Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
9
second location, with a homey , r etro
decor, has opened in the N orth Center
neighborhood at 1813 W. M ontrose
Ave. (
&
773/348-0400
). See p. 250.
•
Best Outdoor Eating:
Long tables and
family-style dining reign in
Greektown,
making it a comfor table and fun desti-
nation for families and large groups; see
“The West Loop ,” in chapter 5. A t
Pegasus,
130 S. H alsted S t. (
&
312/
226-3377
), a r ooftop gar den pr ovides
diners with a panoramic vie w of the
Chicago skyline. The r estaurant is so
family- and large gr oup-oriented, in
fact, that when I called to make a reser-
vation for a gr oup of 10, the host
replied, “ Ten is not a big gr oup!” S ee
p. 115.
•
Most Kid-Friendly Service:
Scoozi,
an
Italian restaurant in River North at 410
W. H uron (
&
312/943-5900
), is a
family favorite for its Sunday-afternoon
pizza-making event that lets kids loose
with tomato sauce and cheese to cr eate
their own pizzas (under the super vision
of Scoozi chefs, who keep mess to a
minimum and pop finished pizzas into
the wood-burning o ven). The ev ening
is gr eat for par ents, too—they get a
short break while their kids play chef to
enjoy their meal and some gr own-up
conversation. M ake a r eservation,
because your window of opportunity is
small: The restaurant runs the program
on S unday only , fr om 5 to 6:30pm,
and it's free for kids 11 and under . See
p. 134.
•
Best K ids' M enu:
H ow many times
have y ou seen the big thr ee on kids '
menus? B urgers, chicken fingers, and
buttered noodles ar e gr eat, but when
you want to expand y our horiz ons
(just a little), head for
Wishbone,
1001
Washington S t., at M organ S treet
(
&
312/850-2663
), or 3300 N. Lin-
coln A ve. (
&
773/549-2663
). Y ou'll
find a little S outhern flair to the kids '
menu, with hoppin ' J ohn (black-ey ed
peas over rice), grilled ham, corn muf-
fins, and home fries among the offer-
ings. See p. 122.
•
Best Burgers:
The hamburger at
Mike
Ditka's R estaurant,
100 E. Chestnut
St. (
&
312/587-8989
), tastes more like
chopped steak and can easily feed two .
Sports fans will be enter tained by foot-
ball memorabilia and B ears fans can
relive the glor y days of former Coach
Mike Ditka, who o wns the place. Take
your kids to the main-lev el dining
room, though, because the upstairs din-
ing area is a little mor e adult-oriented,
with liv e musical enter tainment that
tends to ward F rank S inatra fav orites
(and, often, bachelor par
ties dining
in the adjacent priv
ate r ooms). S ee
p. 124.
•
Best B arbecue:
O ld Town neighbor-
hood institution
Twin Anchors Tavern
(1655 N. S edgwick S t.,
&
312/266-
1616
) is as unpretentious as its ribs ar e
delicious. Tender bab y back por k ribs
and crispy onion rings are accompanied
by coleslaw and dar k r ye br ead. Kids
will go for the burgers and the daily
cheesecake special. G et there early and
grab a r ed formica-topped table in the
back room, away from the bar area. See
p. 148.
•
Best B reakfast:
Although the r estau-
rant is located in the young professional
haven of Lincoln P ark, par ents r eport
that the managers and staff at
Toast,
746 W. Webster S t., at H alsted S treet
(
&
773/935-5600
), are baby- and kid-
crazy. The pancakes and waffles ar e
pretty crazy, too: S tacks arriv e co vered
in fr uit, y ogurt, po wdered sugar , and
more. Go for brunch starting at 8am on
weekends. See p. 147.
•
Best Family-Style Dining: Maggiano's
Little Italy,
516 N. Clar k St. (
&
312/
644-7700
), is a mecca for I talian fam-
ily-style dining. Heaping plates of pasta
meant to be shar ed make M aggiano's a
good choice for a budget-conscious
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