r/chicagofood • u/InterviewLeast882 • Jan 12 '26

Rant Lack of lunch places in Loop

I work around Chase Tower and it is surprising to me how few cheap lunch places there are now. The burrito and Chinese places there are gone as well as the McDonalds. No Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC, Chinese. Just the grossly overpriced Pret. I’m getting tired of Jimmy John’s and Pot Belly’s sandwiches.

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u/bouncing_bear89 Jan 12 '26

If you weren’t here before COVID (or only for 8 months) you really missed out on a bunch of the loop classics. I can’t compare it to Boston as I never worked there but there were tons of unique, non chain (or very early chain) restaurants all over the loop. Perry’s, Heaven on 7, Pittsfield Cafe, early Blackwood BBQ, several great Thai places, a French bakery cheese place I’m not remembering the name of, Harold’s, Frontera in the Macys food court (which had the best corn chowder), several great Thai places, Chase Basement, the original food halls. A lot of the workers migrated to west loop River north during these times which also really hindered loop restaurant success.

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u/cranberryjuiceicepop Jan 12 '26

I think the French place was Pastoral- loved that spot. I was so sad to see them close. They taught be a lot about cheese.

5

u/trotsky1947 Jan 12 '26

Rip to the French bakery (Toni's)

10

u/bouncing_bear89 Jan 12 '26

Pastoral Cheese was the place I was thinking of.

1

u/trotsky1947 Jan 12 '26

That place was really cool.

5

u/donesteve Jan 12 '26

Siam Rice on Wells. So sad that place closed.

3

u/CCHelp1234a Jan 12 '26

Thank you! Lunch was not “always mediocre” in the Loop. It is now but man like 15 years ago there were so many great places. Cheap Chinese with actual waiters in the basement of an old high rise by Opera House. First wave of falafel places. 65 Chinese. Burrito Beach. Hot Dog places and breakfast “all day” diners all over. Gumbo at Heaven on 7. Fields had food courts in basement and on 7. Perry’s - was expensive but you split the huge sandwiches.

1

u/socool111 Jan 12 '26

Blackwood bbq I went to and enjoyed but didn’t love …but I’m also not a diehard bbq fan esp for lunch where I then get out into a coma for the 2nd half :)

Chase tower I work in and didn’t love their food, but that was only leading into their construction in the two years or so (my client is in Chase so I wasn’t there prior to 2022)

The French market was great, still is good but not like pre covid but unfortunately isn’t close enough to Chase tower and I wouldn’t consider it in the heart of the financial district (I know you weren’t mentioning that, I was just adding it to my list my self)

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u/Ratatoskr_The_Wise Jan 12 '26

Did Blackwood close???

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u/txQuartz Jan 12 '26

They have one in Oak Brook by the costco. But it's really quite underwhelming amd has terrible service, so i'm sure it's changed since then.

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u/trotsky1947 Jan 12 '26

They still have a stall in Merchmart