We’ve all been there. It’s lunchtime and you’re starving, or you just left work and you’ve got 45 minutes before your networking event. Or maybe you have friends visiting Chicago and you all have different food cravings. Or worse yet – you are all indifferent and no one will make a decision and you are slowly falling into an apathetic black hole of hanger.
That last one is usually me.
Well, lucky for you, Chicago is home to an abundance of people-pleasing collections of bomb-dot-com food halls and eateries that offer multiple options – some within the same genre of food, some different – for all your dietary wants. Check out this list of 3 places to eat in Chicago when you don’t feel like making decisions!
Revival Food Hall – 125 S. Clark St.
This newer Chicago establishment is basically Lollapalooza for some of the most trendy food spots in the city. Offerings include everything from Aloha Poke Co to Antique Taco, to Brown Bag Seafood Co to Furious Spoon Ramen. Throw in the HotChocolate Bakery by Mindy’s Hot Chocolate and the in-house Revival Café-Bar and you will not have a reason to leave (except for maybe that next meeting!)
- Hours: Mon – Fri 7 AM – 7 PM (Read: closed Sat & Sun)
- Breakfast? Yes
- Cocktails/Happy Hour? Yes - bar is open until 9 PM M-F
- Parking Sitch: limited street parking and paid lot nearby
Eataly – 43 East Ohio Street
Okay, you guys know how OBSESSED I am with Florence and all things Italy (not convinced? Just check out this guide to Florence!) so it’s natural that Eataly Chicago would be on my list. Yes, you’ll have to be in the mood for Italian to have a good time here, but there is guaranteed to be a type of food to please everyone.
On the second floor, mixed amongst the market and goods for sale, you’ll find a number of dedicated restaurants where you can sample everything from pizza to seafood and pasta. There is also a “Piazza” where you can grab a glass of vino and nosh on some “aperitif”. One of my personal FAVORITES? The focaccia offerings at the dedicated counter called La Foccacia (there’s also a bakery over here too!) Do yourself a favor and get the rosemary & olive oil.
Oh yeah – there’s also a Nutella counter. Yep, just Nutella. Go and never look back. Fun fact: while I thought that any Italian who came here would laugh at our feeble interpretation and “Americanization” of Italian culture… there are actually Eatalys IN Italy. Tons of them!
- Hours: First-floor market & coffee -Mon – Sat 8 AM – 11 PM; Sun 8 AM – 10 PM
- Second-floor market – Mon – Sat 10 AM – 11 PM; Sun 10 AM – 10 PM
- Restaurants/counters – hours vary
- Breakfast? Yes (especially at Lavazza)
- Cocktails/Happy Hour? Yes – the Piazza is a great spot for happy hour
- Parking Sitch: limited street parking and paid lot nearby
Chicago French Market – 131 North Clinton
This is such a cool little gem it should be on your list of places to visit regardless of if you are going crazy with food indecision or not. The overall vibe lends itself to wandering along the streets of Paris – but the collection of food vendors is seriously impressive.
This was the original home to the famous Aloha Poke Co (as mentioned above), and also includes everything from Saigon Sisters Bahn Mi, Da Lobsta sandwiches, Beavers Coffee & Donuts and even Flip Crepes (they have sweet AND savory options!) They also just added B.I. Tea for all your bubble tea needs. Vanielle Pâtisserie is also my FAVORITE place to grab a mid-afternoon treatyoself macaron. You’re welcome.
- Hours: Mon – Fri 7 AM – 7:30 PM; Saturday 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM; Sunday closed (sadly, we have forgotten this and tried to go here many a Sunday only to be disappointed)
- Breakfast? Yes
- Cocktails/Happy Hour? Yes – and BONUS: if you’re taking a Metra train out to the burbs or to Ravinia, you can grab some snacks and beverages and imbibe on the train! (Where you at with this policy, CTA?)
- Parking Sitch: street parking and some paid lots nearby
Honorable Mentions
If the above is any indicator, I am always looking for functional “one-stop-shop” places to check out. Here are a few more spots where you can get the most options for your effort.
Latinicity – all Latin fare, but plenty of options to keep even the pickiest eater happy.
3 Greens Market – did you know there is a Small Cheval in here AND they serve Doughnut Vault coffee & donuts? I waited about 15 minutes in line at Doughnut Vault down the street one Saturday morning before I remembered 3 Greens Market and got 45 minutes of my life back. Score.
foodlife at Water Tower Place – foodlife is like those toy store game shows you used to watch as a kid where the lucky contestant ran around and grabbed as much stuff as he or she could fit in the cart and then check out before time was up. You get a card and every time you stop at a vendor, your card is swiped. Check out and stuff your face – simple as that!
