Quick Ping - Dinner Recs (w/kids) Navy Pier-ish

Hello All -
Don't feel like thinking today, woke up too early, and too much to do today. Heading to the zoo right now....
4 adults, two kids:5 and 3. Going to Navy Pier from 5-7:30pm. Recs for dinner after? Have car, doesn't need to be walking distance at all. Might even wind up at Debevics (they are out of towners.) I'm thinking Chinatown, or stuffed pizza somewhere, but blanking on any recs for something else that may be interesting. Main concern is decent enough food for the adults, and fun for the kids. Not looking for anything too touristy though. Thanks in advance if you have something.

You can't go wrong with Chinatown. Either LTH or LSC would be good choices. Also, Greektown is a great fun place to take the out of towners while still being able to get a decent meal.

Walking distance: we had a good all-ages meal at Emilio's.

Not walking distance: Chinatown Mall, not up and down Wentworth but the mall on Archer, is a cool place to take kids for a little other-cultural immersion. Lao Sze Chuan, Phoenix, Spring World etc. are all within or near.

One thing on Chinatown, I think the situation you've presented may make it difficult for Chinatown to shine.

I hate being confronted with those huge menus when a) I haven't had time/am not familiar enough with the menu to know what's good and b) I'm not in a good situation to be a "menu bully" and order an appropriate spread for the group to share.

I had one instance in particular, with a couple out-of-towners who wanted good Cantonese (their wish). We went to "Little" Three Happiness. I ordered a crispy skin chicken, which was a hit, but they wanted to order their "own things." I didn't know too much what to warn against, it wasn't a situation where I could have comfortably ordered for the table, and we all had a rather disappointing meal (chicken excepted).

I don't know if there are any Chinatown places where your odds of success are better in this type of situation (though Spring World, I think, very well could be), but I think it would be worthwhile to mention it if there are.

Aaron Deacon wrote:I don't know if there are any Chinatown places where your odds of success are better in this type of situation (though Spring World, I think, very well could be), but I think it would be worthwhile to mention it if there are.

Aaron,

It is possible to order poorly in nearly any restaurant. This is not a problem restricted to Chiantown. I think LTH, in particular, is a good place to order randomly. Even the Jewish Suburban Chinese dishes, like Egg Foo Yung are usually pretty good.

stevez wrote:

Aaron Deacon wrote:I don't know if there are any Chinatown places where your odds of success are better in this type of situation (though Spring World, I think, very well could be), but I think it would be worthwhile to mention it if there are.

Aaron,

It is possible to order poorly in nearly any restaurant. This is not a problem restricted to Chiantown. I think LTH, in particular, is a good place to order randomly. Even the Jewish Suburban Chinese dishes, like Egg Foo Yung are usually pretty good.

I agree it's possible to order poorly anyplace, but I think the risk is (for me, anyway) bigger in Chinese restaurants because of the sheer size, my general lack of familiarity, and the knowledge that there are a lot of dishes on there that are offered to satisfy a bland American palate and even the ones that aren't may be prepared that way for a given customer.

Many restaurants do not have two modes of preparation depending on the customers' ethnicity and/or seeming receptiveness to their menu.

As I say, just a couple datapoints/meals on my part, but I've been to LTH specifically with non-LTH types twice, and had disappointing meals (overall) both times, though the things I've "known to order" were good. My most enjoyable meals there have been with other groups of LTHers.

This last sentence, I suppose, could honestly be said of many restaurants also.