The Best of Chicago for 2018
It is officially the season of giving and Willard Jones Real Estate is here to help. To contribute to your holiday fun, we hereby present the first annual (possibly) Willard Jones Real Estate Best of Chicago Awards for 2018. Apologies in advance to anyone we may have missed or offended. The only ground rule is that the winner must do business in the City of Chicago. Without further ado, away we go.
CATEGORY 1: FOOD
Best Deep-Dish Pizza: Lou Malnati’s (multiple locations); runner-up: Pequod’s (2207 N Clybourn)
Best Thin Crust Pizza: Martino’s (3431 W Peterson); runner-up: Pete’s Pizza (3737 N Western)
Best Hot Dog: Superdawg Drive-In (6363 N Milwaukee); runner-up: Downtown Dogs (804 N Rush)
Best Italian Beef: Mr. Beef (666 N Orleans); runner-up: Al’s Beef (1079 W Taylor)
Best Cheeseburger: Twisted Spoke (501 N Ogden); runner-up: Au Cheval (800 W Randolph)
Best Corned Beef Sandwich: Manny’s (1141 S Jefferson); runner-up: Eleven City Diner (1112 S Wabash)
Best Ice Cream: Chocolate Shoppe (5337 W Devon); runner-up: Margie’s Candies (1960 N Western)
Best Gyro: Nick’s Drive-In (7216 N Harlem); runner-up: Hub’s (5540 N Lincoln)
Best Ribs: Gale Street Inn (4914 N Milwaukee); runner-up: Twin Anchors (1655 N Sedgwick)
Best Steak: Prime & Provisions (222 N LaSalle); runner-up: Chicago Chop House (60 W Ontario)
CATEGORY 2: RESTAURANTS
Best Italian Restaurant: Zia’s Trattoria (6699 N Northwest Hwy); runner-up: Tufano’s (1073 W Vernon Park)
Best Mexican Restaurant: El Cid (2645 N Kedzie), runner-up: Cafe El Tapatio (3400 N Ashland)
Best Mediterranean Restaurant: Naf Naf Grill (multiple locations); runner-up: Old Jerusalem (1411 N Wells)
Best Asian Restaurant: Sunda (110 W Illinois); runner-up: Joy Yee (2139 S China Place)
Best Deli: Tony’s Italian Deli & Subs (6708 N Northwest Hwy); runner-up: Fumare Meats (131 N Clinton)
Most Romantic Restaurant: Tango Sur (3763 N Southport); runner-up: Geja’s Café (340 W Armitage)
Best Brunch: Gather (4539 N Lincoln); runner-up: Lula Café (2537 N Kedzie)
Best Food Hall: French Market (131 N Clinton); runner-up: Revival Food Hall (125 S Clark)
CATEGORY 3: BARS and SPIRITS
Best Dive Bar: Old Town Ale House (219 W North); runner-up: Burke’s Web Pub (2026 W Webster)
Best Sports Bar: State (935 W Webster); runner-up: Public House (400 N State)
Best Beer Garden: Sheffield’s (3258 N Sheffield); runner-up: Chief O’Neill’s (3471 N Elston)
Best Rooftop Bar: Cindy’s (12 S Michigan); runner-up: The J. Parker (1816 N Clark)
Best Local Beer: Revolution Brewing (3340 N Kedzie); runner-up: Half Acre (2050 W Balmoral)
CATEGORY 4: CHICAGO THINGS
Best Neighborhood: Old Town; runner-up: Lincoln Park
Most Interesting Street: Lincoln Avenue; runner-up: Milwaukee Avenue
Best L Line: Brown Line; runner-up: Blue Line
Best L Station: Washington – Wabash; runner-up: Cermak – McCormick Place
Best Movie Theater: The Music Box (3733 N Southport); runner-up: Davis (4614 N Lincoln)
Best Live Music Venue: The Elbo Room (2871 N Lincoln); runner-up: Lincoln Hall (2424 N Lincoln)
Best Live Theater: Second City (1616 N Wells); runner-up: Windy City Playhouse (3014 W Irving Park)
Best Barber Shop: Civic Opera Salon (20 N Wacker); runner-up: none
Best Yoga Studio: The Space Between (222 W Hubbard); runner-up: none
Best Park: Lincoln Park; runner-up: Millennium Park
Best Hotel: Alise (former Hotel Burnham – 1 W Washington); runner-up: Four Seasons (120 E Delaware)
Best Touristy Thing to Do: Architectural Boat Tour; runner-up: visit the Museum Campus
Best Sports Venue: United Center; runner-up: Guaranteed Rate Field
Best College Sports Program: Loyola Men’s Basketball; runner-up: Northwestern Football
CATEGORY 5: REAL ESTATE
Best Office Building Lobby: Franklin Center (227 W Monroe); runner-up: Santa Fe Building (224 S Michigan)
Best Office Building Exterior: 77 West Wacker; runner-up: Wrigley Building (400-410 N Michigan)
Best Classic Architecture: The Rookery (209 S LaSalle); runner-up: Monadnock Building (53 W Jackson)
Best Roof Top Deck: Civic Opera Building (20 N Wacker); runner-up: One Prudential Plaza (130 E Randolph)
Most Iconic Building: Willis Tower (233 S Wacker); runner-up: Merchandise Mart
Most Exciting New Development: The 78; runner-up: Lincoln Yards
Best Redevelopment: Old Post Office; runner-up; Tribune Tower
Best Tenant Rep Agency: CBIZ Gibraltar; runner-up: Colliers
Best Tenant Rep Broker: Jim Raisher (Corporate Real Estate Solutions); Tony Karmin (Colliers)
Best Landlord Rep Agency: Cushman & Wakefield; runner-up: Telos Group
Best Landlord Rep Broker: Dan Shannon (Aspire Properties); Aaron Zaretsky (Urban Innovations)
Best Co-Working Space: 1871 (Merchandise Mart); runner-up: Tech Nexus (20 N Wacker)
Now, bring on the debate! Let us know who we excluded and how crazy we are for a certain selection. Happy Holidays!