Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
117
worry about finding something y our kids will like: There are plenty of options on the
kids' menu, such as potato pancakes with applesauce, meatballs, and beef str oganoff.
Adults will want to star t with blini with R ussian caviar, or chilled smoked sturgeon; if
you can't decide, you can share a number of mix ed appetizer platters. For main courses,
try the
kulebiaka
(meat pie with gr ound beef, cabbage, and onions); or r oast pheasant
served with brandied prunes and a walnut, brandy, and pomegranate sauce.
77 E. A dams St. (bt w. Michigan and Wabash aves.).
&
312/360-0000.
www.russianteatime.com. Kids'
menu, highchairs, boosters. Reservations recommended. Main courses $15-$27; kids' menu about $6. AE,
DC, DISC, MC, V. Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat 11am-midnight (the restaurant sometimes closes earlier
during the summer months). Tea service daily 2:30-4:30pm. Subway/El: Brown, Purple, Green, or Orange
Line to Adams, or Red Line to Monroe or Jackson.
Tuscany
ITALIAN Tuscany is one of the most r eliable restaurants on Taylor Street,
which is Chicago 's v ersion of Little I taly, home to a host of time-honor ed, traditional,
hearty Italian restaurants. In contrast to the city 's more fashionable I talian spots, family-
owned Tuscany has the comfor table feel of a neighborhood gathering place. Although the
food is of high enough quality to draw a fine-dining cr owd, the unpretentious atmosphere
means you'll find big tables of families, so don 't worry about disturbing the peace. As y ou
might expect, the extensive menu features the culinary fare of the Tuscany region, including
pastas, pizzas, v eal, chicken, and a risotto of the day , and the por tions are large. S pecials
include anything cooked on the wood-burning grill and Tuscan sausage dishes. There's no
kids' menu, but half-orders are available. You'll find a second location in Wrigleyville, across
from Wrigley Field at 3700 N. Clark St. (at Waveland Ave.;
&
773/404-7700
).
1014 W. Taylor St. (btw. Racine Ave. and Halsted St.).
&
312/829-1990.
www.stefanirestaurants.com. High-
chairs, boosters. Reservations recommended. Main courses $9-$27. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Fri 11am-
3:30pm; Mon-Thurs 5-11pm; Fri-Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 2-9:30pm. Subway/El: Blue Line to Polk.
MODERATE
La Cantina Enoteca
Value
ITALIAN/SEAFOOD La Cantina is the most casual
and moderately priced of the thr ee restaurants in the I talian Village. It makes the most
of its basement location b y creating the feel of a wine cellar . During the day the r estau-
rant attracts a daily r egular clientele of lawyers, judges, and the like, many of whom eat
at the bar . During pre-theater dining hours, y ou'll find plenty of other families eating
here. Specializing in seafood, La Cantina offers at least five fresh varieties every day, plus
a fish soup appetiz er, macar oni with scallops and shrimp in a garlic pesto sauce, and
5
Finds
T he Italian Village
The building at 71 W. Monroe St. houses three separate Italian restaurants, collec-
tively known as the Italian Village, a downtown dining landmark. Each restaurant
has a unique take on Italian ambience and cooking; they also share an exemplary
wine cellar and fresh produce grown in a family garden. Each of the three restau-
rants in the Italian Village is detailed in this section. Families with young children
will be most comfortable at moderately priced La Cantina Enoteca; if you have
older kids, they might enjoy the atmospheric Village, designed to re-create a din-
ing experience in the Italian countryside. Vivere is the most upscale of the thr ee
restaurants.
