photo: AJ Weiss

Legend has it, when he wasn't leaning precariously from the broadcaster's booth as conductor of the seventh inning stretch or pronouncing players' names backward (Did you know, David Cone backward is E-noc?), Harry Caray knew how to have a good time. Usually, this would involve an abundance of delicious food and drink. His eponymous restaurant provides both.

Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse serves a selection of hearty fare for lunch and dinner amid the masculine environs one hopes to find in a Chicago steakhouse. A century-old building, endless mahogany and crisp white table clothes create the atmosphere necessary to properly enjoy a thick, juicy New York strip or heaping plate of pasta. The lunch and dinner menus are virtually identical, with a variety of steaks and chops in the $30-$40 range, pasta dishes around $15 and typical steakhouse sides, such as various forms of potatoes and vegetables, around $5 each. However, for lunch there are additional sandwich choices, including the excellent salmon burger ($14.95). Sandwiches are also available at the bar every day until 4 p.m.

The late announcer is synonymous with Chicago, making the restaurant a prime destination for tourists and locals alike. As such, a wide variety of well displayed mementos are available for purchase, like caps, t-shirts and stuffed cows with Harry's trademark glasses. Unnecessary, perhaps, but available. Regardless, at Harry Caray's you'll enjoy a good meal, good service and a good opportunity to consider your favorite ballplayer's name spelled backward.

Average cost: $21-$30

Centerstage Reviewer: A.J. Weiss