Out of town joining in town for dinner

I admit that most of my dining revolves around food issues--gluten, dairy, corn, etc.--so I am not all that up on most places to dine. A friend who lives out of town emailed the following request:

"I need your help! The family is going out for a celebratory dinner (3 birthdays within a month) and looking for a place that makes everyone happy. I'm vegetarian, mom and dad don't like Indian/Mexican/Ethiopian and aren't super fond of Asian though they eat it sometimes. We do well with Italian, Tapas, and ?
any suggestions for your favorite restaurant that might fit our finicky family?"

When I pressed for a bit more info, she said, "North side-ish, nice prices but not super spendy (mom and dad are paying and it's a celebration after all!) None of us like loud places - something nice but not uber fancy."

So, any ideas of what might work? Family, I think, lives near north burbs, but not sure.

One of the Francescas should do nicely, I would think, and they are literally everywhere anymore. Just pick a location that works for you:

It's a Francesca World!

Gotta rep Anteprima. It's delicious and super-reasonable, nice reasonable wine list too.
Accessible, authentic, unique Italian. Pretty little dining room, and a great patio as well.
Up in Andersonville, by Clark and Berwyn (5316 N. Clark).

Any nice steakhouse in Chicago. Great sides that are filling & "more than just salad" for the vegetarian; accessible food for the non-exotic eater, spendy without being too spendy & they feel celebratory. Gene & Georgetti's, Prime, Custom House, etc.

More Daring & Adventurous

Lula Cafe
Green Zebra

Safe & Not Italian-Lots of restaurant groups in this set, but there is a reason you see older people and family celebrations there.

Wishbone- Oprah loves it
Petterino's- Wicked Chocolate Pudding
Mighty Nice- I don't drink anymore, against my faith,but I remember it being the best Mai Tai in the city
Wildfire
Grand Luxe

How about GNRs Sabatino's for Italian, or Myron & Phil's for steak?

Thank you for the ideas; I wouldn't have thought of several of these.

Steak is definitely out. Nothing wrong with sides as an option, but I'd prefer to provide a list that allows her more choice than that.*

Anteprima sounds lovely. Green Zebra was also recommended by a friend. The Francesca restaurants are a good alternative if location is important. We seem to have several good Italian options now, which is wonderful.

I keep thinking something else must have options for a vegetarian...taking Asian out of the mix makes this a bit more difficult! And, adding in that they do not like loud places makes it even more challenging.

What about Middle Eastern? Not sure her parents would like it, but it might work. French Bistro and Greek also seem tough for the vegetarian to get more then sides.*

*I occasionally love eating sides for dinner. In fact, I often prefer having two or three sides to eat and an appetizer instead of an entree. But, often people who are vegetarian are forced into this option and it is different than having the option of doing it. I want to provide her a list of places I know she can eat an entree if she chooses...if she wants sides, cool. But, she has the option of feeling included.

Another recommendation for Green Zebra. The food is outstanding and will certainly please a non-vegetarian who is not opposed to eating vegetarian one night.

I have had really good luck with out of town vegetarians at Mercat a la Planxa. The meat eaters will find plenty of great food as well. The room is nice and you can customize the scope of your dinner to fit the price point.

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