If you're into vegan-style cooking, drop into this Mediterranean restaurant that is a favorite for locals at lunch. Start your meal with a Lebanese roll with rice and a salad. You can add chicken or beef, grilled lamb or falafels with a side order of fattoush, dolmas or lentil soup. A great way to start the day is with the restaurant's Mediterranean-inspired breakfast. There are few restaurants that charge less for either lunch or breakfast.
I Dream of Falafel
331 S. Franklin St.
Chicago, IL 60606
312-913-9660
idreamoffalafel.com
When you enter Sweetwater, you'll be taken aback the walls that are piled high with coolers, containing the almost 75 craft brews that this restaurant has available. If you care for something besides beer, Sweetwater is well stocked with spirits and flavored waters. The menu is varied, featuring traditional bar food as well as dishes such as pepperjack cheese and bacon-wrapped Cajun shrimp, sesame-crusted Ahi tuna salad and numerous pasta dishes. This restaurant has a separate room with a flat-panel television and a studio-quality audio-visual system for sport fans.
Sweetwater
225 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
312-698-7111
sweetwatertavernandgr.com
If you have a yen for Mexican food but you'd rather not go to a chain, this restaurant may be what you're seeking. Stop there for breakfast, as many locals do, for a menu of omelets, breakfast sandwiches, burritos and chilaquiles. At lunch or dinner, try sopes, flautas and enchiladas. The brightly colored walls are bedecked with Mexican paintings, giving it an authentic atmosphere.
La Cocina Mexican Grill
45 N. Wells St.
Chicago, IL 60606
312-346-1638
menuism.com
Located in the lobby of Equinox Fitness, Freshii is known for its healthy menu. It's also the model of efficiency, especially important if you have to return to your job after a workout. Grab a clipboard when you first enter Freshii and select the type of food that you want such as a salad, bowl of soup or a wrap. Customize it with toppings that include turkey, tuna, chicken, vegetables and your choice of dressing. It's very reasonably priced by Chicago standards and offers plenty of vegetarian options, too.
Freshii
200 W. Monroe St.
Chicago, IL 60606
312-269-0995
eatfreshii.com
