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Top Ten Best Restaurants Near Soldier Field

The Chicago Bears are the NFL’s third oldest franchise and they play at Soldier Field, the league’s oldest football stadium. The venerated venue opened on Oct. 9, 1924 as Municipal Grant Park Stadium but it changed its name to “Soldier Field” a little more than a year later. As of 2011, the stadium has hosted four NFC Championship Games—the Bears have won two of them.

Soldier Field is located in an area of the Windy City known as the South Side. The stadium butts up against Lake Shore Drive although its official address is 1410 South Museum Campus Drive. East of the arena is Northerly Island Park while directly north is the famous Field Museum. McCormick Place, an exposition and convention facility, resides to the south.

To the west of Soldier Field are several great restaurants; these are perfect places to go before Bears game. To help you choose from the myriad of dining options, ChicagoSmarts has compiled a list of the ten best restaurants near Soldier Field. Our top ten list can’t ensure a Bears victory but it can guarantee a great meal before kickoff.

Bongo Room
1152 S. Wabash Ave.
773-489-0690
Distance From Soldier Field: 1 mile
You really can’t go to the Bongo Room after the Bears game, or when they play on Sunday or Monday nights, because the restaurant closes at 2:30pm. However, if you want a great breakfast, brunch, or lunch before the Bears take the field then run—don’t walk—to the Bongo Room. Besides great early-day victuals the Bongo Room also serves terrific morning cocktails.

Yolk
1120 S. Michigan Ave.
312-789-9655
Distance From Soldier Field: 1 mile

Voted Chicago’s top breakfast restaurant, Yolk is the perfect place for fans to begin game day. One of the Loop’s top eating destinations regardless of the time of day, Yolk prides itself on its “creative” breakfast dishes. Their menu includes a variety of omelets, skillets, and frittatas as well as freshly squeezed strawberry-orange juice. Yolk is famous for its eggs Benedict.

The Chicago Firehouse
1401 S. Michigan Ave.
312-786-1401
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.1 miles

The historic Chicago Firehouse is located in an actual firehouse that was built in 1905. This upscale restaurant offers delicious American cuisine like New York strip, pork chops, and boneless rib eye. Other tasty treats on the menu include soup, salad, and pastas. As for cocktails, we recommend the Moscow Mule, the Southloop Sidecar, and/or their patented Firehouse 75.

Eleven City Diner
1112 S. Wabash Ave.
312-212-1112
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.1 miles

The Eleven City Diner pays homage to the family dining room and to Jewish delicatessens. Besides a delectable corned beef sandwich, the Eleven City Diner also provides soda jerk, pie, and cake services. While magically whisking visitors away to New York City, the Eleven City Diner gives Bears fan a chance to enjoy a scrumptious meal at relatively inexpensive prices.

Flo & Santos
1310 South Wabash Avenue
312-566-9817
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.1 miles
Flo and Santos delight Bears supporters with “tavern style” pizza, potato pancakes, kielbasa, and its Chicagoland-famous pierogies. Patrons and critics all rave about Flo & Santos appetizers. You can make a meal out of their Asian ribs and waffle fries. When the Bears are on the road, visit Flo & Santos to watch the game on their eight flat screen televisions and their gigantic 90-inch HD projection screen.

Gioco
1312 S. Wabash Ave.
312-939-3870
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.1 miles
Encompassing two adjacent buildings in Chicago’s South Loop, Gioco offers some of the best Italian food in the city. Delectable dishes on Gioco’s menu include wood-fired thin crust pizzas, homemade pastas, and osso bucco. Inside Gioco you’ll find a walk-in safe built directly into the wall. It was once used by Chicagoland gangsters Al Capone and George “Bugs” Moran.

Zapatista Cuisines of Mexico
1307 S. Wabash Ave.
312-435-1307
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.1 miles
Enjoy some delicious Mexican food before the Monsters of the Midway make mincemeat out of their opponents. Situated on South Wabash Avenue, Zapatista serves patrons both traditional and modern Mexican dishes. Widely regarded as one of the Windy City’s best Mexican restaurants, Zapatista specializes in made-to-order guacamole and fajitas.

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
805 S. State St.
312-786-1000
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.3 miles
There are more than 30 Lou Malnati’s Pizzerias in the greater-Chicago area but the restaurant on South State Street is the closest one to Soldier Field. The Bears are a quintessential part of Chicago and so is deep-dish pizza. That dish is exactly what Malnati’s is famous for serving. In addition to delicious Chicago-Style pizza, Malnati’s also prepares awesome thin-crust pizza and chicken sandwiches.

Weather Mark Tavern
1503 S. Michigan Ave.
312-588-0230
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.3 miles
Despite the name, the Weather Mark Tavern is fun for the whole family. At this establishment’s Sunday brunch kids eat free. The Weather Mark Tavern also has some of the best buffalo and chicken wings in the city. This restaurant is completely decked out in a nautical theme with charming exposed brick and inviting lush hardwoods. After 10:30pm WMT becomes a 21-and-over establishment.

M Lounge
1520 S. Wabash Ave.
312-447-0201
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.4 miles
Before heading over to the excitement and energy of Soldier Field experience the coolness of M Lounge. Furnished with plush couches and low-slung chairs, M Lounge features a handsome 28-foot long walnut bar. Often featuring live jazz music, M Lounge serves a plethora of specialty martinis, non-alcoholic cocktails, and Italian coffees.

Chicago Bears: 2011 NFL Season Preview

The 2011 NFL offseason has been all about big acquisitions.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Nnamdi Asomugha. The Arizona Cardinals traded for Kevin Kolb. The New England Patriots landed two superstars in Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco.

For the Chicago Bears, the offseason has been all about one big loss. The team released the heart and soul of their offense, center Olin Kreutz.

With the six-time Pro Bowler gone (he’s now in New Orleans), Roberto Garza will move from right guard to center. Can he make the proper reads like the 34-year-old Kreutz? The Bears’ brass sure hopes he can.

With Garza now at center, 305-pound Lance Louis gets reinstated as the team’s right guard. He played that position for four games last season before being replaced by Edwin Williams. Playing next to him at right tackle will be rookie Gabe Carimi. He’s the Bears’ 2011 first round draft choice.

When Carimi was drafted out of Wisconsin he was probably looking forward to playing alongside Kreutz and Garza. Unfortunately for him, the Bears have taken that luxury away.

At left guard is another first round draft selection (2008), Chris Williams. He’ll be the only Bear playing the same position on the offensive line as the year before. Manning the all important left tackle spot is J’Marcus Webb. He played right tackle in 2011 and benefited greatly from being next to the dynamic duo of Kreutz and Garza.

Obviously, the Bears are entering the 2011 season with a revamped O-line—a unit that was fairly consistent throughout the 2010 season. So why did the Bears jettison that consistency by getting rid of Kreutz, a 14-year veteran? Certainly money was a factor (the Bears are notorious for being cheap), but more than likely it was because the franchise believes in offensive line coach, Mike Tice.

During his five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Tice saw five of his offensive linemen go to 10 Pro Bowls—four of those behemoths went to Hawaii for the first time in their careers. Super Bowl winning coach Brian Billick said Tice’s coaching job with the Bears last season was one of the greatest he’s ever seen.

‘‘I have five guys in there starting,’’ barked Tice. ‘‘Unless they falter, that’s who’s opening the season against Atlanta. Right now I’m not seeing that falter. What I’m seeing right now is ¬improvement every day. That’s what I’m looking for.

‘‘Now if something happens in the game against Buffalo [Saturday at Soldier Field]—somebody doesn’t step up to the plate because of the added pressure of the game, then we have to create something. But right now I don’t see that. I don’t feel that either.’’

To recap, working from left to right tackle, the Bears starting O-line is Webb, Williams, Garza, Louis, and Carimi.

The Bears did make some additions to their roster. They signed three former Dallas Cowboys: running back Marion Barber and wide receivers Roy Williams and Sam Hurd. The team also acquired tight end Matt Spaeth.

All the comings and goings mean besieged quarterback Jay Cutler will have a lot of new faces to deal with as he tries to wash the taste out of everyone’s mouth of his performance in last season’s NFC Championship game (he threw three interceptions before being “knocked out” of the contest).

Cutler may have earned a reputation for quitting, and being inconsistent, but he does work hard and he does have one of the best football minds in the game coaching him, offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Clearly, he can win in the league it’s just a matter of can he win the big one.

Last season, the Monsters of the Midway ended their campaign with a humiliating loss to the eventual Super Bowl Champions Green Bay Packers. So far in the 2011 offseason, at least on paper, the franchise has done nothing to increase their chances of making it all the way to the “Big Game.”

Since Lovie Smith has taken over as head coach, the Bears, with their stout defense and solid special teams, are always a couple of return touchdowns away from going 11-5 and winning their division. This season is no different.

Generally speaking, the attention of men is fairly easy to occupy. Let them watch sports – either at a stadium or a bar – and all is well, for the most part. Women, however, are a bit more finicky though a fair number will be awfully pleased to spend a day being pampered at a spa or sipping a nice cup of joe.

To appease those ladies and others, here’s a list of the best Chicago has to offer in a number of categories.

Best Day Spa – The helpful reviewers on Yelp put Temilla’s Skin Care and Spa at the top of the list here with a 5-star rating for their offerings of facials, peels, massages, and waxing. One woman echoed the sentiments of many when she wrote, “This is not your beautiful, upscale, downtown salon, but the service you get here is better than any salon. I have tried them all. If you are looking for an excellent skin treatment (extractions and all) along with a very relaxing experience, this is your place.”

Best Tea & Coffee House – More than 200 Yelp votes add up to 4.5 stars for, well, the Star Lounge Cafe in Humboldt Park. The free street parking, free wifi, and house-roasted beans just can’t be topped, at least not in Chicago. One review proclaimed, “Star Lounge is my favorite coffee house in Chicago. They roast their own beans, so their coffee tastes extremely fresh. Every drink they serve is amazing! The ambiance is very relaxed. They do have a fair amount of noise, but if you’re looking for a quieter location, don’t worry – there is a patio out back that is very quiet and peaceful.”

Best Brunch – With over 300 Yelpers tallying up to a 4.5-star rating, Birchwood Kitchen in Wicker Park seems to have the best brunch in the Windy City. The fresh local ingredients and a friendly staff make a winning combination. Reviewers consistently cite both factors: “I am in love with everything about this place. The staff is amazingly welcoming and accommodating. As for the food — eat it, all of it. I’ve been here a number of times and it’s perfectly consistent and delicious!!”

Best Pilates & Yoga Center – A one-stop shop that offers classes in both Pilates and yoga, Lakeview’s Spring Wellness Center comes in with a 4.5-star sum from more than 40 votes. Their down-to-earth presentation and knowledgable approach wins over new and returning visitors. They even offer a Groupon deal. As one Yelper noted, “Spring Wellness Center gives me a centering experience without being so hippie-dippy. They play a mix of more contemporary music (that still matches the flow of yoga), but don’t just play the default flute over a babbling brook type of CD. The instructors seem very passionate about yoga, Pilates, health, and wellness and not about having the cutest yoga outfit or the perkiest pony tail.”

Best Bookstore – In Lincoln Square, the independent Book Cellar may well be the perfect blend of all good things which is why some 150 Yelp users give it 4.5 stars. Not only is the book selection wonderful, but the helpful, friendly staff can also serve you beer, wine, tea, coffee, and snacks at the cafe. You might never leave… which may well be the point! Here’s what a Yelp reviewer posted: “There’s something whimsical and romantic about the place. … You really get the small-town coziness at the BC – everyone that works there is friendly and helpful. There’s a good selection of books, although there has been a time they didn’t have a book I was looking for. I love to come here on a rainy day to cozy up with a book. Truly a gem.”