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My kind of town, Chicago is!

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Chat' started by Jer, Jul 3, 2020.

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  1. Jer

    Jer “The Walrus has spoken”

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    So looks like I’m visiting some family out there in December. I’m wondering what the best local casinos around there are? I’ve heard a little bit and seen room pics of Harrahs Joliet. I’m hoping the travel stuff will be in good shape by then.

    And I’m hoping to have hit the goal weight by then and can indulge in the areas best cuisine. And by that, I mean all the greasy not so good for you stuff! I’ve heard recommendations about the deep dish pizza, but what say you?

    We’ll be about two blocks away from Wrigley from what I’m told. Thanks! :thumbsup:
     
  2. Eleven99isFine

    Eleven99isFine VIP Whale

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    Are you going to have access to a car? That will be the deciding factor on where you can go.
     
  3. Jer

    Jer “The Walrus has spoken”

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    Yes, most likely renting if I can’t use his SUV.
     
  4. Eleven99isFine

    Eleven99isFine VIP Whale

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    Best casino dining - Rivers
    Best slots - this is very subjective depending on who you talk to. Given the pandemic and all that, I’d say Hollywood Aurora because they have plenty of room between machines. Good selection but not necessarily all the latest titles. Harrahs joliet and Grand Vic are basically the same. Rivers is excruciatingly packed and is better for table games.
    Best table games - again, very subjective but I think Rivers and Harrahs.
    Harrahs has decent rooms...Rivers is near a few airport hotels.
     
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  5. Mudhen

    Mudhen Always in Dutch

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  6. SMG

    SMG VIP Whale

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    In regards to Chicago deep dish pizza, many of us who were born and raised in Chicago often prefer thin crust. LOL I also grew up in the Lakeview/Wrigleyville area, so I know the turf fairly well. My favorite pizza place is a family owned business, Pat's Pizzeria and they've been in business for ages. That's where I often go for thin crust.

    For deep dish, most of my friends and relatives who visit from out of town tend to rave about Piquod's Pizza I also tried their deep dish and it's pretty good, way better than Giordano's and Ginos East.

    If you haven't tried Chicago Style Hot Dogs and Italian Beef Sandwiches, Portillo's is my favorite. They have a few locations around the city and burbs.

    As for local casinos, do you have a preference based on players club? I tend to frequent CET, Boyd, and MLife properties in Vegas, so my preference for local casinos are based on that. So other than Harrah's-Joliet which is okay, I tend to visit Horseshoe -Hammond and the Blue Chip-Michigan City in Indiana more often. The Horseshoe has a bigger casino with more food options and the Blue Chip is the closest Boyd property.
     
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  7. Mudhen

    Mudhen Always in Dutch

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    Oh, as for deep dish pizza, I can take it or leave it. But generally, I'll leave it, if there is something else on the menu. The thick crust is fine. In fact, I like both thick, and thin, crust pizza. But pizza itself, makes me feel like I'm eating a bowl of red sauce. It's OK, but not my first choice.
     
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  8. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    STAY AWAY FROM RIVERS!

    Horseshoe Hammond is my absolute favorite in the area. Very large and lotsa machines I like.

    STAY AWAY FROM RIVERS!

    Harrah's Joliet can be fun.

    STAY AWAY FROM RIVERS!

    The local Ameristar was disappointing, smallish compared to most Ameristars.

    STAY AWAY FROM RIVERS!

    Grand Victoria is, well, there.

    Oh, in case you might forget, STAY AWAY FROM RIVERS!
     
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  9. DBear

    DBear VIP Bear

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    I love Portillo's. I remember checking into my downtown hotel and taking a quick walk around the block. Portillo's had a line out the door, like hundreds deep. I joined the line. Line moves fast. Turns out, this was an hour or so after the Chicago marathon and almost everyone in line (and their families) had just finished running. This was the guilty pleasure and what a pleasure it was. Maxwell Street dog for me. The line isn’t usually that long plus there’s several locations so don’t worry about a long line.
     
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  10. oghuman

    oghuman VIP Whale

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    I haven't been to Chicago for many years. I've been there twice the most recent about 10 years ago was for one week the other was for two weeks.
    The last trip was in winter and that was cold. I was there with my SO, she was there for business and I was there because I wanted to be with her.
    I went sightseeing while my SO was working and the windy city convinced me why it has that name plus it snowed a bit. The earlier trip was in a better season, I don't know when but it was at least 30 years ago and it was a class I was taking. That's when I was introduced to deep dish pie. Being a New Yorker for all except the first three years of my life I've resided in New York City. I refuse to call that deep dish PIZZA. To me it's TOMATO PIE. I won't say I don't like because it tastes pretty good, but it's not pizza to me. Otherwise, Chicago earns Second City to my hometown.
     
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  11. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    That was probably the one at Clark and Ontario. The BBQ ribs there are very good too.
     
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  12. Jer

    Jer “The Walrus has spoken”

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    Portillo is on the list. I mean, I’ve been to the one in Anaheim but I’m sure that isn’t the same...
     
  13. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    Giordano's is very good too.

    We can now commence the three-way war between Giordano's, Malnati's and Gino's East! :)
     
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  14. Zacharius

    Zacharius Low-Roller

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    Food wise, it’s mostly the same. I grew up in Chicago so I know Portillo’s extremely well. I have been to Moreno Valley and Tampa locations multiple times, and it tastes mostly identical to the Chicagoland locations.
     
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  15. stripes46

    stripes46 Low-Roller

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    OK, just across the Ill/Ind. state line is three (actually four) casinos just 30 minutes from downtown Chicago; Horseshoe (Hammond Indiana), Ameristar (East Chicago Indiana) ans Magestic Star (Two casinos on one boat in Gary Indiana). I prefer to travel a little farther (maybe 45-60 minutes from downtown Chicago) to Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City Indiana (Boyd Gaming). Blue Chip has a nice sportsbook, sports pub and fine dining at William B Steakhouse.
     
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  16. Jer

    Jer “The Walrus has spoken”

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    I’ve heard Malnati’s is pretty good. I’ve done Giordanos in Vegas and in AZ.
     
  17. Jer

    Jer “The Walrus has spoken”

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    Thank you, this helps!
     
  18. DBear

    DBear VIP Bear

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    I agree with Zacharius that the food should taste the same everywhere. I didn’t realize they had locations as far as California. Minneapolis just got one a few years ago which is closer to where I used to live. The food was identical to the downtown Chicago location. If you’ve had it before or it’s available close to home, maybe it isn’t worth going out of your way for.

    Deep dish pizza is meh to me, but when in Rome. I wanted to go to Lou Malnatti’s but I tried Pizzeria Due since it was close to my hotel. It was fine and I’m glad I tried it but I could pass if I visited Chicago again.

    Garrets Popcorn is a Chicago thing I think - Chicago mix of course. They have a location in the Miracle Mile Shops in Vegas but not many elsewhere in the western USA.

    For a diner experience, I loved Little Goat run by Top Chef season four winner Stephanie Izard. Little Goat is the cheaper diner location across the street from her main restaurant Girl and the Goat. I also liked eating at Eataly since I don’t have one near my home location. For quick sub type of sandwiches, I enjoyed Potbelly.
     
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  19. news423

    news423 No Respect

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    Food: Lou Malnati’s and Portillos.

    Casino: Take a drive to the Potawatomi in Milwaukee. Way better than any Illinois casino.

    Tip: Stop by the Mars Cheese Castle on way to/from casino. Kitschy place in Wisconsin on I-94 that has a bar in the back.
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2020
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  20. parallax

    parallax High-Roller

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    Hot Dougs had the best dogs and duck fat fries in the world. Unfortunately, it is no more.
     
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