traveling_mama

Going to Chicago for our annual day after Thanksgiving shopping trip. Have done the lighting of the tree in Daley Plaza a couple of times so thought we might take in the lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo. I am looking for a restaurant for dinner after. I have been reading metromix and have come up with Geja's Cafe and Stanley's Kitchen and Tap. This is a mom and 20 year old son. Is Geja's too romantic of a spot? Are either of these decent? We are looking for reasonable "different" type of place to eat. We like any kind of food that isn't the same ole same old. Any other suggestions in the Lincoln Park area and how would we get there? Thanks

laurie_ann

Lights in the Zoo are great fun, festive atmosphere. Closest to the Zoo are the following, each copied from www.chicagreader.com restaurant reviews. I live in the neighborhood but can't comment on any but Mon Ami Gabi, it is a French bistro, and my husband and my traditional restaurant to enjoy on the night we go see the lights in the Zoo. Romantic, maybe, but more lively than romantic. The more "family" options are RJ Grunts and Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder but any of these are a short walk from the main entrance to the Zoo at Webster Street. The sushi and the Italian both got the maximum RRR rating from Chicago Reader.

Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co.
2121 N. Clark St., Chicago, (773) 248-2570.
Pizza. Lunch: Sun, Sat. Dinner: seven days.
Open late: Friday & Saturday till midnight, other nights till 11.

Small, long-popular Lincoln Park restaurant serving a unique upside-down pizza, oven-baked sandwiches, and kitchen-sink salads. The food is flavorful and filling, and portions are generous; sharing and doggie bags are common. The fun atmosphere and highly rated service make this a good place for groups, but waits can be long.

Green Tea
2206 N. Clark St., Chicago, (773) 883-8812.
Asian, Japanese. Lunch: Tues-Sat. Dinner: Sun, Tues-Sat. Closed Monday.

The menu is ambitious at this tiny Lincoln Park sushi bar --the only seating is five tables and a short counter. There's an extensive array of maki -- from negitoro (fatty tuna and scallion) to ebikyu (shrimp, cucumber, and avocado) to a Chicago Spicy Crazy Roll (an oversize roll with tuna, salmon, whitefish, cucumber, and masago in a spicy sauce) -- plus more than 30 types of nigiri and several sashimi options. They do a hefty business in takeout and delivery; lunch specials range between $7 and $12.

Mon Ami Gabi
2300 N. Lincoln Park West Ave., Chicago, (773) 348-8886.
French, European. Dinner: seven days.
Open late: Friday & Saturday till 11.

This casual Lincoln Park bistro -- a Lettuce Entertain You collaboration with Gabino Sotelino -- offers comfort-food classics including steak frites, a bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, and roast chicken "grandmere style," plus a range of starters, salads, and seasonal specials, among them a summer gazpacho with lobster and avocado. Raters appreciate the comfortable atmosphere, the courteous, attentive staff, and the outdoor cafe, which looks out onto the Lincoln Park Conservatory.

R. J. Grunts
2056 N. Lincoln Park West, Chicago, (773) 929-5363.
American, Burgers, Bar/Lounge. Lunch, dinner: seven days.

R.J. Grunts is where it all began (in 1971) for Rich Melman and his Lettuce Entertain You empire. He considered closing it a couple years ago, and while some Raters are glad he didn't, others think he should have. ("I know they're proud of never redoing the place," cracks one, "but I lived through the 70s, and don't want to again.") These days getting a table usually isn't difficult, and the quiet atmosphere can be viewed as either relaxing or a sad shadow of an earlier, livelier time. The menu offers mostly burgers, which are hearty; sandwiches, which are small and greasy; and a large salad bar that draws people in and is generally satisfying. Many items are served with signature homemade potato chips, on which opinion is also divided. Grunts is definitely not what it used to be, but thanks to its location and casual, nostalgic decor, it's still a good place to stop for a burger and a milk shake after a walk in Lincoln Park.

Riccardo Trattoria
2119 N. Clark, Chicago, (773) 549-0038.
Italian. Dinner: Sun, Tues-Sat. Closed Monday.

I can't recommend a better introduction to innards than chef Riccardo Michi's tripe Florentine, thin clouds of silky veal honeycomb extraordinary on his rosemary-flecked focaccia (say per favore and you can get the dish in an appetizer portion). We ordered a daily risotto of asparagus, and when we asked for some added scallops the chef complied with two thick, perfectly grilled divers along with a bunch of bays buried in the luxuriant rice. House-made veal-stuffed ravioli was served with a tomato cream sauce studded with earthy mushrooms; mushrooms also complement the signature veal meat loaf and savory short ribs with polenta. As a side you might try some spinach or rapini with garlic, and to end your meal continental style there are some gorgeous salads: we had diced beets on endive with a mustard vinaigrette. As for sweet stuff, panna cotta ringed with passion fruit coulis was lush and creamy to the tenth power, and tangerine sorbet twanged with tart fruitiness. Wines by the glass are limited (two whites, three reds), but there are some decent-looking midprice bottles, which might be the way to go.

Enjoy Chicago!

nancy1652

Several years ago, we ate at a restaurant right in Lincoln Park, overlooking the lagoon. It wasn't cheap, but I remember it as being very good food and a lovely atmosphere. Cannot remember the name, sorry.

Jen

Nancy, you're probably thinking of North Pond, which is indeed quite nice.

mrt

Go to R.J Grunts. it is a Chicago institution.

traveling_mama

Well, I don't know what happened to the reply I posted last night, but I'll try again. First, thank you for your very helpful responses (especially laurie ann with all that great information). Think it might just be RJ Grunts. I think I was there about 20+ years ago if it's the place I'm thinking about. They had a phenomenal salad bar that was the big thing back then. We can walk there correct? Can you tell me how we would get public transportation back to the loop? Also, if I could ask, what the best way to get to the zoo from the loop too? Sorry so many questions.

traveling_mama

Oh yea, I forgot to say, we tried the Chicago Pizza and Grinder place last year and loved it! Had to wait a long time but it was worth it!!! Just loved the uniqueness and the "chicago neighborhood" feel.

laurie_ann

Yes, RJ Grunts is the one that has the salad bar (not sure if it still does). You could get more specifics on the Lettuce Entertain You website (www.leye.com) That restaurant was the first in what has become quite a successful "empire"

Not sure where you are staying in the Loop, but for the Zoo the bus is the best way. Running North on Michigan Avenue is the 151 bus. Running North on LaSalle Street is the 156 bus. Those 2 buses run up through Lincoln Park on Stockton Drive and the stop you want is in front of the Zoo entrance at Webster Street. Running North on Dearborn Street is the 22 or 36. Those buses run up Clark Street and the stop is again at Webster Street (2200 North) just two blocks West of that same main entrance to the Zoo. Any of those buses will get you back the same way. Or it is about a $10 taxi ride to or from the Loop. I just remembered you are doing this the day after Thanksgiving so you might try to avoid the 151 bus which goes up Michigan Avenue and all the shopping (and all the related traffic) and use one of the other buses.

RJ Grunts is at 2056 Lincoln Park West, the street runs parallel to Stockton, the cross street is Dickens, so really just across the small park in front of the Zoo entrance and one block south of the Zoo entrance. I tried to make the map from mapquest as a tinyurl http://tinyurl.com/2hw4r7 Really the same directions would apply for the bus but there is a stop at Dickens just one stop before Webster that would be just a little closer to the restaurant.

Enjoy Chicago!

laurie_ann

I should have said RJ Grunts is at 2056 NORTH Lincoln Park West (not that there is actually any South Lincoln Park West) but it makes it more clear if you were giving directions to a cab driver or something. The street is more or less a North/South Street that runs along the West side of Lincoln Park, hence its name.

traveling_mama

Laurie ann - You have been such a great help. Being from a small town, the public transportation thing in Chicago always baffles me. We took the bus last year to the Grinder place which we found ok, but coming back was SCARY. You really have to know where you are going and I never know where the busses are going to stop, even though I had detailed instructions.
It's funny, I lived in the NW suburbs for 15 years and have been to Chicago more times since moving to Michigan. It's a lot more fun!!! Thanks again for your patience and help!! Have a good weekend.

traveling_mama

Reading back through your post (and clarification) and looking at the map again I realized that N Lincoln Park W is different from N Lincoln Ave. THANK YOU for clarifying. That was HUGE. The lightbulb just went on.

laurie_ann

The buses shouldn't be too hard to figure out. In almost everycase the route is the same in both directions (exceptions one way streets). The bus stops are typically on catty corner. So a stop on a north bound bus is usually on the SE corner of an intersection and a stop on a south bound bus is usually on the NW corner across the street. In the Loop where there are more one way streets or other traffic issues, the north and south (or east and west) of a bus line are just one street apart. For example the 22 bus goes "up" Dearborn Street in the Loop, but comes "down" Clark Street in the Loop. Whoops, that made me think of one correction to my directions regarding the 151 bus. It does indeed go from the Loop and up Michigan Avenue, but in the Loop it goes "up" State Street, I think as far North as Washington before turning and then continuing "up" Michigan Avenue. It comes back down Michigan Avenue throughout the Loop. (Well, technically the Loop is made by the elevated rail tracks and so none of Michigan Avenue is in the Loop but close enough.)

traveling_mama

You have been a tremendous help!!!Thanks again.

traveling_mama

Laurie Ann - Just wanted to thank you again for all your help. Your instructions and information was right on and we had a great time. My son wanted to go back to the "Grinders" place, but it was way too crowded so we opted for RJ Grunts. The zoo lights were fun! Thanks again.

laurie_ann

Always a pleasure. I love "my" Chicago and love to share it.