Meal plan - cafetaria buffet style eating options in loop? (Chicago: neighborhood, universities)

[thisisall1word]

Any universities downtown have meal plans for residents, i.e non-students? Looking to get a meal plan as I find most restaurants are too unhealthy. I like to have a wide selection where I can pick the healthy options. But I also like to have several courses, so I can have soup, appetizer, salad, desert etc... The closest thing I found is the Mid America club in AON building. Before I join there, any other places to consider?

[ToriaT]

Why bother to join when you can just go to places when you want. The Board of Trade Building has a cafeteria in the basement that is quite popular that has both healthy and unhealthy choices. They have a salad bar. Also there is a cafeteria in the bank building basement on the SW corner of Clark and Jackson. Both healthy and unhealthy choices....Don't know about universities. You can get salads, main dishes, sandwiches, desserts etc. at these. I bet there are other "hidden cafeterias" downtown that I am not aware of. I knew of the last two because they were a block from my office and I ate in them for years.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by thisisall1word

Looking to get a meal plan as I find most restaurants are too unhealthy.

What part of downtown do you work in? There are some healthy options out there for sure.

[ChicagoMeO]

in Streeterville, Norwestern memorial hospital, Feinberg, has a café open to all, delicious! inexpensive. and the best rotisserie chicken, for those of you in the neighborhood!

[emathias]

There is a cafeteria style restaurant on the second floor of the Sears Tower called Market something I think.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by emathias

There is a cafeteria style restaurant on the second floor of the Sears Tower called Market something I think.

Market Creations. There's one in Purdential too. Pay by the pound and you can get some decently healthy stuff there. After 2pm, the food is discounted and the sushi which is normally $11/pound goes down to like $5.50/pound. They usually have tuna, salmon, and white tuna nigiri but I've never been there after 2pm where they had any nigiri left. Usually just maki and specialty types of rolls.

Healthy options in the loop (or west loop-ish area) off the top of my head though:
Market Creations markets, Taza, Benjyehuda, I Dream of Falaffel, Roti, Native Foods Cafe, Cafecito, Naansense, Farmer's Fridge (salad "vending machine" stocked everyday. Very fresh and a lot of different stuff in it), Chicago raw, Hannah's Bretzel, Protein Bar, Freshii, Naf Naf Grill, My Thai, Korean Express, Tokyo Lunchbox, Saigon Sisters, Siam Rice, Ruby of Siam, K-Kitchen, Klay Oven, Le Cafe du Marche, Le Pain Quotidien, Presto Cafe, Pret a Manger, etc

[ChicagoMeO]

Last time I was in the area of 100 S LaSalle, I got off the bus on Randolph & LaSalle, theres a Greek restaurant there, with the BEST hugest freshest pastries. Then on another day i went to the market/restaurant on Washington & Lasalle, hope it is still there, it had great food, not too expensive. does anyone know if that is still there?

that one in the Prudential Bldg was da bomb!!!

[holl1ngsworth]

Market Creations just spun off a new buffet called French Accent. It's also on the second floor of the Willis, just on the opposite side. Little more expensive per pound, but the food is quite good for a buffet.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by holl1ngsworth

Market Creations just spun off a new buffet called French Accent. It's also on the second floor of the Willis, just on the opposite side. Little more expensive per pound, but the food is quite good for a buffet.

That has actually been open for a few years, but yeah it's a decent place.