We are heading in to Chicago for the Wicked matinee on Sunday. I've seen a lot of suggestions for dinner before the show but what about a Sunday lunch? Any ideas? I will be with my teenage daughter, we are taking the train in and will probably arrive in Chicago around noon. Another question is do you think we can walk to the theatre from Union Station or should we cab it? One more "girl thing", what is the typical "dress" for a matinee, I've always gone at night with a formal dinner before hand.

I know it's a chain (though a small one) but I think Grand Lux Cafe is a great restaurant for a pre-Wicked lunch. It's very "girly" and the food is tasty and plentiful. It's a $10 (max, I think) cab ride from Union Station.

It is a bit of a walk from Union Station to the theatre, but you can always start walking and if you get tired, hop in one of the plentiful cabs.

Regarding dress: It varies greatly. I ALWAYS get dressed up for a show, but you will see people in shorts, jeans and t-shirts. But I would generally wear a summery skirt or dressy (black) capris and a nice top. I will wear flip-flops if they match my outfit and are clean, otherwise pumps or dress shoes for me. But again, it's really up to you. I think that dressing up for a show makes it feel like a special event.

Enjoy Wicked!!! It is a terrific show!!

I know it's a chain (though a small one) but I think Grand Lux Cafe is a great restaurant for a pre-Wicked lunch. It's very "girly" and the food is tasty and plentiful. It's a $10 (max, I think) cab ride from Union Station.

It is a bit of a walk from Union Station to the theatre, but you can always start walking and if you get tired, hop in one of the plentiful cabs.

Regarding dress: It varies greatly. I always get dressed up for a show, but you will see people in shorts, jeans and t-shirts. But I would generally wear a summery skirt or dressy (black) capris and a nice top. I will wear flip-flops if they match my outfit and are clean, otherwise pumps or dress shoes for me. But again, it's really up to you. I think that dressing up for a show makes it feel like a special event.

Enjoy Wicked!!! It is a terrific show!!

Thanks for the info bethke14! We'll see how hot it is on Sunday and decide on the cab. Any other suggestions out there for lunch??

Rosebud. Huge portions, so sharing one dish and an appetizer may be the best bet. It's really good traditional red-sauce Italian.

Which train are you taking in, Fun? Metra or Amtrak?

Sunday lunch...how fancy do you want it?

Two very close to the theatre, merely steps away that are nice.

Trattoria #10 (downstairs, quiet, nice surroundings with white tablecloths, great ladies salads, and butternut squash ravioli is one of the specialties) which is our girls' lunch favorite place.

Atwood Cafe is in the Hotel Burham. I took the grand-daughters to this one before wicked. Especially good for mid-day place. You need reservations.

I would check out by internet the menu or the hours of anyplace I'd pick on a Sunday.

Also Petterino's is fun too, and its real close.

No cab for any of these at all.

With a teenage daughter any of the above would be good.

You could also hop on the Number 124 bus (Navy Pier) on Canal Street in front of Union Station. It will drop you at State and Wacker and you'd be only one block from the Oriental Theatre. To catch the bus back, you'd catch it on Madison, just east of State.

Great suggestions but here is where I run in to trouble..Rosebud and Tratoria #10 are closed on Sunday, Atwood offers only a brunch option and Petterinos is only open that night. We will be getting in to Chicago (at Ogilvie via Metra) a little before noon so have limited time to make the 2:00 show. Would like to find a place with a lunch menu that would be more than a "chain" restaurant or food court but still doable in our time frame. Thanks!

Your time frame may be a little challenging, especially since, in my experience, Metra trains are not as timely on the weekends as they are during the week.

Look up Atwood Cafe's menu on their website; they do have some sandwich options. Another nice place is South Water Kitchen at Wacker and Wabash.

Honestly, the brunch at Atwood's would be fine, but tell them you have a show to make at 2:00pm. It's less than a 5 minute walk to the theatre.

If you are so limited with it being Sunday and none of the open seem to hit the mark- try doing a www.metromix.com location and see what is open close on Sunday.

patg's suggestion is a good one too.

Atwood is a more formal setting than a diner, or breakfast type venue. It's brunch might have some interesting choices.

Just went to the Sunday matinee of Wicked two weeks ago there (SO good), and the dress code really ran the gamut.

People were mostly dressed in skirts or pants, didn't see all too many jeans which was nice (but maybe because it was sweltering hot out!)

Enjoy!

Were we there at the same time, Nycgirl1? My daughter and I were at the matinee on Sunday, July 29. We loved it. Have a great time, fun2travel. By the way, people were wearing mostly capris or summer dresses, although I saw some shorts too.

kansasmom - yes, sounds like we were at the same show! how funny!