As far as hot dogs, I’ll echo Michael Stern; Gold Coast is definitely tops, though its a more than a bit "classy" and upscale; I’d personally go with the Wiener if I had just one meal. And Superdawg, God you’ve got to try to make room for that one. Just for the architecture alone. And for pizza, I’d go for Uno, again for the atmosphere; quality-wise there isn’t a whole lot of difference between it and Due, Lou Malnotti’s, Giordanos, Ginos, etc.

Strangely, never was much of an Italian beef guy during my time in Chicago. Maybe in the future…