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chocoholics can get their fill, too, with dishes such as the rich chocolate soufflé with
caramel ice cream or a flight of mini hot chocolates ser ved with homemade marshmal-
lows. The restaurant is stylish but warm, with lots of exposed wood and (not coinciden-
tally) chocolate-brown upholstery. Come on a weekday (for a late lunch or early dinner)
to avoid a wait.
1747 N. Damen Ave. (at Willow St.). & 773/489-1747. Kids' menu, highchairs, boosters. Reservations not
accepted. Main courses $10-$13 lunch; $12-$23 dinner. Kids' menu about $6. AE, MC, V. Tues-Fri 11am-
3pm; Sat-Sun 10am-2pm; Tues-Wed and Sun 5:30-10pm; Thurs 5:30-11pm; Fri-Sat 5:30pm-midnight.
Subway/El: Blue Line to Damen.
Northside Café Value AMERICAN/BURGERS I highly r ecommend this spot
for high-quality cheap eats. Northside cooks up great burgers, sandwiches, and salads, all
for $15 and less. This is strictly neighborhood dining, without attitude and little in the
way of decor. The back dining room looks like a rec room from around 1973, complete
with a fireplace, pinball machines, and a pool table. In nice weather Northside opens up
its large patio for dining, and a sky-lit cover keeps it in use during the winter. You're sure
to be enter tained people-watching, as N orthside attracts all sor ts. During the w eek it's
more of a neighborhood hangout, but on the w eekends a touristy cr owd from Lincoln
Park and the suburbs moves in.
1635 N. Damen A ve. (at North and Milwaukee aves.). & 773/384-3555. Highchairs, boosters. Reserva-
tions not ac cepted. Menu items $6-$15. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Sun-Fri 11:30am-2am; Sat 11am-3am.
Subway/El: Blue Line to Damen.
Piece AMERICAN/PIZZA Piece proves to deep-dish-loving Chicagoans that thin-
crust pizza deserves respect. A casual, welcoming hangout, Piece makes a good lunch or
early dinner stop for families, but later in the ev ening, it becomes a convivial scene full
of young singles sipping one of the restaurant's seasonal microbrew beers. The large, airy
dining room—a former garage that 's been outfitted with dar k wood tables and ceiling
beams—is flooded with light fr om the expansiv e skylights o verhead; ev en when it 's
crowded (as it gets on w eekend evenings), the soaring space abo ve keeps the place fr om
feeling claustrophobic. A selection of salads and sandwiches on satisfyingly cr usty bread
is also available, but pizza in the style of New Haven, Connecticut (hometown of one of
the owners), is the house specialty. Pick from three styles—plain (tomato sauce, Parme-
san cheese, and garlic), red (tomato sauce and mozzarella), or white (olive oil, garlic, and
mozzarella)—and add on your favorite toppings. Sausage and/or spinach works well with
the plain or red, but the adventurous shouldn't miss the house specialty: clam and bacon
on white pizza.
1927 W. North Ave. (at Milwaukee Ave.). & 773/772-4422. www.piecechicago.com. Highchairs, boost-
ers. Reservations accepted for groups of 10 or more. Pizza $11-$17. AE, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11:30am-
11pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-12:30am; Sun 11am-10pm. Subway: Blue Line to Damen.
5
Silver Cloud Bar & Grill DINER How can kids not feel at home her e? Silver
Cloud is one of fe w Chicago r estaurants I kno w that has tater tots on the menu (and
naturally, every time I eat here, I work my entire meal selection around this “side”). This
Bucktown restaurant's motto is food like mom w ould make if she w as get ting p aid.
Although the food isn 't extraordinary, it should please kids. The grilled cheese is made
with mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and cheddar on Italian bread and served with a bowl of
Campbell's tomato soup. Other favorites are chicken potpie, pot r oast, and even sloppy
Joes. Retro desserts include s'mores and root beer floats. Roomy red leather booths are a
hit with families. In good weather sit outside (the seating area is on the side street, so you
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