Thanks, all, for the suggestions and warnings. I like Indian food, if I don't feel I'm overpaying for rice and lentils, so the Indian place might be a good choice.  The Green Zebra website looked interesting, but it seemed far from the hotel. It's hard to tell what a cab is going to cost, but I can ask the concierge.

[zuzu_]

If I were you, I'd just go get a deep dish cheese pizza at Giordano's.

[punchnpie]

No cheese, vegan (and lactose intolerant, I'd be sick all night). Will they make one w/just the tomato sauce and veggies?

[zuzu_]

No cheese, vegan (and lactose intolerant, I'd be sick all night). Will they make one w/just the tomato sauce and veggies?

Ooops. Although you clearly wrote "vegan" several times, for some reason I was thinking "vegetarian." Obviously. They do have deep fried mushrooms and zucchini fritters.

[punchnpie]

Apparently they also have something called 'stuffed pizza.' Jebus. I've dropped about 25 lbs since going vegan, I'd be big as a house if I started eating that stuff again, but boy, it sure looks good!

[stanwyck]

You might send a tweet to @Rick_Bayless and ask him if there are vegan option at Frontera Grill, Topolo, or his newest place, XOCO.  They are all on N. Clark Street, not too many blocks up from where you'll be staying.  I know he's very open to (and even excited about) altering menu items to be vegetarian.  He might have some vegan possibilities.  He's pretty good about answering his tweets, but I suppose you could call any of the three restaurants, too.

[punchnpie]

I never thought about Bayless and Chicago. That would be a great treat! Thanks for the suggestion.

[msparticularity]

You might send a tweet to @Rick_Bayless and ask him if there are vegan option at Frontera Grill, Topolo, or his newest place, XOCO.  They are all on N. Clark Street, not too many blocks up from where you'll be staying.  I know he's very open to (and even excited about) altering menu items to be vegetarian.  He might have some vegan possibilities.  He's pretty good about answering his tweets, but I suppose you could call any of the three restaurants, too.

Frontera does have vegan options at lunch, at least--although I was there in the early summer and the menu rotates seasonally, so you'll want to call and double-check once you're in town. And the fabulous margaritas were vegan, of course! :) Another possibility is the lovely restaurant at the Art Institute for terrific soups and salads (again seasonal, so check). Also, and even more vitally for me, there is an Intelligentsia Coffee a couple of blocks away--on Randolph, I think?

If you are with a group and want to go a little farther (but still within walking distance), the Greek restaurants surrounding Jackson and Halstead are terrific. Most are seafood and/or meat oriented, of course, but there are also a number of vegan items on the menu--and you can ask for the feta to be left off of the salads, of course.

[helpful]

There is a great Cajun place upstairs in an office building and not far from Palmer House. I remember the hot sauce jars on the wall.

Then again, is there such a thing as Cajun Vegan?

[madhatter]

There is a great Cajun place upstairs in an office building and not far from Palmer House. I remember the hot sauce jars on the wall.

Then again, is there such a thing as Cajun Vegan?

You're thinking of Heaven on Seven, which had a few locations in the city, last time I checked. It's pretty good.

[tuxedo_cat]

I've never been, but a friend raves about the Green Zebra in Chicago (for vegetarian fare):

http://www.greenzebrachicago.com/

Pretty expensive, not a lot of food (dishes are more like tapas plates, I believe), but very hip.  You go for the experience -- I enjoyed it a lot, but I wouldn't want to drop that kind of money for vegetarian food too often.  They do have non-vegetarian options, too.

Check out this site for great info, and very searchable, for restaurant info in Chicago:

http://chicago.metromix.com/restaurants

I wouldn't trust everything posted on this site -- owners and their friends likely post stuff.  But you can search for specific neighborhoods and cuisines very easily.  And they do post actual restaurant reviews from local papers and Chicago magazine, which is definitely more reliable info.  Have fun!