Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chilling Out with an Italian Ice
When in Little Italy, do as the Italians do: Cool off with an Italian ice. In a
heat wave,
Mario's Italian Lemonade,
at 1068 W. Taylor St., has been the
place to chill for 35 years. They're open from 11am to midnight from May
to mid-September. Lemon is the most popular flavor, but piña colada, fruit
cocktail, or chocolate might appeal to more adventurous kids.
Tips
family into a cozy banquette in one of the room's nooks and crannies, and take
in the bustle of State Street from the comfort of your own table. Adults won't
want to miss the mussels in a garlicky tomato sauce with crusty, grilled home-
made bread. Kids will love the banana and white chocolate bread pudding—if
they manage to save room for dessert.
1 W. Washington St. (at State St.).
&
312/368-1900.
High chairs, boosters. Reservations recommended. Kids'
menu available, $10. Main courses $18-$26. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Fri 7am-10am, 11:30am-3:45pm, and
5-10pm; Sat 8-10am, 11:30am-3:45pm, and 5-10pm; Sun 8am-3pm and 5-10pm. Subway/El: Red Line to
Washington/State.
Tuscany
NORTHERN ITALIAN Tuscany is one of the most reliable
restaurants on Taylor Street, which is Chicago's version of Little Italy, home to a
host of time-honored, traditional, hearty Italian restaurants. In contrast to the
city's more fashionable Italian spots, family-owned Tuscany has the comfortable
feel of a neighborhood gathering place. Although the food is of high enough
quality to draw a fine-dining crowd, the unpretentious atmosphere means you'll
find big tables of families, so don't worry about disturbing the peace. As you
might expect, the extensive menu features the culinary fare of the Tuscany
region, including pastas, pizzas, veal, chicken, and a risotto of the day, and the
portions are large. Specials 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. (
&
773/404-7700
).
1014 W. Taylor St. (between Racine Ave. and Halsted St.).
&
312/829-1990.
www.stefanirestaurants.com.
High chairs, boosters. Reservations recommended. Main courses $9.25-$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
The Berghoff
GERMAN Spaetzle and sauerbraten are hot sellers at this
longtime German landmark in Chicago's Loop. Having celebrated its centennial
in 1998, the immense, 700-seat restaurant is housed in one of the first buildings
constructed in the Loop after the Chicago Fire, and one of only two remaining
buildings in the city with a cast-iron facade. The Berghoff holds Chicago liquor
license no. 1, issued at the close of Prohibition, and it still serves its own brand
of beer. (
Good news for kids:
The Berghoff also serves its own root beer.) If you
decide to belly up at the stand-up bar, you might notice that the bar clientele is
still overwhelmingly male; the stand-up bar at The Berghoff didn't admit
women until 1969.
The menu rotates seasonally, but the German standard-bearers are always
available. The Berghoff serves hundreds of orders of Wiener schnitzel every day,
plus bratwurst, sauerbraten, corned beef, and the like. Sides of choice include
spaetzle, creamed spinach, and red cabbage. Because some of us have arteries to
worry about, the third and fourth generations of family management have
