Best family dining in Chicago?
Oct 7th, 2003, 11:37 AM
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Best family dining in Chicago?
All of the guides seem to recommend high end fancy restaurants. Where are some good places to eat with children in Chicago? Places that will give them a flavor of the city and different cultures and have an atmosphere where kids can be comfortable. It can be fancy, just not so snooty people will gasp if my child drops a fork. Places with good children's menu's are great as well - it's nice when they have more than chicken fingers and burgers!
Oct 7th, 2003, 01:17 PM
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Pizzeria Uno or Duo or Geno's for REAL deep dish pizza is a must. Rush Street area. Greektown is also fantastic. The Parthenon 314 S Halsted is a lot of fun -- pretty and entertaining (one of the specialties is a flaming cheese appetizer -- even if you don't order it, someone will and to see them serve it is a treat.
Oct 7th, 2003, 10:25 PM
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We realy like eating at the Cheesecake Factory. They have one of the largest menu offerings I've ever seen, excellent quality and its fairly casual as well. While some on this board may gasp at the reccomendation of a chain, but they are not found in our area so its an only in chicago experience for us.
Oct 8th, 2003, 04:42 AM
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I have seen Pizzeria Uno mentioned a lot. Is this the same as the chain? We are going to Chicago in late March with our 4 and 7 year olds and since we have a Pizzeria Uno in Williamsburg, we plan to skip it (but it is good...just something we can get at home)but if it is something different...we may check it out!
Oct 8th, 2003, 05:19 AM
#5
Hi reneeinva!
The Pizzeria Uno and Due in Chicago are the originals that started the Pizzeria Uno Chicago Bar & Grille which is here in Wmbg. No comparison at all. The places in Chicago are the real thing. My only caveat would be that they are very popular and the wait for a table or for service can be a stretch in endurance for kids. Our second go round we called in the order and ate it in the hotel room.
Another restaurant we enjoyed (also a chain but alas not one we have here in Wmbg) near the P. Uno was Big Bowl, a pan asian place that is very family friendly. The kids get a chinese take out box with toys, chopstcks and fortune cookies. They have a fun website www.bigbowl.com.
Finally we also had a wonderful Italian dinner at Cafe Luciano on N. Rush Street. It was to die for food. Casual adult atmosphere but early on in the evening, we saw plenty of kids there too (including our own). Some of the menu selections were too ambitious for our daughter but the kitchen was happy to serve up noodles with butter and cheese.
The Pizzeria Uno and Due in Chicago are the originals that started the Pizzeria Uno Chicago Bar & Grille which is here in Wmbg. No comparison at all. The places in Chicago are the real thing. My only caveat would be that they are very popular and the wait for a table or for service can be a stretch in endurance for kids. Our second go round we called in the order and ate it in the hotel room.
Another restaurant we enjoyed (also a chain but alas not one we have here in Wmbg) near the P. Uno was Big Bowl, a pan asian place that is very family friendly. The kids get a chinese take out box with toys, chopstcks and fortune cookies. They have a fun website www.bigbowl.com.
Finally we also had a wonderful Italian dinner at Cafe Luciano on N. Rush Street. It was to die for food. Casual adult atmosphere but early on in the evening, we saw plenty of kids there too (including our own). Some of the menu selections were too ambitious for our daughter but the kitchen was happy to serve up noodles with butter and cheese.
Oct 8th, 2003, 05:39 AM
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My kids top 3: Ed Debevics is a favorite of our kids -50s motiff, dancing waitstaff, poodle skirts, Also, Grand Lux Cafe, an offshoot of cheesecake factory-they have bake to order desserts-like fresh, warm chocolate chip cookies and molton chocolate cakes. You order dessert at the begiining of your evening so it's ready when you're ready for dessert. Also, not unique but ESPN Zone.
Oct 8th, 2003, 05:40 AM
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I guess it depends on the kids, I have nieces and nephews that won't consider anything but burgers and others in the same age range that have come with us to Chinatown and for Hungarian food.
If your kids are a little more adventurous, there are tons of Chicago restaurants that are affordable, not snooty and that would welcome children.
Chinatown has many different options, I'd go for lunch and try dim sum which allows you to try many different things. My favorite is Won Kow at 2237 S. Wentworth.
If that's a little too far out, maybe try one of the excellent Greek restaurants on Halsted St., I've had good meals at Greek Islands (200 S. Halsted) and Santorini but I think Greek Islands would be better with kids as Santorini is heavy on fish dishes.
Another place you can try lots of dishes is at a Spanish tapas restaurant, there is one in River North called Cafe Iberico (739 N. LaSalle)that is excellent.
Scoozi (410 W. Huron), an Italian/pizza place, has a kids make your own pizza day on Sunday.
http://www.leye.com/restaurants/menus/scoozi_2.htm
At 600 N. Michigan Avenue there's a Heaven on Seven for cajun food, I haven't been to that location but the one over on Wabash is good.
Reneeinva, Pizzeria Uno is a chain, I've heard many people say that the pizza quality varies from location to location. And I've seen lots of negative comments on the one in Chicago, I've haven't eaten there for years as it's too crowded. But why not try something you can't get at home, take your pick-Lou Malnati's, Edwardo's, Giordano's, Gino's....
If your kids are a little more adventurous, there are tons of Chicago restaurants that are affordable, not snooty and that would welcome children.
Chinatown has many different options, I'd go for lunch and try dim sum which allows you to try many different things. My favorite is Won Kow at 2237 S. Wentworth.
If that's a little too far out, maybe try one of the excellent Greek restaurants on Halsted St., I've had good meals at Greek Islands (200 S. Halsted) and Santorini but I think Greek Islands would be better with kids as Santorini is heavy on fish dishes.
Another place you can try lots of dishes is at a Spanish tapas restaurant, there is one in River North called Cafe Iberico (739 N. LaSalle)that is excellent.
Scoozi (410 W. Huron), an Italian/pizza place, has a kids make your own pizza day on Sunday.
http://www.leye.com/restaurants/menus/scoozi_2.htm
At 600 N. Michigan Avenue there's a Heaven on Seven for cajun food, I haven't been to that location but the one over on Wabash is good.
Reneeinva, Pizzeria Uno is a chain, I've heard many people say that the pizza quality varies from location to location. And I've seen lots of negative comments on the one in Chicago, I've haven't eaten there for years as it's too crowded. But why not try something you can't get at home, take your pick-Lou Malnati's, Edwardo's, Giordano's, Gino's....
Oct 8th, 2003, 05:44 AM
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And you might try this link for some more ideas
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/d...ing_top10_heds
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/d...ing_top10_heds
