What are the names of any good dress down lunch restaurants in downtown Chicago?

Question

I am looking for a place to have lunch with some of my friends, where we don't have to get dressed up...(We can just wear casual clothes..) Also it would be best if the cuisine was American, and the location of the restaurant was downtown.. Any ideas or suggestions?

Answer 1

There are a lot of places downtown to eat casually.  Name any fast food place and you will find one.  There are also Chicago style hot dog shops and many delis.  Let me suggest something a little better though.  Try the restaurant at the top of Marshall Fields (now Macy's).  It is nice but not too fancy.

Answer 2

Bandera on Michigan & Ontario (might be a block south of Ont.) has good American lunch fare with a southwestern kinda twist on some items. Eleven in the South loop (11th &Wabash) is really good if you want something even more casual.

Answer 3

Here are some places I'd recommend:

If you're by southern Wacker (Sear Tower area), try Rivers (in the Chicago Mercantile Exchange building). They have excellent burgers, fries, and buffalo chicken sandwiches and right now they have private outdoor seating along the river and sets you back about $10-15/person.

In the 175 W Jackson building (Jackson/Wells), you have Poag's who have one of the best burgers in Chicago and wins annual city awards and contests for them. Free refills on sodas and also great salads to boot.

Over on the eastern side, on Wabash you have Exchequer. They're not as outstanding at Poag's or Rivers, but they're a great down to Earth pub that also does a pretty yummy pizza and have a lot of different sides and there's always plenty of speed/room during the lunchtime rush.

Down Michigan Ave by Congress is the Artist's Cafe which is largely staffed by local art school teachers (pretty interesting situation if you're an art student). They have top-notch standard American fare from philly cheese steaks to vegetarian burgers or big beer battered onion rings.

Answer 4

It's a little south of downtown, but Eleven Diner at 1112 S. Wabash is very good.

Answer 5

I think the Grand Lux Cafe would be fun for a lunch with friends! But it might be a little more spendy than you're thinking.

so...Al's #1 Italian Beef (169 W Ontario St)

Valois Restaurant (1518 E 53rd St)

A Taste of Heaven (5401 N Clark St)

Kroll's South Loop (1736 S Michigan Ave)

Answer 6

Heaven on Seven-111 N Wabash (across the street from the store formerly known as Marshall Fields)

That is just one of thousands of places downtown but I still keep going back.  Gotta have the Gumbo and a Cheddar Jalapeno corn muffin.  The soft shell po'boy is great.  Heck everything I have tried is good.

Answer 7

THE BERGOFF!

Answer 8

I agree with Heaven on Seven and the Grand Lux. Both places are casual and have excellent food.