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In-Depth Information
joint in a book for kids? Because the food at the Goose is almost as good as the
beer on tap, and a separate, casual dining area attracts plenty of families, especially
on the weekends.
The cut-above bar food includes burgers (including a killer, dragon-breath-
inducing Stilton burger with roasted garlic), sandwiches (pulled pork, catfish po'
boy, chicken Caesar), and some serious salads. Goose Island is also known for its
addictive homemade potato chips, fresh-brewed root beer, and orange cream soda.
The zero-attitude, come-as-you-are ambience is very refreshing for a lazy afternoon
pit stop or a casual lunch or dinner. A second location, at 3535 N. Clark St. in
Wrigleyville (
&
773/832-9040
), has an enclosed beer garden that welcomes kids.
1800 N. Clybourn Ave. (at Sheffield Ave.).
&
312/915-0071.
www.gooseisland.com. Kids' menu, high chairs,
boosters. Reservations recommended on weekends. Sandwiches $7.50-$9.95; main courses $11-$17; kids'
menu items under $5. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Fri 11:30am-1am; Sat 11am-2am; Sun 11am-1am; main
dining room closes at 10pm daily. Subway/El: Red Line to North/Clybourn.
Kabuki
JAPANESE Parents appreciate the laid-back atmosphere at this no-frills
sushi restaurant located just off of the busy intersection of Clark and Fullerton.
The clientele is mostly Lincoln Park's young professionals, but the atmosphere is
welcoming to all. The menu runs the gamut of Japanese foods—sushi, sashimi,
tempura, teriyaki, and noodles—in an intimate, 55-seat dining room. Bonsai
trees, brush paintings, and window screens decorate a dining room that is domi-
nated by two highly trained sushi chefs from behind their 10-seat sushi bar. Those
who want to sample sushi and try 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 low-risk entree into the world of raw fish. For an appetizer, Kabuki
recommends the
goma-ae,
a boiled spinach appetizer 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 over-
flows, you can head to Kabuki II, just a few doors down at 2473 N. Clark. In
Wrigleyville visit Kabuki III at 3647 N. Southport (
&
773/281-9155
).
2407 N. Clark.
&
773/281-3131.
High chairs, boosters. Reservations recommended. Main courses $8-$15. AE,
MC, V. Sun-Tues 4:30pm-midnight; Fri-Sat 4:30pm-1pm. Closed Wed. Bus: 22 to Clark or 36 to Broadway.
Sai Café
JAPANESE Here's another good spot to start exposing your kids
to the wonders of Japanese cuisine. Despite some upscale sushi bars surfacing in
high-profile restaurant districts in the past few years, Lincoln Park's modest Sai
Café remains the choice for Lincoln Park residents more interested in food than
funky decor. More than 30 varieties of sushi are lovingly prepared and served
with élan in this neighborhood setting just off chic Armitage Avenue. 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 carte
selections come by the piece or maki-mono style, which pairs anything from
tuna and avocado to flying-fish eggs and scallions, and then wraps it all up in
rice and a thin sheet of dried seaweed. Combo plates feature different meat, fish,
and vegetables that can be dressed in tempura or teriyaki, or served sashimi style.
Sai Café also offers a large selection of noodle and rice dishes.
2010 N. Sheffield Ave. (at Armitage Ave.).
&
773/472-8080.
High chairs, boosters. Main courses $16-$24
(a la carte sushi $3.75-$6.95 per piece). AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 4:30-11pm; Fri-Sat 4:30pm-midnight;
Sun 3:30-10pm. Subway: Brown Line to Armitage.
INEXPENSIVE
Bourgeois Pig
BREAKFAST/SANDWICHES Eclectic antiques fill
this brownstone that's become a mecca for DePaul University students and
Finds
