Title pretty much says it. We're seeing a show at 11 AM on a Sunday and another at 3 PM. We should have about an hour and a half to eat between them. What's really close? I found Vinci and Trattoria Gianni which are both open for "brunch and lunch menus". Anything else, or would one of those be better than the other?

Patrick, I'm assuming that the first show is over about 1:30 pm. This is important as many places only serve brunch until 2 or 2:30.

If you don't mind a quick cab ride (5-10 min. tops) to/from, my recommendations would be 1) North Pond, 2) Yoshi's or 3) erwin.

Recommend reservations at any of them, especially North Pond and erwin. North Pond is the priciest, but the atmosphere is lovely.

Maybe it's just me, but I'd never consider taking a cab anywhere at 1:30, planning on brunch and knowing I have to get a cab back to the theatre before 3. My luck would be no cabs immediately or get delayed. Or get there and they'd be delayed in seating for a while. We don't have that kind of time to risk since we need to get back to the theatre. Obviously this won't be a long, leisure brunch.

Meanwhile, I noticed the brunch menus till 2:30, but isn't that "seating till then"? I don't see that an issue since we'd have to be finished by 2:45 at the latest anyway.

Patrick, sorry, but I thought you were interested in quality over immediate proximity. I doubt though you'd have any problems picking up cabs in any of these areas.

Yoshi's and erwin are a straight shot north on Halsted - North Pond is over in Lincoln Park on Cannon - plentiful cabs in all these areas and these streets aren't congested, as a rule.

Nevertheless, if you were only looking for restaurants in the immediate area (walking distance), the ones you mentioned are probably the pick of the lot. BOKA isn't open until 5, nor is Cafe Bernard/Red Rooster (which would be my other suggestion).

Re brunches in Chicago: The reason why I mentioned the serving time is because the later you go, the more likely people will be waiting (out the door) for a table and more likely your seating will be (sometimes substantially) later than you think. So if you have a 1:45 pm reservation, you are more likely to be seated around 2:00 pm.

Trattoria Gianni is my preference - it's quieter and smaller. Both restaurants have very good food and very convenient locations for Steppenwolf.

If I were you, I'd call both places and discuss the time issue.

exiled princess &patg:

Dec. 10 GTG Chicago Cafe Iberico (probably 12:30pm)- if interested.

Have a good time, Patrick!

Hi Patrick,

I've been to Vinci before a night at Steppenwolf around 20 times, and it's the best choice in my opinion. Service and food are wonderful, and you're a quarter block away from Steppenwolf. I don't like Trattoria Gianni myself -- the restaurant is terribly crowded feeling, and the food on both occasions wasn't good. Master Harold is an arts exchange show, so probably will run only 90 minutes. If your seats are reserved for 'Last of the Boys,' you don't need to return until 2:45. Vinci is a larger restaurant, but reservations would be recommended. Call the theater box office after 'Master Harold' opens to get the running time.

Thanks for the responses. ChgoGal, that's good news about the length of Master Harold. . . I know the full play is longer and I'm unclear about exactly what this is -- a sort of workshop production -- reading -- or something. The box office couldn't tell me how long it was but suggested it would probably be about 2 hours. I'll be sure to call after it opens.

Meanwhile, Sunday has turned into a triple feature rather than a double feature. Seeing the Halloween musical revue Macabaret at the Theatre Building (Belmont/Racine/Lakewood) Sunday at 6:30. Some place in that neighborhood for eating after the short show? Otherwise we'll return to midtown.

Right across the street from the Stepenwolf is Kabul House (or something like that), which is a great Afgani restaurant. It's on the lower level of one the row houses, just south of the theater. Incidentally, how to you intend to get to New York (midtown) and back between shows. Why not just stay in Chicago and eat?

uh-oh, have I shown my ignorance about Chicago? Actually I'm staying at the Oakwood Apts, Huron and Dearborn. One of my emails from them says something like "midtown Chicago's best apartment value". So are they sending me to New York? I do know that other information calls that River North.

By the way, Kabul House is only open for dinner on Sunday.

Patrick: That communique from your apt lodging just shows that it was crafted by someone who's NEVER been to Chicago. Yes, your location is River North, and very handy. Shouldn't be more than a 10-min cab ride to Steppenwolf. (And you're about a 5-6 min walk from Michigan Avenue).

On a separate issue - congrats on your buns of steel! At least, that's what it would take for me to sit through three theatre sessions in one day! You go, Gunga Din.

Yep, probably put together by their home offices which I think are in California.

Taxi ride? Can't we just walk two blocks to the station at Chicago and State and take the train right to the station by Steppenwolf --North/Claybourn? We will have 7 day passes.

And it won't be the first time we've done three shows in one day.

Right, Patrick - I'm sure your subway plan will work. Sunday trains might be a bit farther between.....

Meanwhile, wanna see something fun? Look at this webpage with all the listings for "Midtown" hotels in Chicago:
http://www.all-hotels.com/usa/illino...midtown_e1.htm

Wow- basically anything within the city limits. Not exactly informative.

But I'm sure your accommodation will be fine; I used to park in that building's lot..I think...or just up the street.

I suppose they use the same designations for any of their urban locations...but it's so weird as "midtown" is absolutely NOT a Chicago word for anything/anywhere.

Sorry to poke fun, but it's the first and only time I've heard midtown used in the context of Chicago, and I couldn't resist. Also, take the red line (subway), I've done that for many shows, and it works great. Trains are still about every ten minutes on Sunday. The one thing that may be a bit confusing is the station is situated on an "island" in between North Ave., Halsted Ave., and Clyborn Ave. (Clyborn is on a angle). There will be a CB2 (crate and barrel 2) store ahead of you and a Borders to your right. That intersection where the corners of the two stores face each other is is North and Halsted. Clyborn is to your left as you exit the station. The theater is just north of of CB2 on Halsted.

Oops. Now I'm showing my ignorance. I forgot the "U" in Clybourn. Sigh. What goes around comes around.

Hi Patrick,

'Master Harold' is part of the "Arts Exchange" program that is created for school groups during the week, and open to the public on weekends. The mainstage space (where 'Last of the Boys' is) will be somehow camouflaged to allow the 'Master Harold' set to be put in front of it. It's a fully-realized play - costumes, lights, music, actors off-book.

I hope you chose Vinci for the brunch/lunch!

After 'Last of the Boys' is over at 5:10pm, I suggest you walk the 1/4 block south down Halsted to the North/Clybourn subway stop and take the red line subway north two stops to the Belmont stop. The subway becomes the elevated line right after you get on, so you can see some of Chicago from "above."

At Belmont, walk down the stairs to street level and start going westbound to the Theater Building -- it's about 4-5 blocks west. An easy walk. Along the way, there's lots of quick-service restaurants - a Chipotle is fast and good, there's a few sushi places, a couple Indian restaurants, across from the Belmont stop, there's a Leona's restaurant with a really big menu, but service may take longer -- not good for your 6:30 show. Play this by ear -- there's lots of little places to pop in to. There's also a little hot dog stand (with seating) right next to the Theater Building which is fast and really good -- I often see the actors from the shows at the Bailiwick and the Theater Building in there before shows.

If you want to eat immediately after 'Last of the Boys,' you can go across the street to Mangia Roma where many of the actors and staff go between shows there. It's Italian - pizza by the slice, pasta, arancini, salads. (Also, Kabul HOuse, across from Steppenwolf, is now closed.) The Landmark restaurant is brand new and across the street -- but save that for a more leisurely meal. (YOu should poke your head, in though -- it's pretty.)

I hope you have a great time in Chicago. If you want other theater suggestions (I don't know how long you're in town), let us know!

Thanks for the detailed directions, ChgoGal, particularly for getting from Steppenwolf to Belmont.
I doubt if we'll be looking to eat BEFORE Macabaret, especially since that show will be over before 8 -- a more reasonable time for us to have dinner.

Other theatre suggestions? Sure. We're there a week but in addition to the three shows we'll be seeing at Steppenwolf and Macabaret, we have tickets for Wicked, Purlie at the Goodman, and Grand Hotel at WaterTowerPlace.

Any other suggestions for our limited times left?

Hope this doesn't post twice. Didn't show up the first time.

Patrick, consider dining at Twist after Macabaret at the Theatre Building. Lovely cuisine.

Can't remember your dates here in Chicago, but have you checked out the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre offerings?

Also, recommend that you take a look at Metromix and the Chicago Reader for some critic's picks. With so many theatre troupes in Chicago, a little help is alwsays good to keep up with what's going on. For example, I recently saw a Jacques Brel revue I would never have known about except for checking them out.

Hope this helps a bit!