Chicago - Fun Food with Family
Mar 11th, 2003, 09:54 AM
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Chicago - Fun Food with Family
I'll be in Chicago this weekend and need three fun and/or family friendly (kids 10 and 7) restaurants for 3 dinners. I was thinking about Grand Lux on Thursday, ESPN Zone on Friday (both the Bulls and the Blackhawks are playing) and Ed Debevic's on Saturday. I'd hate to eat average chain food three nights in row, however. Any thoughts? Thank you.
Mar 11th, 2003, 10:29 AM
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How about Rainforest cafe?
http://www.rainforestcafe.com/RFC/Tour.asp?vt=dine
Restaurant Address:
605 North Clark
(corner of Clark and Ohio Streets)
Chicago, IL 60610
USA
Contact Information: Phone: (312) 787-1501
Fax: (312) 787-1504
http://www.rainforestcafe.com/RFC/Tour.asp?vt=dine
Restaurant Address:
605 North Clark
(corner of Clark and Ohio Streets)
Chicago, IL 60610
USA
Contact Information: Phone: (312) 787-1501
Fax: (312) 787-1504
Mar 11th, 2003, 10:55 AM
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How about any of the pizza places? Giordano's is my favorite, but as I'm sure you know, there are many others.
Most ethnic places are great for kids. Star of Siam and Thai Star Cafe both have good Thai food, and are in the north Michigan Ave. area. There are a couple of Indian places in the area, too, though the best Indian restaurants are on Devon Street. You could visit Chinatown for Chinese.
If you're willing to go a little further north, into Lincoln Park, Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder has great Meditteranean bread and pizza pies (cooked in bowls). It gets packed, and no reservations, so go for Sat. lunch or an early dinner.
My kids (7 and 4) enjoyed all of the above (except we went to Devon St.), and probably loved Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder the most.
Most ethnic places are great for kids. Star of Siam and Thai Star Cafe both have good Thai food, and are in the north Michigan Ave. area. There are a couple of Indian places in the area, too, though the best Indian restaurants are on Devon Street. You could visit Chinatown for Chinese.
If you're willing to go a little further north, into Lincoln Park, Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder has great Meditteranean bread and pizza pies (cooked in bowls). It gets packed, and no reservations, so go for Sat. lunch or an early dinner.
My kids (7 and 4) enjoyed all of the above (except we went to Devon St.), and probably loved Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder the most.
Mar 11th, 2003, 11:03 AM
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Greektown....The kids will love it there - make sure you order the saganaki - opa! Cab it over & take your pick of any restaurant on that two block stretch. (Greek Islands is a good pick - go early & avoid the crowds)
Mar 11th, 2003, 02:05 PM
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Oh, just a few comments since you are correct to worry about eating "average chain food" ...
ESPN Zone has lousy food and it's kinda pricey. I just called and confirmed that you can bring kids to eat in the bar side of Haray Caray's restaurant to watch the games if you want. They just can't eat at the bar itself - lots of tables around the big room. The food is very good here ... much better than ESPN plus it's local not a chain. Very close in proximity to ESPN if you are concerned about location. It's at 33 West Kinzie.
If you want good burgers, skip Ed D.'s (yes, I know everyone with kids recommends it) and go to R.J. Grunt's on 2000 block of North Lincoln Park West. Very neighborhoody place, it's right across from the Lincoln Park Zoo (free admission) and the weather's going to be spectacular on Saturday. Could head to the City's St. Pat's parade (noon start), see the river dyed green (not that the color is that much different than usual), hop the 151 bus, go the zoo, then R.J. Grunt's for dinner. Just a suggestion. Alternatively, same plan: parade, zoo, Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder (only 1-1/2 blocks apart).
Have a lot of fun while you're visiting!
p.s. Have you visited www.metromix.com for its great overview of St. Patrick's-related goings-on in the city? Lots to do!
ESPN Zone has lousy food and it's kinda pricey. I just called and confirmed that you can bring kids to eat in the bar side of Haray Caray's restaurant to watch the games if you want. They just can't eat at the bar itself - lots of tables around the big room. The food is very good here ... much better than ESPN plus it's local not a chain. Very close in proximity to ESPN if you are concerned about location. It's at 33 West Kinzie.
If you want good burgers, skip Ed D.'s (yes, I know everyone with kids recommends it) and go to R.J. Grunt's on 2000 block of North Lincoln Park West. Very neighborhoody place, it's right across from the Lincoln Park Zoo (free admission) and the weather's going to be spectacular on Saturday. Could head to the City's St. Pat's parade (noon start), see the river dyed green (not that the color is that much different than usual), hop the 151 bus, go the zoo, then R.J. Grunt's for dinner. Just a suggestion. Alternatively, same plan: parade, zoo, Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder (only 1-1/2 blocks apart).
Have a lot of fun while you're visiting!
p.s. Have you visited www.metromix.com for its great overview of St. Patrick's-related goings-on in the city? Lots to do!
Mar 12th, 2003, 12:07 PM
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Honestly, I think you should go to Ed Debevic's. I went as a kid and remember it as one of my favorite things about Chicago. Sure, the food may not be the best there is, but for kids, it's hilarious to see the entertainment and have a "rude" waitress!
Mar 21st, 2003, 06:05 AM
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I know you've already come and gone but I'll post this out here for people doing a search.
There's a good article with some different suggestions that came on the Frommer's newsletter this morning. Here's a link:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations...d=968&destid=6
There's a good article with some different suggestions that came on the Frommer's newsletter this morning. Here's a link:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations...d=968&destid=6
Mar 21st, 2003, 10:18 AM
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Kristi, I saw that, too. Would 100% disagree with Iron Mike's ... it has awful, dreadful food. Funny they picked Stanley's as I worked there years ago. The food is very good for a bar and the Sunday night turkey & dressing is outstanding. The rest of the picks are mostly known places for tourists and/or restaurants from the Lettuce Entertain You chain. Only 1-2 "local" spots.
Mar 21st, 2003, 10:18 AM
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Kristi, I saw that, too. Would 100% disagree with Iron Mike's ... it has awful, dreadful food. Funny they picked Stanley's as I worked there years ago. The food is very good for a bar and the Sunday night turkey & dressing is outstanding. The rest of the picks are mostly known places for tourists and/or restaurants from the Lettuce Entertain You chain. Only 1-2 "local" spots.
Kristi, am dropping you an email.
Kristi, am dropping you an email.
Mar 21st, 2003, 11:20 AM
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Hi Heather. I guess the article does include quite a few of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants but I actually like quite a few of them-we eat at Big Bowl, Maggiano's, Wildfire, Cafe-ba-ba-reeba on occasion and I have had good meals at Scoozi.
I liked that the article mentioned some affordable kid friendly ethnic restaurants (even if they are LEYE) as alternatives to the usual Ed Debevic's/Rainforest Cafe recommendations that always pop up. We recently took my 9 and 7 year old niece and nephew to Chinatown for dim sum and they loved it. We are going to take them to Greektown sometime soon.
I also have had good meals at Harry Carey's and we frequently go out for/order in Lou Malnati's at lunch at the office.
I liked that the article mentioned some affordable kid friendly ethnic restaurants (even if they are LEYE) as alternatives to the usual Ed Debevic's/Rainforest Cafe recommendations that always pop up. We recently took my 9 and 7 year old niece and nephew to Chinatown for dim sum and they loved it. We are going to take them to Greektown sometime soon.
I also have had good meals at Harry Carey's and we frequently go out for/order in Lou Malnati's at lunch at the office.
Mar 21st, 2003, 02:37 PM
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No, real trip. It's been well over 3 years since my last visit to Chicago, and I want to take my Significant Other with me, who has never been.
I think it would be a bit sacreligious to mail-order a Lou Malnati's pizza, don't you? You gotta go there, toss back a few beers and gorge yourself on the 'za.
I also want us to go to Topolobampo-- that's a real fun place too (it IS still open, isn't it?!). Love the margaritas!
I think it would be a bit sacreligious to mail-order a Lou Malnati's pizza, don't you? You gotta go there, toss back a few beers and gorge yourself on the 'za.
I also want us to go to Topolobampo-- that's a real fun place too (it IS still open, isn't it?!). Love the margaritas!
Mar 23rd, 2003, 08:47 AM
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I don't know, if you have a craving for real pizza, three years is a long time to go without! I never particularly thought that Lou's had any kind of ambiance 
Topolobampo is indeed still open, website is www.fronterakitchens.com. They do take reservations at the pricier of the two restaurants which is Topolobampo and I would recommend having them esp. on the weekends.
Topolobampo is indeed still open, website is www.fronterakitchens.com. They do take reservations at the pricier of the two restaurants which is Topolobampo and I would recommend having them esp. on the weekends.
