| Rating |
Date Attended |
Reviewer |
Gender |
Age |
Where From? [v] |
Group Type? |
|
Tough for seniors
|
| Mon, Jul 13 11:00 AM |
schbus |
Female |
60-69 |
Local |
Group of Friends |
| The tour guide was very enthusiastic. We loved some of the placesbut were under the impression we would sit down a little more. My group was seniors and we would have liked to sit and listen and eat. We throught more food could have provided at each place like hors d'oeuvres. So we were a little disappointed in that. We felt it was worth $24.00 not $44.00. And it was a little too much walking for a person with an artificial hip. We all walk alot but I guess because there was no sitting we had a bad time. Could provide more restrooms stops also. |
|
A good way to see the city
|
| Sun, Jul 12 11:00 AM |
siavash |
Male |
20-29 |
Local |
Group of Friends |
| I was hesitant before I started the tour, but after the first sampling It was having a wonderful time. A good way to see parts of the city that one may miss. Would recommend to anyone. |
|
A Vacation in Your Own City!
|
| Sat, Jul 11 12:00 PM |
amykate |
Female |
20-29 |
Local |
Group of Friends |
| I went on the Gold Coast tour with some friends and it was amazing! Three hours flew by and I learned so much about the city I have lived in for four years. Each of the places we stopped at were wonderful. In fact, I just picked up lunch from one of the places we went to today! Our tour guide Ariana was fantastic. I highly recommend the tour and ask for Ariana as your tour guide! |
|
|
Great walk and information - short on food
|
| Thu, Jul 9 11:30 AM |
RuthStevig |
Male |
60-69 |
Local |
Family Without Children |
| The walk was wonderful, filled with interesting sights and information but not much food. Our guide was great with a warm personality giving each of us attention and answered our questions even when they were silly. Food however, was sparse getting only one small bit as a sample of the whole establishment except for the pizza. |
|
|
Worth every penny!
|
| Wed, Jul 8 11:00 AM |
DawnBronnenb |
Female |
50-59 |
Local |
Group of Friends |
| I thoroughly enjoyed Kate, our guide. We learned a lot about the Near North and about some of the wonderful establishments that have been in that area for a long time. There were ample "tastings" and the group moved at a slow enough pace that it was relaxing to be on the walk. Very interesting and now I feel comfortable going back to those areas. I also look forward to taking the other tour that the Chicago Food Planet has to offer. |
|
|
Fantastic Tour- highly recommended
|
| Fri, Jul 3 12:00 PM |
mrkenlewis |
Male |
30-39 |
Local |
Family With Children |
| Great guides make great tours, and our great guide made our tour great. Her name was Jennifer, and she had the perfect attitude and personality and even world-view to make us all feel constantly engaged, interested, and excited about what we were doing.
Part of the attraction and enjoyment of this tour was the walking. If it was a bus tour, we would never have chosen to participate. Chicago is great to walk in- so inviting and interesting and fun.
They started off by getting a little substance in our bellies, a well strategized move. Then we went to a tea house made fascinating by one of their seasoned employees. We got iced tea and an education.
We continued with educations and tastings of oils, vinegars, spices, chocolates, and pizza.
I write the following for them more than for you the reader. If you are reading this, I say "go for it, and stop questioning if this is worth your time/money. Just do it." But feedback for them:
The one stop, at a store-front for a catering company was uneventful. It was the only place that I felt no value from directly. They spoke of why the place is significant/renowned, but our experience itself was nothing special- tasting some average gourmet cheese and some unnoteworthy hummos.
The only other stop that was a bit disappointing was the pizza place. The pizza was certainly tasty, and it was nice to taste another variation on Chicago stuffed pizza, but it came out just warm, without the signature melted cheese. And, the wait staff there practically avoided us which had a negative impact on our experience. Waters, and an extra pizza that we ordered (our 6 year old had no interest in the garlic bread he was offered, so we ordered a thin cheese pizza for him), were a battle to get.
So, I'd suggest dropping the chocolate-catering business stop, and adding something more welcoming (the owner was a jerk) and with some educational value. And, I'd suggest sitting down with the pizza place management and discuss how you might get the waitstaff to feel more invested in serving us. In the end, with the treatment we got there we certainly are less likely to return as patrons.
Those comments aside, Jennifer and the tour were great. And, although you are rocking busy with 16,000 people per year, if you are ever looking for more tour opportunities, I'd recommend walks around Argyle and Chinatown for Asian herbs, teas, tofu factories, asian bakeries, dim sum, bubble teas, and markets. A solid Asian American guide could really shed much light on neighborhoods that most Chicagoans have little idea how to navigate and penetrate. Possibly even with glimpses of migrant's apartments (with bunk beds?), little stitching factories, welcome center, etc.
Thanks! |
|
|
Great Find for Locals
|
| Fri, Jul 3 12:00 PM |
LTD1292 |
Female |
60-69 |
Local |
Family Without Children |
| My husband and our two grown children did this tour and loved it. We all had a great time and found some wonderful new restaurants and shops. We returned to two of the shops the next day as customers. |
|
|
Excellent activity!
|
| Fri, Jul 3 12:00 PM |
nicolemillma |
Female |
20-29 |
Local |
Couple on a Date |
| We thoroughly enjoyed this tour and had an excellent experience. Our guide, Jen was fantastic. She was a great speaker and very connected to Chicago. It was very informative and intersting. We will definitely recommend this to other people, and we plan on doing the other tour as well. |
|
|
Excellent outing
|
| Tue, Jun 30 11:00 AM |
connellyk |
Female |
50-59 |
Local |
Group of Friends |
| This constitutes the second time I have taken the tour. I enjoyed it so much the first time that I took a group of friends and repeated it. Everyone had a ball. The guides on both tours were knowledgeable, efficient, friendly, and possessed a sense of humor. We learned about a variety of products as well as some local history. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys getting out and enjoying some of the history, architecture, and flavors of Chicago. |
|
|
I live here and I had an amazing time!
|
| Mon, Jun 22 11:30 AM |
Lewandok |
Female |
20-29 |
Local |
Family Without Children |
| I basically expected this to be a long, hot hike to taste some pizza and hot dogs in the city, but it was absolutely fabulous! I went with my mother and a friend of hers, both visiting from the east coast, and we've been talking about how great of an idea it was to go on this tour ever since. Not only do you actually get some history and see some off-the-beaten-path locations (Florsheim mansion, playboy mansion, oz park) but you also get to taste local business items that you would never think to seek out otherwise. This really was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and we will certainly be buying tickets to the Wicker Park tour when they come back in the Fall. I forget our guide's name, but she was patient, funny, energetic and knowledgable......she never made us feel like we were being taught something but more like she was excited to share with us. Thank you! It was great! |
