Top Three Chicago Restaurants to Spot a Celebrity In

After moving to Chicago all of my friends keep asking me if I have seen any celebrities. I think they believe celebrities grow on trees in Chicago. Maybe so compared to smaller cities. Being a regular Joe I have to say I thought my best chance of spotting a celebrity would be in a restaurant in Chicago. Based on this assumption I began asking around if anyone knew any great restuarnats in Chicago known for celebrity sightings. Three restaurants came up time and time again when I mentioned the word celebrities. I have to admit it became a little embarrassing asking anyone who would talk to me where they thought I might find a celebrity dining out at, but I was determined to have a good story for my old neighbors the next time I saw them. Mr. Beef, Gibson’s Bar, and Vivo were the unanimous choise restaurants in the city where you might find a celebrity. So, over the past month I decided to visit each one of these local restuarnats.

I started my little celebrity restaurant hunt out at a casual little joint named Mr. Beef. Mr. Beef is located at 666 North Orleans Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60610. Ok, I am just gonna tell you the only celebrities I saw were on the wall. So, I guess at least we know they had been in this local Chicago favorite. Celebrity or no celebrity though you must check out Mr. Beef if you are in the city. They serve up the Italian Beef sandwich that Chicago is famous for. You should definitley be hungry if you are making the trip to eat one of these massive sandwiches. Chewy bread is piled high with juicy thin sliced beef, cheese, and hot peppers. While very messy, it is very good. My favorite food on the menu at Mr. Beef has to be the skinny little French fries. They were great. I am not from Chicago and it was truly fun to eat there, I really felt like I got as sense of what the real Chicago is like. You can call in take out orders or directions at (312) 337-8500.

Gibson’s Bar and Steakhouse was the next spot I checked out on a search for celebrities. Our waiter was kind enough to tell me that celebrities do often pop in the door. I had a martini and my better half had a scotch. Those are not our normal drinks, but something about the great steakhouse dÃ?©cor at Gibson’s requires that you go with the flow. The tables are covered in these great white and green table clothes. The booths are large and comfy, and the walls are covered in photos of the famous celebrities who have dined there. I personally have to say that the food at Gibson’s is the real reason anyone should come here. My fiancÃ?© had the 22-ounce bone in ribeye. He said it was the best steak he ever ate. Period. Gibson’s Bar and Steakhouse is located at 1028 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60611. They are a Chicago tradition and very popular, so expect a wait no matter when you go! You can call ahead to try for reservations at (312) 266-8999.

Vivo was my final stop in the hunt for celebrity filled restaurants in Chicago. The atmosphere is definitley Chicago. Exposed brick walls and the stylish loft look abound in this city. I love it. Old and new mixed together, filled with happy people crowding in for a good time. The food is distinctly Italian. I had the rigatoni served with sausage and little green peas. It was all held together with a warm, rich goat cheese sauce that still has me trying to get back over there. The wine list is excellent and the servers are professional and comfortable at the same time. Vivo is located at 838 West Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60607. Unfortunately I did not spot any celebrities, but the meal was so good and the wine so strong that I didn’t even remember why I went there in the first place!

While I never saw a real live celebrity at any of this local Chicago restaurants, they had been there. To make matters even a little more vexing on my way to McDonald’s one day I actually walked past Rod Steward in a bright yellow sports car. As I walked up on him I was thinking how anyone could spend all that money on such a terrible car, then I realized who was sitting behind the wheel. Less than ten feet from me, and about another ten feet from McDonalds on the corner of Erie and McClurg I ran into my first celebrity sighting near a restaurant in Chicago!