Take Time to Grab a Bite

At some point during IMTS, food is on everyone’s mind. Whether you’re looking for a quiet place for a lunch meeting or you need a bite to eat after a long day at the show, the Show Daily has you covered. Chicago has tons of great food, so you don’t have to go far.

First, let’s dispense with the guilt. You’ve been on your feet all day. There’s no shame in wanting a burger. Burger Bar (burgerbarchicago.com) is about a mile from McCormick Place. You’ll find classic burgers as well as more fantastic creations like the Thai-inspired Bahn Mi Burger that features a cabbage-cucumber kimchi and the Barbacoa Stacker that is topped with smoked pork barbacoa and house-made Fritos…seriously. As for beers, the place boasts more than 100 craft brews.

If you’re looking for standard fare, the Weather Mark Tavern (weathermarktavern.com) is a nautical themed neighborhood bar promising good food and strong drinks. It claims to have one of Chicago’s largest collections of rum. Sailors.

It wouldn’t be a trip to Chicago without some Italian comfort food. Just under a mile from McCormick, you’ll find Victory Tap (victorytapchicago.com). Based on the Armand’s Pizzeria chain, the place offers much more than just their signature pizza. You’ll find hearty pastas and classic Italian dishes like Joe’s Giambotta—a half chicken with Italian sausage, mushrooms and sweet peppers in a white-wine sauce (named for renowned executive chef Joe Farina).

Speaking of pizza, nothing says Chicago like deep-dish pizza, and you’ll find one of the local favorites, Pizano’s (pizanoschicago.com) super close—less than half a mile away. There’s plenty of Italian fare to choose from including pasta, sandwiches and salads. They even serve thin-crust pizza, but you’re in Chicago; if you’re not doing the deep-dish, you’re doing it wrong.

Looking for great seafood? Chicago Oyster House (chicagooysterhouse.com) was ranked by The Daily Meal as one of the top 21 oyster houses in the United States. You’ll find fresh fish, shrimp, lobster, chowders, sushi, surf and turf, and, of course, oysters any way you like them—raw, grilled or fried.

Nothing can break up a day at the show like a quick trip to Chinatown. Dolo Restaurant (dolorestaurant.com) is only about a mile from McCormick Place and offers a modern atmosphere. You’ll find traditional Chinese including dim sum, fresh seafood and signature cocktails. If you’re looking for a little more relaxed atmosphere, try Moon Palace Restaurant (moonpalacerestaurant.com) where you’ll find traditional Shanghai and Mandarin cuisine.

If sushi is your thing, check out Niu B (niubchicago.com) where you’ll find maki rolls, sushi and shashimi along with robata, grilled Japanese-style skewers. Another great option is Umai (umaichicago.com), where you’ll find mouthwatering sushi in a modern, yet cozy, loft-style environment.

Looking for fun cocktails and small plates? Tapas Valencia (tapasvalencia.com) offers unique Spanish tapas in a colorful atmosphere inspired by Spanish artists Joan Miro and Antoni Gaudi. Perfect for wrapping up a day at the show with some friends and colleagues.