Mother's Day weekend in Kenilworth - lunch help please?

Last year, my hairdresser had the audacity to leave the salon in Evanston that I've gone to for years and open up her own place w/ her sister in Kenilworth. The nerve! However, I like her enough as both a stylist and a person that I'm shlepping myself over there every other month. Anyway, this year I've invited my mom down from Wisconsin for Mother's Day weekend and am treating her to a haircut & highlight at this salon. With the exceptions of occasional visits to the Botanic Gardens and Ravinia, this is not an area that I'm all that familar with. We'll be finishing up around lunch time and I'm looking for ideas/suggestions for a spot nearby where we could meet up with the menfolk for a light lunch (Mom has requested Marie's pizza for dinner & Dad cannot visit Marie's w/o ordering a bunch of fried appetizers pre-pizza.) We'd like a sit-down place w/ decent salads, sandwiches, etc... and beer (I did say I'm from Wisconsin.) Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Lynn

Is this on Saturday, or on Sunday? You may find that some places are open only on Saturday, while others may only do Sunday brunch (possibly only for Mother's Day).

Here are two recommendations, both in Wilmette, the first town immediately south of Kenilworth.

Convito Cafe and Market (formerly Convito Italiano) is an upscale Italian and French deli and grocery store that has a cafe where they serve sandwiches, salads, pastas, etc. for Monday-Saturday lunch, and a separate menu for Sunday brunch. They are in Plaza del Lago, just over the border from Kenilworth on Sheridan Road. They recently moved from one side of the shopping center to the other (not that this matters to you, but you'll see a big open pit under construction across the shopping center where they used to be).

Convito Cafe and Market
1515 Sheridan Rd.
Wilmette
847-251-3654

The other recommendation is Walker Brothers Pancake House. If you've never been to Walker Brothers, you're in for a real treat. Don't think of this as "just another pancake house"; yes, they have pancakes, but they have much, much more, including their fabulous apple pancake, pictured below, as well as excellent omelettes and other items.

Walker Bros. Original Pancake House
153 Green Bay Rd.
Wilmette
847-251-6000

Both places are open for lunch (or brunch) seven days a week. You can see their menus on their websites (click on their name above for a link).

Walker Brothers can get busy on weekends, but they are a good-sized place and do a good job of moving people through.

Obviously, Convito is more along the lines of what you were specifically asking about, but Walker Brothers is really unique and well-known as a local gem (not only for its apple pancake, but also for the original stained glass which adorns the restaurant). However, if beer is mandatory, it's worth noting that Walker Brothers does not have a liquor license, whereas Convito has a full bar.

I'd suggest two possibilities that are good for Mom type lunches: The Noodle in Wilmette, which has very nice pasta (made in-house), soups and salads; they serve wine and must have beer too but I can't recall how big a selection it is: http://www.thenoodlecafe.com/wilmette.htm, or JP McCarthy's in Winnetka, which is more casual, and you may have to share the place with tables full of children, but they have very good thin crust pizza and burgers, along with a bar so thus a full selection of beers. Here's a review from Metromix: http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/dining/32280,0,7508100.venue
They've changed the decor since that review was written, and now it has a "cowboy" theme (the owner has written a few books about Montana) but the description of the food rings pretty true.

Thanks to you both for the suggestions. I will run them by Mom and let her choose. And this will be on Saturday, as I would rather be struck by lightening then be in a restaurant for lunch on Mother's Day. Admittedly, I'm probably jaded by all the years I spent WORKING in restaurants on Mother's Day. I will be cooking for Mom on Sunday.
Thanks again, Lynn

LynnB wrote:Last year, my hairdresser had the audacity to leave the salon in Evanston that I've gone to for years and open up her own place w/ her sister in Kenilworth. The nerve!

Small world, LynnB. Kelly is my stylist, too!
Another choice for you, (to my mind better than Convito, which, in spite of the "Italiano" in the name, I believe, is inspired by the "food for WASP's" school of cooking) is Jilly's Cafe on Green Bay at Central Street Evanston.
It's small and quiet with a few lunch specials, well done.

Enjoy!

ToniG wrote:The Noodle in Wilmette

According to their website, the Noodle is not open for lunch on Saturdays.

Josephine wrote:Jilly's Cafe on Green Bay at Central Street Evanston

According to their website, Jilly's is not open for lunch on Saturdays, either.

Josephine wrote:(to my mind better than Convito, which, in spite of the "Italiano" in the name, I believe, is inspired by the "food for WASP's" school of cooking)

I certainly don't see what is "WASPish" about bruschetta ("Fresh mozzarella, warmed tomatoes, fresh basil & extra virgin olive oil") or a salmon salad ("Herb crusted Atlantic salmon, baby spinach, spinach-feta cheese filled phyllo pocket; grain mustard vinaigrette") or a Chicken Caesar Salad ("Romaine lettuce, garlic croutons, parmesan, & grilled chicken; Caesar dressing with a drizzle of black olive tapenade") or a Cafe BLT sandwich ("Applewood smoked bacon, romaine, tomato, avocado & basil aioli on toasted brioche with homemade chips") or a Grilled Chicken & Prosciutto Sandwich ("Grilled prosciutto wrapped chicken breast, baby spinach & sage aioli on brioche bun with pommes frites"). Maybe you've never actually eaten in the cafe there? Same thing with their market offerings; for example, there's nothing "WASPish" about their crumiri cookies, which you won't find many other places on the North Shore.

It's also worth noting that Convito has removed the "Italiano" from its name, and is now called Convito Cafe and Market. It has combined the Italian specialties it has always offered with many the French dishes formerly served by the restaurant Betise in the space it moved into, so its offerings (in both the cafe and market) feature specialties from both countries.

I'm from that area and I would suggest Cafe Buongiourno in the laundry mall in downtown Winnetka.

It's a family run place with very high quality food. There can be a bit of a wait on weekends but it's worth it. They have terrific soups and some of my favorite salads. The cobb is my favorite there made with fresh roasted chicken, slab bacon, fresh avocados etc.

566 Chestnut St.
Winnetka 60093
847-784-8899

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/dini ... 5445.venue

The Laundry Mall in Winnetka isn't far, and one of the anchors is Marty Rojak's seafood-heavy (but not exclusive) restaurant:

Harbour House Restaurant
566 Chestnut St.
Winnetka
847-441-4600

Or, for good Sicilian food, with an amazingly outgoing, peripatetic owner, you might consider

La Bella Winnetka
505 Chestnut St.
Winnetka 60093-2418
847-441-6002

nr706 wrote:La Bella Winnetka

No hours are shown on their own website, but according to their listing on Metromix, La Bella Winnetka is not open for lunch on Saturdays. Also, there was a fire there last month (as reported in the Tribune here) and I don't know if they've re-opened yet.

Just to recap, these are the recommendations so far that ARE open for lunch on Saturdays:

Convito Cafe and Market - Wilmette
Walker Brothers Original Pancake House - Wilmette
JP McCarthy's - Winnetka
Cafe Buongiorno - Winnetka
Harbour House - Winnetka

Walker Brothers and I believe also Cafe Buongiorno do not have liquor licenses.

Hi,

Once again, thanks to all for the suggestions. We wound up choosing the Harbour House in the Laundry Mall. The setting was exactly what I had in mind - casual, yet elegant. I wish it had been warmer, as their outdoor patio looked really cozy, but we were happy with our table by the window. There's also a skylight in the room so with yesterday's sun the whole place was very bright and cheery. There were only 4 other tables dining while we were there, so we found it to be very conversation-friendly and relaxed. (In stark contrast with Cafe Buongiorno which was a bit of a madhouse w/ a line to get in!)
Water and a decent bread basket were brought right away ( minor peeve - rock hard butter right out of the refrig.) Husband had a cheeseburger (cooked to the requested med-rare,) Mom went with a roasted turkey sandwich w/ honey mustard mayo, and I had a grilled vegetable/goat cheese sandwich on fresh french baguette. All three of us opted for their sweet potato fries which were universally deemed excellent (thin, crispy and tossed with kosher salt.) Dad had a grilled vegetable salad w/ grilled chicken ( and about half of my Mom's fries.) To me, the veggies on my sandwich were a tad too oily, but it didn't stop me from devouring the whole thing. With the exception of those fries, I can't say that anything was outstanding, but the combination of the enjoyable room, the pleasant and efficient service and fine food made for a delightful afternoon lunch. If I find myself in the area again, I wouldn't hesitate to return.

Good to know! I'll have to try the Harbour House!
I have eaten at Cafe Buongiorno and the food is good.