By Lauren Hiatt- Wilson
When people say the freshman fifteen is real… they aren’t lying. Unlimited food in the dining hall and late night trips to Oak Park’s restaurants are so tempting if you are new to town. We all know they say you shouldn’t eat after 7pm but sometimes time passes so quickly you forget to eat, which leads to late night snacking, which we are all guilty of. I am a huge foodie so instead of shaming those who are prone to the freshman 15…. I am going to help you in your search for Chicago’s greatest eateries.
For local place’s the BEST place for any craving you may have is Johnnies Beef, only a mile away from CUC (on North Ave.) , it is the perfect place to get an authentic Italian beef, sausage, or Italian ice. Since they are open every day until midnight, any time is the perfect time for Johnnies. Have you ever had a craving for fried dough? A couple doors down from Johnnies is a little Italian restaurant called Massa, that has the most amazing fried dough desserts, topped with gelato and other toppings.
If you are willing to hop on the train to downtown or travel a little further into the city the best place for BBQ is Smoque BBQ. Food critic and TV personality, Guy Fieri, said “Even the baked beans are smoky at this aptly named Chicago barbecue restaurant. The meaty menu makes it hard to decide, but ribs — available as baby backs or meaty St. Louis style — are especially excellent, coated in a Memphis-style dry rub and glazed with a sweet, tangy barbecue sauce.” He reviewed the restaurant his show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, anyone that has been there would agree that it is the best place for barbecued anything.
If you are looking for an iconic burger in the city, skip the expensive river walk restaurants and go underground to Billy Goat’s Tavern. Opened in 1934 near a location known as the Chicago Stadium (now known as the United Center) the owner first bought the property for around $200, and was a prime location for sports fans visiting the stadium. Now with nine locations in the Chicago area, it is worth the stop even if it’s just to hear the word “cheezborger.”
And my favorite snack to get while I am in the city has to be from Sprinkles cupcakes. It is located in the middle of the city but it’s worth the mile walk from Millennium Park. The Sprinkles franchise was created by Candace Nelson, TV personality on the Food Network, in 2005. The best part of this bakery is the Cupcake ATM located outside of the storefront. This allows people to buy their legendary cupcakes at any time of the day. (Late night trips to the city + a sprinkles cupcake= a great night)
So if you are new to the area, please do yourself a favor and don’t eat at Panera, McDonalds, and Subway everyday while you are here. Gather a couple of friends and head downtown and try to find different places and try new things! Also do not eat from the food trucks, you will be saving yourself from some nasty food.
So if you haven’t yet done so this week, go on a walk, go to the fitness center, or do a sit up.
