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+--- Thread: Chicago Roadtrip (/thread-12915.html)
- Innkeeper - 02-27-2001
Just back from a whirlwind six day roadtrip to Chicago. Two days both out and back, and two on the ground there for a conference. Stayed in Tinley Park and had some personal time the first night and next morning. Checked the WS Dining Guide and found Ken's Guest House in nearby Oak Lawn. Had a great dinner with fresh veggies and relishes to start, salad, garnished fillet steak and lamb sirloin entrees, and bread pudding to die for for dessert. Extensive wine list, more American than European, but a few surprises such as the only red from Loire being a Saumur-Champigny. We had a Meridian Syrah. Bill came to $65 plus tip. Not bad for a Chicago steak house. 9848 Southwest Highway, Oak Lawn; 708-422-4014. The WS Dining Guide has never let us down. Though there are many things to not like about WS, the Dining Guide alone is worth the cost of the subscription.
The next morning we hauled up to Wilmette to visit one of my favorite wine stores, Convito Italiano. Picked up ten bottles of wine including a '94 Terre Di Franciacorta which is a cabernet franc kicked up a notch with nebbiolo. Also a '95 Vino De Tavol Del Lazio which is a cabernet sauvignon/merlot blend. The remainder were a Collio Merlot, a La Massa Chianti Classico, two Dolcettos, two Barberas, and two Santo Christinas to have with room meals on the way home. The contina has been expanded, and we picked up two sensational sandwiches for the food break at the conference. They also have a trattoria now too. 1515 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60091; 847-2513654; http://www.convitoitaliano.com . Easiest way for those of you in area to get there is to exit the Ryan Expressway (I-94) at 35A (Lake Avenue). Take Lake Avenue east to Sheridan. Go north .7 miles, and they are on the left.