Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
142
kick back outdoors with your kids can make for a much less stressful dinner—who cares
if a few fries wind up on the patio bricks? The birds will thank y ou for it. The outdoor
patio has teak-wood furnitur e, a gaz ebo bar in the center , and a mural of the o wners'
country club on a brick wall. Order the dressed-up chips, a house specialty. Rib-eye steak,
Dover sole, and fish and chips ar e specialties. The bar has a nice assor tment of micr o-
brews. Every night from 7pm to midnight, O'Brien's features live piano music.
1528 N. Wells St. (2 blocks south of Nor th Ave.).
&
312/787-3131.
Kids' menu, highchairs, boosters.
Reservations recommended. Main courses $15-$25; k ids' menu $5-$8. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Sun-Thurs
11am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-midnight. Subway/El: Brown Line to Sedgwick.
MODERATE
Kabuki
JAPANESE Parents appreciate the laid-back atmosphere at this no-frills sushi
restaurant located just off of the busy intersection of Clar k and Fullerton. The clientele
is mostly Lincoln Park's young professionals, but the atmosphere is welcoming to all. The
menu r uns the gamut of J apanese foods—sushi, sashimi, tempura, teriyaki, and noo-
dles—in an intimate, 55-seat dining r oom. Bonsai tr ees, brush paintings, and windo w
screens decorate a dining room that is dominated by two highly trained sushi chefs from
behind their 10-seat sushi bar . Those who want to sample sushi and tr y a little bit of
everything should go for the 11-piece Kabuki combination. Timid beginners may also
find a six-piece, cooked sushi platter a lo w-risk entree into the world of raw fish. F or an
appetizer, Kabuki recommends the
goma-ae,
a boiled spinach appetiz er served cold in a
sesame-and-peanut-butter sauce, although your kids might also get a kick out of peeling
and eating a pile of salty
edamame
(soybeans cooked in the pod). When Kabuki o ver-
flows, you can head to Kabuki II, just a few doors down at 2473 N. Clark. In Wrigleyville
visit Kabuki III at 3647 N. S outhport (
&
773/281-9155
).
2407 N. Clark .
&
773/281-3131.
H ighchairs, boost ers. Reser vations r ecommended. M ain c ourses
$8-$15. AE, MC, V. Sun-Tues 4:30pm-midnight; Fri-Sat 4:30pm-1am. Closed Wed. Bus: 22 to Clark or 36
to Broadway.
5
Leona's
ITALIAN/PIZZA This Chicago-based home-style I talian food chain has a
vast menu, good pizza, and budget-friendly prices. With 16 locations and still family-
owned and -operated after 52 years, Leona's is a real Chicago restaurant success story. All
food is fresh and made from scratch. Be prepared for huge portions and unusually warm
and hospitable service in a very family-friendly setting. The menu (actually, it reads more
like a book) runs the gamut and includes ribs, chicken wings, steak sandwiches, burgers,
pasta, pizza (deep-dish or thin cr ust), and salads. If that's not enough, Leona's also has a
children's menu featuring spaghetti marinara, chicken strips (fried, grilled, or barbecued),
6-inch pizzas, lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo, and more.
3215 N. Sheffield St.
&
773/327-8861.
Kids' menu. Main courses $9-$25; k ids' menu $5-$8. AE, DC,
DISC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm; F ri-Sat 11:30am-midnight; Sun noon-11pm. Sub way/El: Brown
Line to Merchandise Mart; Red Line to Grand. Bus: 22 or 65.
Sai Café
JAPANESE Here's another good spot to star t exposing y our kids to the
wonders of J apanese cuisine. D espite some upscale sushi bars sur facing in high-pr ofile
restaurant districts in the past fe w y ears, Lincoln P ark's modest S ai Café r emains the
choice for Lincoln P ark residents more interested in food than funky decor . More than
30 v arieties of sushi ar e lovingly pr epared and ser ved with élan in this neighborhood
setting just off chic Armitage A venue. And of course, white rice, chicken teriyaki, and
shrimp and vegetable tempura are always on the menu, should raw fish prove too daring
for your kids. A la car te selections come b y the piece or maki-mono style, which pairs
