Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
128
41 E. Superior St. (at Wabash Ave.).
&
312/266-0400.
Kids' menu, highchairs, boosters. Reservations
accepted only for parties of 10 or more. Main courses $9-$15; kids' menu $4. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-
Wed 11:30am-midnight; Thurs-Sat 11:30am-2pm; Sun 11am-11pm. Sub way/El: Red Line t o Chicago/
State.
INEXPENSIVE
Big Bowl
Value
ASIAN You know you're in a kid-friendly Asian r estaurant when
you sit down and crayons and a bowl of white rice are brought to the table. Big Bowl also
has a great kids' menu—no cheeseburgers, just smaller por tions of the same Asian food
the adults eat. O kay, so the r estaurant is yet another creation of Rich Melman's Lettuce
Entertain You empire. But it's friendly, affordable, and the kind of place that's got dishes
so addictive, I dare you to go only once during your visit. Start with a glass of the signa-
ture fresh ginger ale or a fr esh-brewed fruit-flavored iced tea; either will wake up y our
taste buds. The menu covers a range of Asian specialties, including Chinese pot stickers,
Thai curries, and Vietnamese spring r olls. The indecisiv e can go with one of sev eral
combinations, each offering a mix of soup, salad, appetizers, or noodles. The straightfor-
ward cr unchy sesame chicken is a r eliable standb y, mixing crispy chicken pieces with
fresh Asian vegetables in a light soy sauce. Other good bets are the teriyaki beef and spicy
flat noodles with tofu and v eggies. You can also put together y our own mix of flavors at
the large stir-fry bar. If you're looking for delivery, Big Bowl will rush pot stickers to your
hotel, no pr oblem. Big Bowl has another Chicago location, which r e-creates the same
upscale diner decor, at 60 E. O hio St., just off the M agnificent Mile and near kid-fr e-
quented spots such as ESPN Z one (
&
312/951-1888
).
6 E. Cedar St. (at Rush St.).
&
312/640-8888.
www.bigbowl.com. Kids' menu, highchairs, boosters. Res-
ervations not ac cepted. M ain c ourses $9-$15; k ids' menu $5-$8. AE, DC, DISC, MC,
V. Sun- Thurs
11:30am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm. Subway/El: Red Line to Clark/Division.
Billy G oat Tavern
Value
BREAKF AST/BURGERS “Cheezeborger, Cheez e-
borger—No Coke . . . P epsi.” Viewers of the original
Saturday Night Live
will certainly
remember the classic John Belushi routine, a moment in the life of a crabby Greek short-
order cook. The comic got his material from the Billy Goat Tavern, located under North
Michigan Avenue near the bridge that crosses to the Loop (you'll find it by walking down
the steps across the street from the Chicago Tribune building). but t in any time says the
sign on the red door with the picture of the billy goat on it. The tavern has traditionally
been a hangout for the ne wspaper workers and writers who occupy the nearb y Tribune
Tower and Sun-Times Building, but its
Saturday Night Live
fame attracts droves of tour-
ists, a la the
Cheers
bar in Boston. The tavern serves beer and greasy food (including, of
course, “cheezeborgers” and “No Pepsi. Coke! No fries! Chips!”). Families will feel most
at home during lunchtime, when tourists and office wor kers pop in for a quick burger.
For the same “ cheezeborgers” in less gr ungy, and mor e kid-friendly, surr oundings,
head to the Billy Goat's outpost on Navy Pier (
&
312/670-8789
).
430 N. Michigan Ave.
&
312/222-1525.
No kids' menu. Reservations not accepted. Menu items $4-$8
No credit cards. Mon-Fri 7am-2am; Sat 10am-3am; Sun 11am-2am. Sub way/El: Red Line t o Chicago/
State.
California Pizza Kitchen
P IZZA Way, way back in the early 1990s, “CPK” was
plying its new concept of exotic toppings made on individual-size pies. The concept is a
bit stale, but kids still get a kick out of cr eating and swapping pieces of their individual
pizzas. Names like tandoori chicken, H awaiian, BLT, Peking duck, and grilled burrito
5
