During the Loop’s heyday in the 1930s, forties and fifties, almost every major downtown department store offered hearty meals for less than a dollar via an in-store cafeteria. Why? If you’re not hungry, you’re more likely to keep shopping. The eighties and nineties saw an onslaught of fast-food chains enter the Loop, leaving the middle-of-the-road lunch crowd either munching on cheap burgers or flashing their credit cards at high-priced restaurants. The Plaza Market Bistro on the lower level of the Chase Tower takes you back to the days of getting a cheap, hearty, well-cooked meal for about the same price as an hour’s salary at minimum wage. Yet it is doubtful that Woolworths or Walgreens could match them for diversity and quality. With more than ten “food stations” you can choose between hand-carved sandwiches, made-to-order stir-fry, stock Chinese lunches, Mediterranean couscous, hummus, grilled veggies, hand-rolled sushi, pasta and high-end Italian fare. Not to mention regular burgers, fries, salads and pizzas for those who just can’t break the fast-food habit. But the best option might be the Americana, which offers heaping portions of cafeteria standbys like baked chicken, creamed spinach, meat loaf, real mashed potatoes and fresh baked rolls all for under seven bucks.
Chase Tower 21 South Clark, Plaza Level (312)732-6505 aramarkcafe.com
