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Short on time, but need a quick and reliable food recommendation? PMMI’s executive team has you covered. Below you’ll nd fast tips for the best ne dining, pizza, and greasy spoons in Chicago, courtesy of our own leadership.

LAURA THOMPSON, VP, Trade Shows, PMMI

Fine Dining: RPM Steak Pizza: Lou Malnatis Greasy Spoon: Eleven City Diner

JIM PITTAS, CEO, PMMI

Fine Dining: Gibsons Pizza: Lou Malnatis Greasy Spoon: Portillo’s

JOE ANGEL, President, PMMI Media Group

Fine Dining: RPM Seafood Pizza: Lou Malnatis Greasy Spoon: Star of Siam

AMERICAN EATS

Emma Udell Marketing & Data Manager

Gather in Lincoln Square is a very chic spot with an open kitchen! I love watching the chefs prepare food. It serves New American fare plus wine, microbrews, and craft cocktails. It’s also a great brunch spot. I recommend the whipped ricotta and cured salmon to start! For the main course, the burger is a real winner. The seasonal pastas are also great if want a veggie option. For a spot to grab drinks before dinner, wander up the street to Gene’s. It’s a local market with a German beer garden on the roof!

Trey Smith Senior Director, Events

Steps from the Merchandise Mart, Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf stands out among a sea of traditional steakhouses in Chicago. Seriously, there may be as many steakhouses as there are Starbucks in this city. I nd the speakeasy ambience pairs well with a classic martini, shrimp cocktail, and their signature dryaged bone-in ribeye.

Located in Lincoln Park near the famous Second City theater, Twin Anchors has been around since 1932 and was once frequented by Frank Sinatra. Don’t bother looking at the menu. This old-school tavern and barbecue restaurant has the best fall-off-the-bone ribs in the Midwest. Reservations are NOT accepted, so put your name on the list and walk down the street to Marge’s Still, the oldest pub in Chicago, operating since 1885. If you’re in the mood for seafood, I highly recommend Catch-35 Chicago. Conveniently located in the theater district near the river, Catch 35 offers an extensive menu with a variety of seafood dishes and an amazing selection of steaks, Asianinspired entrees, and combination dishes. Growing up along the shores of the Great Lakes, my personal favorite is the Parmesan Asiago White sh, because white sh is a Great Lakes tradition! The restaurant has an extensive wine list to choose from, and it occasionally features live music. In all, Catch 35 is a great dining experience with plenty of options for all tastes.

Kathy Travis Art Director

PHOTO COURTESY OF KIM OVERSTREET

Acanto offers diners a generous selection of decadent desserts.

Kim Overstreet Director, Emerging Brands Alliance

I live in the ’burbs so my recommendations may be a little “tourist,” but for dining in Chicago I like Petterino’s in the theater district. It’s got an ‘old-school cool’ vibe with plush red half-circle booths, walls are covered with caricatures of “famous politicians, celebrities, and in uential Chicagoans” who have dined there, and an often busy air. I’d describe the menu as ‘elevated supper-club with an Italian twist.’

Another recommendation is Acanto, an Italian restaurant with delicious drinks, desserts, and outdoor seating that puts you in the middle of the Millennium Park activity. Sponsored by:

EUROPEAN TOUR

Liz Tierney Account Executive

There are so many great restaurants in Chicago, it’s hard to narrow it down! For a dark, cozy French-inspired vibe, Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf is a great spot. I go for the seafood tower and cocktails, but the steaks and sides are great, too! Alla Vita is great family-style Italian. The dining room is gorgeous and the chicken parm is a must! For a spot that’s off-the-beaten-path, try Andros Taverna in Logan Square. It serves amazing Greek food. Everything on the menu is excellent, but I love the octopus, the Andros salad, and the zucchini chips.

Piccolo Sogno features rustic Italian cuisine with an impressive wine list. The best part about this restaurant is its outdoor garden with a canopy of trees. Located just west of the loop, it is a great neighborhood spot. Athena Restaurant has classic Greek food in a modern setting. The inside features an atrium with a retractable glass roof. It also has a lovely outdoor garden with a peaceful waterfall. Aba is a Mediterranean restaurant with a rooftop patio located in Chicago’s historic Fulton Market. It has great cocktails as well as shareable plates, so it’s perfect for large groups. This is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, so you know it’s yummy! Prosecco is an upscale Italian restaurant in River North. It has classic high-end Italian dishes in a romantic, art- lled dining room that reminds of Venice. It has a nice round table in the corner for a group of nine and a smaller private room for eight guests.

Claudia Smith Event Coordinator

Lara Krieger Print Production Manager

Around four years ago, I discovered an unknown Italian restaurant on Grand Avenue: Volare. Originally, I presumed that its quality and authenticity would be lack-luster, but I was truly mistaken. Upon walking in, the smells of garlic and olive-oil permeated the air. Once sat, my table received complementary fresh garlic-bread, one of the best I’ve ever experienced. For drinks, I struggled to make a selection from the extensive menu, but I ultimately settled with the classic merlot. For my entrée, I ordered insalata di mare: salad of the sea. The octopus and calamari were grilled to perfection and the lemon sauce was divine! My friends and I wrapped up our meal with a dessert recommendation from our lovely server: a pistachio cannoli.