Near North Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour

Lots of food and loved walking around the area. not only food tasting but we also went to a tea shop...spice shop and oil place......Heather was very well informed about the places we ate at and tasted at....and the points of interest....Our group had a good time....

My husband and I LOVED this tour!! The food was amazing and the portions were perfect! Also, our guide COLLEEN was awesome and gave us all sorts of fun information about the neighborhoods and businesses we visited. I would reccomend this tour to anyone visiting Chicago!

The walking tour was lots of fun. As a group of 5 friends, we decided it might have been better if it were slightly shorter (it was 3 hours, 15 minutes). The main course food offerings of a reuben sandwich and a BIG slice of pizza were delicious, and the history behind the stores was very interesting. Our guide was lots of fun and very knowledgeable.

My eldest granddaughter (who is 17 and doesn't think she likes tours) and I took Heather's tour in the Goldcoast and Old Town areas of Chicago. We BOTH loved every minute of the three-hour tour; the food and information were excellent as well as the architectural walk. This was our first tasting tour, but we will now seek out one in every metropolitan city we visit.

This was the first activity we had planned for our Chicago "Girls Getaway" trip. We were a little disappointed that it rained, but were prepared with our umbrellas. Despite the weather, all five of us women thoroughly enjoyed the "Near North" tour. Our guide (Jessica) was outstanding ... so informative and enthusiastic about the food, the neighborhood, and Chicago in general. We enjoyed each of the stops and the walk through the Gold Coast area. I will definitely plan to do another of the tours on my next trip to Chicago. It is such a fun (and tasty) activity and a great way to tour these parts of the town ... I do highly recommend it!

Our local guide Jess was super nice and well informed about all the businesses and their products. We were served generous portions but had plenty of time to digest everything in this nicely paced excursion into the heart of the Gold Coast's north side. Although we were not able to buy while on the tour, we were provided with literature so we could order on line, or time permitting, could go back to the businesses we wished to purchase from. Many of these businesses have been handed down to the next generation but still maintain their excellent reputations. Our particular tour included a Jewish deli serving beef pastrami on pumpernickel rye bread, an Italian restaurant serving Chicago's deep dish pizza, a tea house serving a 16oz cup of tea, a chocolate shop serving English Toffee, a spice shop with free tastings, a vinegar and oil shop and tastings and a pastry shop with three items to sample. If we ever have a chance to go back to Chicago we would love to do one of the other food tours. Perhaps in China Town. The people of Chicago are very friendly and welcoming as are the owners of the shops we toured. This was our favorite tour. It is easy to get around in the city using the subways and buses. We purchased a three day pass for $14.00 per pass and definitely got our moneys worth. A must do while in Chicago.

The knowledgeable guide gave great background about the items sampled. Plenty of food and culinary history. The neighborhoods and their rich history were beautifully narrated. Fun experience!

My two disappointments were the deli restaurant and the fudge shop. The "reuben" furnished by the deli was "do-it-yourself" and all reubens should be grilled so the cheese melts (I've eaten quite a few properly prepared). So, this was just a cold sandwhich. The fudge shop did not provide a demo as to how fudge is made and the sample we were given was a caramel crunch not fudge!!! Did enjoy both the oil & vingar shop and the spice shop. Really enjoyed seeing Old Town on the tour.

I highly recommend this tour as a way to see the city and try new places you would not have known about. Our tour guide Kent was great as was the food!

Our tour guide Heather was friendly, and gave great insight on each stop. We loved the tour. We would definitely recomend it. If there was one thing we could add would be a little time at each stop to make purchases.