| Rating |
Date Attended [v] |
Reviewer |
Gender |
Age |
Where From? |
Group Type? |
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Great way to see Chicago
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| Fri, Jul 3, 09 12:30 PM |
slanphere |
Female |
30-39 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Couple on a Date |
| The tour was a great way to see the neighborhoods of Chicago. Our tour guide Nikki was from Chicago and was so enthusiastic as if it was her first time doing the tour but knowledgeable enough as if it was the 100th time she had done the tour. I would recommend anyone visiting Chicago to take this tour! |
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Fantastic Tour- highly recommended
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| Fri, Jul 3, 09 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! |
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Great Find for Locals
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| Fri, Jul 3, 09 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. |
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Excellent activity!
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| Fri, Jul 3, 09 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. |
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Chicago Food Planet "Tasting" tour was FUN ! !
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| Fri, Jul 3, 09 11:30 AM |
Kblandford |
Male |
50-59 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| We visited Chicago last weekend, and had a SUPER time on Friday on a "tasting & architectural overview" tour of Chicago's Gold Coast, Old Town and Lincoln Park.
Our tour guide was Jessie, who did an excellent job of enthusiastically explaining the great tastes that were offered, and filled us in on some fascinating aspects of Chicago history and architecture.
My wife and I would now like to go on the other Chicago Food Planet tour (in another set of Chicago neighborhoods). Next trip, , , ,
Thanks for a fun experience !
Regards,
Dave B. from Cincinnati |
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Don't Miss This!
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| Fri, Jul 3, 09 11:30 AM |
jhatch2178 |
Male |
30-39 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Couple on a Date |
| Aside from tasting good food, spices, tea, etc. from the stops on the tour, our tour guide (Jessie) did an excellent job of pointing out various local architecture. The shop owners on the tour took great pride in their shops and took the time to provide detailed information about their products. From tea, to spices, to oils and vinegars, to fudge, the information we gained on this tour was priceless. Not too mention, getting to see unique part of Chicago off the "Michigan Ave" path. Great tour!! |
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Very good informative tour
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| Fri, Jul 3, 09 11:00 AM |
rthewitt |
Male |
30-39 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Group of Friends |
| Kate was a delightful and knowledgeable guide. The tour captured the attention of at least one patron of the sites we visited who was fascinated by the discussion and history and asked for more information on the tour. The food started with a delicious pastrami reuben, continued with tea, spices, oil and vinegar, chocolate, pizza, and lots of background and architecture on the way. You won't be disappointed. |
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Incredible in so many different ways!
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| Thu, Jul 2, 09 11:30 AM |
emeast06 |
Female |
20-29 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Couple on a Date |
| The Near North tour was an incredible experience from buying the tickets to buying from some of the great establishments after the tour was over. First of all, I bought my two tickets over the phone. Both times I called (I had called earlier that morning to simply ask some questions), the person on the other end was very helpful, patient with my many questions, and professional.
Arriving at initial meeting place of the tour, Ashkenaz Deli, the tour guide, Jennifer, came out to greet us. Noticing we had run to get there on time and that I was fanning myself fervently, she offered that I use the restroom in the next establishment to freshen up. She gave me a token so that I could get into the restroom and told me not to worry; I had some time. When I joined the group a few minutes later, she asked if I wanted a bottle of water and got it for me from the deli.
Jennifer started off by introducing herself and then having us nine tourists do the same. This made for a comfortable, sociable atmosphere throughout our tour. The six locations we went to had, for the most part, very unique tasters that were very enjoyable. At each place, Jennifer and/or someone who worked there would teach us rather interesting information about their product (cinnamon comes from the bark of particular trees), and those who worked there were always excited and proud of what they served. Almost every place was so special in some way, with its own character that we felt couldn't be found in other cities, except for perhaps the world market deli. Certainly, this was a nice stop, but it did not compare to the others, in either historical interest or food. There we were served gouda and hummus, which are pretty common in any deli in any city. Some of us also agreed that we had tried better hummus before. However, if the rest of the stops were around a 9 or 10 out of 10, the world market was still at a 7.
All along our walk, Jennifer had us stop in front of buildings of particular interest and she would explain the story behind each. She was an incredible story-teller, and clearly excited in the information she herself presented to us. We asked questions, and she usually knew the answer, but if she didn't, she mentioned that she would have to find out. Considering her overall passion for her city, I don't doubt that she will!
Our last stop of the tour was Bacino's pizza, where our server was personable and hospitable, chatting with us, filling up our waters frequently, taking group pictures for us, and breaking change for me to tip our guide, which he so discretely returned to me.
After the tour, my boyfriend and I returned to two of the places we had visited with the group, the tea shop and the spice shop, and were again treated very hospitably by people who showed great interest and knowledge of their products. Overall, this tour was an amazing experience, and well worth the price. In fact, we plan to try the other tour during our next trip to Chicago! |
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That was just great !
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| Wed, Jul 1, 09 11:00 AM |
huuggy |
Male |
30-39 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Couple on a Date |
| A lot of fun and history in this "promenade" around Chicago streets and shops. Some shop owners were more than entertaining, our guide Jen, was great as well.
Next time, we'll do the other tour for sure ! |
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Wonderful experience
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| Tue, Jun 30, 09 11:30 AM |
ugarx1 |
Male |
40-49 |
Domestic Tourist(s) |
Family Without Children |
| My family was thinking it was a all-U-cane-eat tour and not excited. However, they enjoyed it tremendously. The stops on the tour were original and unique. We've already ordered stuff from the shops. Highly recommend doing this. Niki was a great tour guide. |
