Near North Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour

This tour ended with you wanting more places and more info from the guide. I mean this in a great way. Guide is knowledgeable in Chicago food and many other interesting things as you make your way around the city. It is something I would do again and take my friends with me. I would even go to the point in saying that this tour was the best I have been on in my left. I have done many many tours.. more then I can count. This is at the top.

We really enjoyed the tour. Our guide was very informative and friendly, yet professional. The tour covered a good variety of restaurants and shops with unique items.The local culture was apparent in the descriptions and information from our guide and the shops. The samples were good , although a wider variety of samples would have been better. This tour was a positive note to our trip. Even if you are a local it was fun to walk the neighborhoods and learn something new. It is a lot of walking, so be prepared with comfortable shoes! It is a good pace though. I will have to say my favorite stop was the Oil market. The Bakery was very good also. I loved the ethnic diversity.

This is a great tour - Jess was terrific.

I enjoyed getting to walk through Chicago neighborhoods that I would not have toured on my own and being introduced to local shops and restaurants with some distinctive neighborhood tie. Frankly, I would have walked right by the Ashkenaz deli and Bacino's if I were on my own--it takes an insider to know that they are a distinctive part of the neighborhood and have award-winning food, so it was really fun to experience them (and the food was great!). It was also fun to try all of the olive oils and vinegars and to learn about the right way to steep tea. Chicago Food Planet has also done a very thoughtful job of planning, covering the little necessities such as bathroom breaks, water, and opportunities to sit and rest while still learning something. Our guide was enthusiastic and dynamic and did a nice job pointing out interesting or historically significant places along the way.

Last year we had been on the Bucktown/Wicker Park food tour and it was a totally positive experience. We loved it and couldn't wait to do the Near North tour. While the Near North tour was interesting and fun, food-wise it couldn't compare to the other. After the small sandwich at the deli - which was good - we went to a tea shop, a spice shop, and a vinegar and oil shop. While all were interesting shops, no food was involved other than licking a spice off one's hand, and sipping vinegar and oil. Then we went to a pastry shop (small pastry) and fudge shop (piece of candy) - both good. At the end we had a piece of pizza which was very good and much needed by this point. So, if you really want to just sample the above mentioned items, I recommend the tour. The walking part and neighborhoods were interesting. However, if you want to eat, I recommend the Bucktown/Wicker Park tour 100% over this one. It was outstanding.

I had expected an eating tour basically. Our tour leader was knowledgeable, friendly, and seemed to be in great relations with all of the places that we visited. It wasn't just meat or entrees that we tasted, but oils, spices, chocolate and great iced tea as well! As a 200 lb meat-lover, my favorite spot on the tour ended up being the Oil House, which caught me by surprise with their gourmet oils and vinegarettes. Even leg of the journey was both informative and tasty. I'd definitely do it again if there weren't two other tours to try first!

THis is great, a perfect way to see the city and taste great food at the same time!

Living in the far South Suburbs of Chicago my husband and I were completely satisfied with our tour. Jess, our guide was exquisite! Her knowledge of the city and the tour stops, (for her obvious adorable youthful age) was impressive. Her smile lit up us awaiting "tourees" within the first few minutes in which she started the tour, when she demanded that we close in the gaps between us as she began her introduction and we introduced each other to all. All stops on the tour were delightful as well and the food tasting and portions were delicious. We both learned things that we hadn't known before the tour and were treated kindly at all stops by each shop's staff. Even with a 90 degree day at its peak, we walked the tour's route right back to make all the stops again and select our purchases. We recommend this tour for anyone across the country and for those who do not get out much to the city. And yes, do yourself a favor and see if Jess will be your guide - she will not let you down! Thanks again for having us. Mr. and Mrs. Walsh

Very well organized and led by Jess: no waiting, all locations prepared and expectant, group large enough to develop casual society and small enough to allow individual interaction with hosts and leader. We had to go back and buy stuff, eat at locations seen on the tour. Much better than anticipated.

We had a wonderful time during our walk through some very beautiful parts of Chicago. We have been to Chicago many times in the past and never saw or experienced it this way. Fantastic time and Jess was great. Very knowledgeable and very cheerful. If you can request your guide, ask for Jess. The stops we made and the food tasting was just perfect. Well planned out. Tons of Walking but we love that. Even our 15 year son really enjoyed it. Highly recommend this tour well worth every penny. Susan from Toronto Canada