Midwest Coast Brewing is located right next door to our wedding reception venue, The Walden—perfect if you're looking for a nearby spot to relax between the church ceremony and the reception. They offer a variety of beers, seltzers, non-alcoholic drinks, and snacks.
Restaurants: Avec, Pizza Portofino, Gene & Georgetti, Tortoise Supper Club, Dearborn, Doughnut Vault, Mr. Beef, and Portillo's. Bars: Redhead Piano Bar (Darcy's favorite), Three Dots and a Dash, the Kerryman Irish Bar, Bub City, Celeste, and the Boss Bar.
Here are some of our favorite spots around the city—some have special memories, others are just really, really good. Tango Sur – Our favorite spot in the city! Apolonia – Where we had our first date (and somehow didn’t spill anything). Spacca Napoli – Incredible pizza. Like, really incredible. Gussie's – The bread and pasta. McDonald's – Yep, it made the list! #NuggetsandDietCoke. Lao Peng You – Handmade noodles. Sepia – Fancy, but worth it. Momotaro – Sushi dreams come true here. Armitage Alehouse – Cozy pub vibes and great food. Corcoran's – One of the best Irish pubs in the city (according to Darcy). Small Cheval – Chicago's best burger without the wait! Elaine's - Darcy's favorite coffee shop right by our church and old apartment. If you look closely, you might find Archie on the OG Elaine's Dog Wall!
No trip to Chicago is complete without trying two iconic local eats: Italian beef sandwiches and deep-dish pizza. In our household, the vote is unanimous—Al’s Beef takes the crown for the best Italian beef in the city, thanks to their unbeatable giardiniera. You also can’t go wrong with Mr. Beef (the inspiration behind The Bear), Buona, or Portillo’s. Pro tip: make sure to get your sandwich dipped—it’s the only right way to do it! Our house is divided when it comes to deep-dish pizza. Eric is team Gino's East and Darcy loves Lou Malnati's. You also can't ever go wrong with Giordano's or Pequod's!