For those of you familiar with Imagine Lifestyles, you might think our Miami branch, which provides exotic luxury rental cars around all of South Florida, would be the group to blog about seafood restaurants. Thanks to Michael Kornick and David Morton, Chicago is now lucky enough to enjoy what some might say is Chicago’s new “spot to be seen” at Fish Bar located in Lakeview. The names Kornick and Morton should ring out to Chicago foodies, as they are the same men behind the extremely popular MK and DMK Burger Bar restaurants already operating in Chicago.
There may not be an Eiffel Tower anywhere near, but the Melman Brothers latest foray into cuisine in Chicago might make some feel as if they are very close. The boys from Hub 51 are back at it again and this time are taking a little different approach with the menu, while keeping the ambience of the joint modern and upbeat. Just because the menu screams of French influence doesn’t mean there won’t be a DJ spinning on the weekends nearby your table. Add a few Chicago luxury car rentals out front and you will feel like you hit the perfect mix of clubs, cuisine and cars.
Public House Set To Open Its’ Doors Downtown Chicago
The mastermind’s behind Bull & Bear are at it again with the Launch of Public House, located at 400 N. State. About twice the size, the new beer-focused joint should allow for a little more mingling and a little less fighting for a place to stand than Bull & Bear, which will be a huge relief. Look for the in-booth beer taps, American based menu, and Plasma TV’s to remind you of your past experiences at B & B.
Are you sick of your family already and looking for an escape? If you are in Chicago this Christmas Eve then get ready for some time away to relax and have a great time. Although many of your neighborhood bars, shops and restaurants might be closing early today, Chicago has a number of great Christmas Eve events happening all around the city tonight.
This Week in Chicago: December 21th – December 29th
Think back to the last time you visited one of Chicago’s many steakhouses. In a city known for some of the best steakhouses in the United States, a new kid on the block recently opened its doors and has instantly gained a lot of praise from Chicagoans who have been lucky enough to dine there. Head over to 520 N. Dearborn this week and check out Mastro’s Steakhouse, one of Chicago’s newest and best steakhouses.
Michelin recently released its latest red guide for Chicago and awarded 23 restaurants with at least 1 of its’ famed stars. Michelin & Cie, the Paris based tire manufacturer, has been putting out this guide since the early 20th century. Originally designed to encourage people to travel by car to eat at new restaurants, the guide is now recognized globally as one of the premier ways to judge the quality of top-notch dining.
Chicago, along with New York and San Francisco, were the only U.S. cities to have a restaurant guide from Michelin. The rankings are fairly basic, but keep in mind that 1 star from Michelin means you are better than over 99.9% of the restaurants that are also in each city. To be awarded 1 star is no shame, and many highly acclaimed restaurants around the world will never obtain even a single star rank. Now it is time for them to rank Imagine Lifestyles as the best of the best in Chicago luxury car rentals!!
Next time you are in the mood for a great burger in the Windy City look no further than the following five burger joints. For all the meat lovers out there the following five spots serve up mouth-watering burgers served with all the fixings. Whatever style burger you prefer rest assured you will find it here. I gaurantee that after you load up on some of these burgers you are not going to feel like you cannot fit into one of our exotic cars from of our fleet of Chicago exotic rental cars.
1. Rockit
2. DMK Burger Bar
3. Billy Goat Tavern
4. M Burger
5. Kuma’s Corner
1. Rockit (22 W. Hubbard and 3700 N. Clark) Serving up their classic Rockit Burger, voted best in America by Good Morning America, Rockit has one of the best burgers in the city hands down. If you want to step outside the box a little bit try Rockit’s Lobster Burger. Loaded with lobster, shrimp, avocado, and lemon crème freche this burger is not your everyday lunch item. Both Chicago locations are constantly drawing rave reviews from food critics so head out to Rockit and try one for yourself.
2. DMK Burger Bar (2954 N. Sheffield) Offering up 9 burgers that are 100% not found on any other menu in Chicago, DMK creates some of the most unique burgers you can find in Chicago. Ever seen a burger in Chicago loaded with pastrami, French Gruyere, sauerkraut, and remoulade? If you are not a huge red meat fan substitute any of the classic burgers with a turkey burger or Portobello burger instead. They also offer some unique lamb and veggie burgers as well. Imagine Lifestyles favorite is the number 1 with a fried egg added on for a buck. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu here and they have some of the best fries around as well.
3. Billy Goat Tavern (7 Chicago Locations) Founded in 1934, this Chicago mainstay has been serving up some of the best burgers since long before any of us were born. The tavern was originally purchased for $205 and looking back it seems this was a very fine investment even if that was a lot of money back in those days. Do not expect any gourmet turkey burgers with avocado and sprouts at the Billy Goat. Think greasy diner style burgers that satisfy your appetite and make you want to head straight for the couch.
Over the past 5-10 years Chicago has slowly become a city with a culinary reputation as one of the best places to eat in the United States. Much like New York, chefs in Chicago have been pushing the envelope and thinking outside the box for sometime and have been very successful in most of their attempts. In recent years, the popularity of sushi in the United States has grown tremendously as well. Obviously many Chicago chefs jumped on board with this new trend and below Imagine Lifestyles has listed the top 5 places in Chicago to eat sushi.
1. Kamehachi
2. Coast Sushi Bar
3. Japonais
4. Mirai Sushi
5. OYSY Japanese Sushi
1. Kamehachi (5 Different Locations) Any sushi lover in Chicago has probably at least seen or heard of this local favorite. With locations downtown, in Old Town, and in Northbrook you have plenty of options for where to dine. My personal favorite is the Old Town location, sitting downstairs, where you can watch your meals being prepared. Whatever location you choose make sure to try a Chicago Crazy Roll, a delicious combination of fish and vegetables that will melt in your mouth.
2. Coast Sushi Bar (2045 N. Damen) Bucktown might be better known for sports bars and boutiques but there is a very popular Sushi restaurant scattered in amongst the clutter and action of Damen Street. Known for using some of the freshest local ingredients and pieces of fish, guests will love the sashimi or rolls that come flying out of the kitchen. The BYOB option allows college kids on a tight budget and business executives to enjoy some fine wines of their liking without breaking the bank as well.
3. Japonais (600 W. Chicago) Although this restaurant is not only located in Chicago, Japonais is probably the most talked about Sushi restaurant amongst foodies. Whether it is because of the Conde Nast rankings, the celebrity sightings, or just the awesome décor of the space itself Japonais is the place to go for good sushi and a happening social scene. In order to guarantee yourself a table on a busy Friday night here, check out Imagine Lifestyles Chicago and their fleet of exotic rental cars and arrive in style just like the celebrities you might be dining next to.
4. Mirai Sushi (2020 W. Division) Bucktown sneaks in one more well-renowned sushi joint on our list with the hip and modern space for a little different type of sushi. Using ingredients and cooking styles from around the globe the cuisine is not your standard traditional sushi you might have come to expect. Don’t expect to ever eat the same thing twice though because the menu will change daily based on what ingredients the chef has access to at the local markets each morning.
5. OYSY (3 Locations) Once again, this last restaurant on our list offers its’ fans multiple places to stop in for some fresh sushi or sashimi. OYSY has a location in both the south loop and river north and both spots are very modern. Pull up a seat at the bar and watch your chef work his magic, as all the food preparation will be done right in front of you. The name of the restaurant means delicious, and trust me it is a perfect name for a really good restaurant.
Chicago has thousands of dining options and the city itself is slowly becoming a culinary giant in world cuisine circles. Steak houses, pizza joints, and Italian restaurants line the city streets next to bars and retail outlets and are a Chicago staple. However, in recent years Japanese cuisine has been gaining popularity and more prominent chefs are putting their talent and effort into new sushi restaurants. Next time you are ready to head out on the town for a great dinner, go against the grain of Chicago’s culinary roots and try one of these fabulous sushi restaurants. Next time you are in Chicago give us a call and we can make sure you get the VIP treatment in one of the restaurants mentioned. Don’t forget to check out our fleet of Chicago exotic car rentals on your way out.
I am coming into Chicago the first weekend in September for my younger sister’s bachelorette party and am in need of some major help. I have never been to Chicago before so I am completely unaware of where to eat, sleep, and party. Please help!
Happy Birthday America! The 4th of July weekend is always one of the best of the summer here in Chicago and this year will be no different. Fireworks, cookouts, and plenty of ice-cold refreshments will be in every backyard. There will also be something else happening all week down in Grant Park. Chicago’s annual culinary feast that is the Taste of Chicago is now the world’s largest outdoor food festival. Estimated crowds of 3 million people attended last years festivities.
This years’ festival features over 200 different food items from restaurants throughout the city. Admission to this year’s event is free as always and also features free live music. Tickets are being sold in strips of 12 for $8. Prices vary by booth and portion size but no single item is more than 12 tickets at the festival. Keep an eye in the sky as night approaches and watch for the free fireworks shows planned for the weekend over Navy Pier.
Taste of Chicago 2010 is celebrating its 30th anniversary so keep an eye out for celebrity guests from the Food Network stopping by throughout the week. You might also run into some other Chicago athletes and celebrities out enjoying the holiday weekend in beautiful Grant Park. Take a break from the gym this weekend and head down to consume some calories. It’s America’s birthday, this year go get some meat on a stick instead of cake.
There will also be something else happening all week down in Grant Park. Chicago’s annual culinary feast that is the Taste of Chicago is now the world’s largest outdoor food festival. Estimated crowds of 3 million people attended last years festivities.