Location for a gathering of high school students

Hi all: I have a puzzling question that I think only LTH-ers can answer. We want to host an afternoon gathering of some high school students who will be working with us on a project. We're thinking either pizza or ice cream. There will be about 40-50 students all together. One group is coming from Park Ridge. A small group from north Milwaukee Ave. in the city, and the largest group is coming by school bus from Pontiac. So I need to find a space that can host about 40 teens, where a school bus can pull up and that maybe is not so tough for the Pontiac bunch to get to. Maybe something on the south side or south suburbs that isn't too far off I-55? Any suggestions you have would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

Maybe Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe, in Burbank, would work?

What type of work will be involved? Is there some theme you would like to reinforce through lunch like Edna's Restaurant, 3715 W. Madison where people get a second chance? Possibly Epic burger or Soul Vegetarian East where the food is natural and the business plan socially responsible.

I imagine any of these places would be more than helpful if you were to call and make arrangements.

Also, as you can glean from reading the board or even from the title many persons have a great affinity for Chinatown. 40 people is very feasible for many locations and I am sure it would be a memorable experience for your group.

Good Luck

Easy access for the first two would be Grazianos on Touhy in Niles.

Consider these restaurants convenient to 55:

Home Run Inn
The Original
Banquet Room/Parking
4254 W. 31st Street
Chicago, IL 60623
phone: 773-247-9696
fax: 773-247-7465
Established: 1947

Portillo's
Parking
5532 S. Harlem Avenue
Summit IL 60501
708-458-7000
Theme: 30's Prohibition

Szalas
Banquets
5214 S. Archer Ave,
Chicago, IL 60632
773-582-0300

Mi Tierra
Some parking
2528 S. Kedzie
Chicago, IL 60623
773-254-7722

selanator wrote:Easy access for the first two would be Grazianos on Touhy in Niles.

I've always found the food there kind of blah. If the OP decides to look for options on the NW side as opposed to the south side, there are probably more memorable places than this.

Amata wrote:Maybe Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe, in Burbank, would work?

I have been to Chucks a couple of times in the last two weeks and the dining toom has only 80 chairs or so and parking is tricky, especially for buses.

There is a new restaurant/banquet spot open in the old Big Cheese Pizza space called Kayla's. They serve pizza, have a huge couple of back rooms, complete with pool table and a couple video games. Looks like a great place for kids to hang out. They are right off the highway at 2554 W Diversey: http://kaylascafe.org/

Not sure if it would work out, but I am digging the idea of foodlife! Much better than the standard pizza and ice cream. More like an upscale food court where the kids have ample choices.


http://www.foodlifechicago.com/foodlifechicago.htm

Well, it's not my cup of tea, but for a bunch of h-s kids, some out-of-town, looking for pizza just off of I-55 with a free parking lot and a huge space (holds 350), Connie's on Archer might be the ticket, altho not if it's right before a Sox game. Here's more:

http://www.conniespizza.com/