You can read restaurant reviews and do dining searches at www.chicagoreader.com - search by area, cuisine, budget etc.

The Lodge on Division is a pretty fun dive bar, especially late.

Salute Wine Bar on East Superior Street, between Rush & Wabash, is good.

Take a look at ChicagoMag.com and click on dining for hottest restaurants.

Try Rockit on Hubbard Street (near Dearborn) for Saturday or Sunday brunch.

I like Tocco on North Milwaukee (a block or so north of Division). It has a nice patio for outdoor seating. Blackbird and Avec are excellent choices. If you like Sushi, Japonais on West Chicago Avenue (@ Larrabee) is great.

You can try www.timeoutchicago.com and select the Restaurants and Bars tab - lots to choose from.

Thanks everyone!! such helpful and great ideas, we can't wait to come up there!

There are BYOB places too eat at also. A lot of the Thai resturants, plus there are quite a few really nice places to eat that you can bring in your own. We like Tango Sur (? spelling) which is in Lakeview (still in Chicago)--around Wrigley Field. I can't tell you where these places are, my son lives in Chicago, and we always go to a few BYOB. Than this saves us a few bucks, so we can go to the bar after.

Wish we would have BYOB in Michigan.

If interested just ask, on this forum about good byob

and where they are

There are so many choices you won't get bored that's for sure. Hub51 is a new hotspot on Dearborn and Hubbard in River North. River North has a lot to offer with choices from high end to some dive bars as well. This is also where Rockit is which was mentioned in an earlier post. Howl at the Moon is also right there.

Avec and Blackbird are great for dinner and there are some nice places to hang out in that area(west loop) too. I particularly like Market.

I hope this helps, let me know if you any other questions