| Rating |
Date Attended |
Reviewer |
Gender |
Age |
Where From? [v] |
Group Type? |
|
Great food, great guide, great information
|
| Sun, Aug 10, 08 11:30 AM |
kari_mccarth |
Female |
30-39 |
Local |
Couple on a Date |
| Jennifer, our guide, was brimming of interesting info about every restaurant and every neighborhood's history, recent past, and point of interest. We didn't just wander around the spice house (which was really interesting even for someone with no interest in spices), we got a demo of cinnamon being made. We didn't just drink tea, we learned a ton about it from a very personable tea sommelier The walk was great and the food was great. I was a little worried at the start bc the first stop's food wasn't so hot (a potato pancake that was greasy and not terribly unique or interesting), but it turns out that restaurant is owned by the tour company, so i guess i can understand him wanting to include his own restaurant. he just need to get better food or not put his restaurant as the very first stop. also, the cheese shop was pretty disappointing. but overall, highly recommended for locals, tourists, or just someone interested in a fun afternoon. be careful about group size...ours was small, which was nice. But we heard they can get as large as 20 people, which I think would be very uncomfortable and awkward to be a part of in most of these tiny local restaurants. |
|
Local Learns Lots - Will Return!!!
|
| Sat, Aug 9, 08 12:30 PM |
beansprite |
Female |
30-39 |
Local |
Family Without Children |
| My husband and I live in Chicago and love to explore new restaurants and neighborhoods in the city. My mother-in-law comes in to Chicago often to visit and attend plays and other events with us. We thought the food tour would be a great change of pace and something new, as well as a great way to explore the city for a day.
This tour was AMAZING!!! The restaurants and shops that we visited were well spaced and great finds. Most of the stops we had not heard of, but were happy to visit. In between the stops our guide, Kate, was very knowledgeable of historical facts, architectural tidbits and local lore. We enjoyed the walk and all of the information as much as the food finds.
The tour started out at a great central location and ended in a great central location as well. The materials gave us directions on how to easily get back to where we started. We decided to stay in the neighborhood and go to the Lincoln Park Zoo, which was right along our tour route.
It was great to have specialty shops included in the tour as well as restaurants. In our tour we visited a well-renowned spice store, an olive oil and vinegar shop, and a loose tea shop. The tour converted all of us to loose tea drinkers!!! As someone who enjoys cooking almost as much as finding new restaurants I've already started a list of the spices and oils I'd like to purchase. As locals we will definitely be stopping by the stores to do some shopping.
After the tour we did go back directly to the tea shop and did some shopping using the coupons you get as part of the tour. For anyone who cannot immediately return, most of the shops have website ordering as well.
We would highly recommend this tour for local Chicogans as well as visitors. It's a great way to explore the city. The walking tour provides great insight on Chicago history and architecture and the food is amazing. The neighborhoods we visited are common enough as a local, but we learned more interesting facts about the city. For first-time Chicago visitors, this would be a great way to see the city, have lunch and get recommendations on restaurants for dinner.
Definitely wear comfortable walking shoes!!! We bought bottled water ahead of time since the tour in mostly non-stop.
Our only suggestion for improvement would be to have the tour take place on a more circular route. I'm not sure if that's possible while including all of the 8 tastings, but ending the tour 2.5 miles away from the start took up valuable time getting back to the starting point that we were hoping to spend revisiting our favorite stops. My only other suggestion would be to replace the last stop (an extremely popular chocolate shop) with a more less known local establishment. It was the only shop I felt I would have visited on my own without it needing to be included on this tour.
Our guide mentioned a new tour may be introduced next year focused on a different neighborhood and we will be there!!! |
|
|
Relaxing day on the north shore
|
| Wed, Aug 6, 08 12:00 PM |
SKraeszig |
Female |
40-49 |
Local |
Individual |
| I went by myself while my daughter was away at camp and it was nice as I met a few ladies from different parts of the U.S. So don't be worried to attend on your own. Also, Rebecca our guide was proud to show us her neighborhood and surrounding area's. She also gave us great local restaurant reviews. I live in the suburbs and always get stuck at the same touristy places that all the out of towners end up at so this tour was nice as it gets you off that beaten path and on to where the locals of Chicago go.
I had such a relaxing day and the walking was enjoyable. We tried interesting items and I definitely learned new things about tea, olive oils, spices and much more.
Great day out with or without your friends! |
|
|
A great family activity!
|
| Sat, Aug 2, 08 12:30 PM |
jspizzirri |
Female |
50-59 |
Local |
Family With Children |
| It is sometimes difficult to find activities for families with college-aged children to do together. This certainly fit the bill. It had just the right amount of walking, talking, and eating. Kate, our guide, was terrific - it was hard to believe she had only been giving tours four 4 months! |
|
|
Fun, informative & tasty
|
| Sat, Aug 2, 08 11:30 AM |
beckywristen |
Male |
50-59 |
Local |
Couple on a Date |
| We had a great time. We saw a part of Chicago which we have driven through but not looked at closely. We were introduced to restaurant/stores which we would not otherwise have gone to. We will definitely return to some of the places we stopped at.
It was an out of the ordinary experience. We would do it again and have already suggested it to others. |
|
|
Highly Recommend
|
| Sat, Aug 2, 08 11:00 AM |
jillybean754 |
Female |
50-59 |
Local |
Group of Friends |
| We have been on the neighborhood food tours & enjoy them so we thought we'd give this a try with company from out of town, since the other's book up so far in advance. They were so impressed. We really enjoyed walking the neighborhoods and getting the insights from the tour guide. We are very much looking forward to the bucktown tour that she mentioned will be starting up. Our guests from out of town have already recommended the tour to some of their friends. |
|
|
Good selections and entertaining/informative walk
|
| Sat, Aug 2, 08 11:00 AM |
fpfarkas70 |
Female |
60-69 |
Local |
Family Without Children |
| Our tour guide was very enthusiastic and informative throughout the tour. The selections made for our group to visit were, all but one, local establishments. Our brother and sister-in-law from Florida and my husband and I from the suburbs all really enjoyed it. The long walk made us feel less guilty about the food we were eating too! I would recommend it to anyone who can walk and likes to eat. |
|
|
Excellent experience
|
| Tue, Jul 29, 08 11:00 AM |
DorothyJ |
Female |
70+ |
Local |
Family With Children |
| Both my 17 year old granddaughter and I were most pleased with this tour. We take Chicago tours frequently and we both said this is the best tour we have taken in the Chicago area.
The guide was especially great. Her enthusiasm and knowledge was remarkable. I definitely will and have been, encouraging others to take advantage of this venture. |
|
|
misnamed tour
|
| Mon, Jul 28, 08 11:00 AM |
patriciamiln |
Female |
Unspecified |
Local |
Group of Friends |
| The tour was a pleasant walking experience with guide pointing out buildings of interest, however it is a mistake to call it a food tasting tour. Starting a tour at 11:00a.m. with a half a greasy potato pancake is a mistake. Ashkenaz Deli had other items that would have been more appropriate like some pastry. If someone is expecting wonderrful tastings from great resturants this is not the tour for them. Since I live in the Chicago area I expected a different experience and was disappointed but I guess if your from Kansas you loved it. |
|
Interesting but overpriced, short on food but ente
|
| Mon, Jul 28, 08 11:00 AM |
marilynpatri |
Female |
60-69 |
Local |
Group of Friends |
| Our leader, a young man, was entertaining with lots of information. I enjoyed the small shops and historical tidbits, but there was actually very little food and a rather long walk between the last two stops. |
