Nov. 25, 2011: I was in Chicago to visit my family for Thanksgiving this past week and, with three things still left to see/do in the Chicago area in my 1000 Places book, I was determined to do at least one of them! I got my wish on the day after Thanksgiving when we ventured in to Chicago to go to Charlie Trotter's. Charlie Trotter's is located in the Lincoln Park section of Chicago at 816 West Armitage and is one of the finest restaurants in the world. It has been voted as one of the "World's 50 Best Restaurants" by Restaurant Magazine continually since 2004. The restaurant is open Tues- Sat with two seatings each evening. The Tues-Thurs seatings are at 6 and 9pm and the Fri/Sat seatings are at 5:30 and 9pm. The Grand Menu is $165 per person, the Vegetable Menu is $135 per person and the coveted Kitchen Table menu is $225 per person. Reservations are required, but there are 3 dining rooms, which each seat ~32 guests, so the restaurant can accommodate ~100 guests at each seating or ~200 guests/evening. HOWEVER, if you don't have $200 burning a hole in your pocket to spend on a single meal, you can always check out "Trotters To Go", a gourmet retail shop located just a mile or so from the restaurant that is also owned and operated by the famed Chef Trotter. We checked this shop out and enjoyed a delicious butternut squash with pine nuts, scones and caramel apple butter.
Verdict: As I've said before, I do not consider myself a "foodie." And, therefore, this is not a "must do" before you die. But, hey, if you've got cash to burn, you might as well check out one of the "World's 50 Best Restaurants" for 8 years running!
