Eli MarshBefore he wrote about food, Eli Marsh spent years as a restaurant host and booking coordinator, watching dinners fall apart over the wrong pick, a bad table, a too-loud group, a famous spot that didn't fit. ==He ignores the rankings and matches the restaurant to the night, ==and has put tens of thousands of people at the right table.

The Hat Chicago: When Hot Dogs Fit the Night

I start with the evening you want, then match the meal. Here, Chicago staples set the tone.

Match dinner to your evening.

Choose the meal before the table

I match the restaurant to the night, not the ranking. The Hat Chicago is a casual fast-food stop on W North Ave, with hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, burgers and loaded fries. I would choose it when that is the meal everyone wants.

Plan around the appetite first. Check The Hat Chicago's current hours before you go, especially for a late-night meal. A casual Chicago-staples stop and a booked dinner solve different evenings.

If the plan calls for a Turkish and Mediterranean table instead, Elia Chicago has an online reservation link. Check it before making plans around a table. The five alternatives below offer other directions, from Szechwan and Mandarin cooking at Lan's Chicago to board games at Snakes & Lattes Chicago.

The Hat Chicago4.2 (1,551)Chicago

Five other ways to shape dinner

Lan's Chicago4.2 (269)ChicagoKRASA CRAFT RESTAURANT Chicago4.7 (1,305)ChicagoSweet Rice Chicago4.6 (362)ChicagoSnakes & Lattes Chicago4.5 (907)Logan Square / Bucktown, ChicagoElia Chicago4.7 (1,570)Chicago

Ask Karpo for more information.

Get the APP