Rehearsal Dinner Near Evanston Women's Club

My fiance and I are getting married in June at the Women's Club and I'm wondering if anyone has experience doing a very casual rehearsal dinner (i.e., pizza and beer) somewhere nearby. My thoughts were Dave's Italian Kitchen or Carmen's. I haven't been to either in a while though and was curious whether anyone could vouch for these places or had any other suggestions. It doesn't have to be in Evanston proper as most people are staying in Chicago, but it would be more convenient if it were close by.

Congratulations! My brother and sister-in-law got married at the Evanston Women's Club, and it was lovely.

You might consider the Lou Malnati's in Evanston--they have sort of a raised area that is a bit separate from the rest of the restaurant where you can have some semi-privacy. You could probably scope it out and make sure you reserved that area. Plus the deep dish pizza is a Chicago thing that any out-of-towners might like to try. It's definitely not fancy, very casual.

Lou Malnati's
1850 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
847.328.5400

Yup. Lou Malnati's is a good suggestion. It's about two blocks walk northwest of the Women's Club. There's also Giordano's, two blocks in the opposite direction; I've seen them section off part of their dining room for small groups. I haven't been to Carmen's in ages... since Giordano's came to town.

I do not recommend Dave's; my last meal there was dreadful.

I'll add - http://www.unionevanston.com/index.html - to the list. I've been to a couple of pizza+beer fundraisers there.

I like Carmen's, but it doesn't seem like a good space for a celebration, IMHO. I do like Dave's -- gotta know what you are getting into, it is not upscale, but I have always enjoyed a meal there. Have not been to Malnati's, the room as described sounds good. The Candlelite is further away, and I don't know if they have a separate room or not, but the pizza is good, as is the beer. Congratulations!

I'll second Union. A little more contemporary for about the same cost. Nice menu, good bar options and they can accomodate a decent-sized group nicely. We recently had a birthday party there for about 16 people.

One downside of Union is that it's a bit further from the Women's Club than the other options (just over half a mile, vs two short blocks).

Not strictly pizza, but very casual, good beer, and virtually across the street from Evanston Women's Club, is Irish pub The Celtic Knot.

The Celtic Knot
626 Church Street
Evanston, IL 60201-4507
www.celticknotpub.com

Also on that block, across the street from the Women's Club, is Mt. Everest, for Indian-Nepali food. Kingfisher, anyone?

Mt. Everest
630 Church Street
Evanston, IL 60201
Ph: (847) 491-1069
mteverestrestaurant.com

I would also second Celtic Knot and Mt. Everest--both have private rooms that you could reserve for the party

A third vote for Union. Yes, you'd be 4-5 blocks away vs. 2, but we are continually impressed by the quality and variety (rotating menu) of food we get there for the price. And the atmosphere is a bit hip, perhaps more celebratory.

Sharona wrote:I would also second Celtic Knot and Mt. Everest--both have private rooms that you could reserve for the party

Don't have anything new to add, just seconding these two. Literally across the street from the Women's Club. Celtic Knot is an Irish with good bar fare, while I love Mt. Everest.

Union has been suggested. Good atmosphere (feels more like being in the city than anywhere else in Evanston), nice beer/wine list, don't love the pizza, though.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Lou Malnati's would be ideal, but I need to see how separate the space is. I'm going to check out Celtic Knot as well. I actually don't care for the pizza at Union, which is too bad b/c I agree that it's a nice space.