Navy Pier Area Dinner help for Saturday 12/20

I am being the good host, and playing Chicago tour guide Saturday, and taking our house guest from the Philippines downtown Chicago & to Navy Pier on Saturdy to see the X-mas lights, and the events @ Navy Pier. I am looking for an earlier dinner option that wont break the bank, after an expensive day of parking, and activities at the Navy Pier.

We are going to Cemita's(Cemita Atomica.. I have been dreaming about you..) for lunch on the "way downtown" and then spending a few hours at Navy Pier. So a dinner around 5:00 p.m. is what I am looking for.

No: Deep Dish pizza, Chinese(we are going to Lao Sze Schuan for dinner on X-mas Eve), overly expensive places, and either downtown, west side, or s.w. side( or convenient to an expressway for the trip back home to the far S.W. suburbs).

Places I am considering: Coal Fire, Honey 1, Kuma's, Paramount Room(pipe dream),

As usual: beer, byob, or a full bar would be nice, Toddler friendly, GNR preferably, decent parking availability.

Any help/feedback out there? I really do not want to eat dinner @ Navy Pier.

Ive been to Kuma's, but later, and I dont remember seeing any kids, We have been to CoalFire, and Honey 1, and these are good options, and I have read about Paramount Room, & am interested in trying it, although I doubt its Kid friendly so I doubt we could go.

thanks.

Kids might get a kick out of the Disney-esque atmosphere at the Polish Highlander restaurant Szala's. Not too far off I-55, near Midway. Kids can eat in a sled!

Russian Tea Time?

Some options kinda nearing your way home.

Xni-pec if south of the border would still be an option after your lunch at CP?

Chuck's

Klas

seebee wrote:Some options kinda nearing your way home.

Xni-pec if south of the border would still be an option after your lunch at CP?

Chuck's

Klas

Klas looks interesting, thank you.

I dont think a 2nd Mexican stop would work, although I have wanted to go to Xni-pec for a while. Chuck's.... Ive been twice, and ... i'll just say it wasnt my cup of tea.

Manny's? Though only beer and wine are served, as far as I know.

1141 S. Jefferson
Chicago, IL 60607

Monday - Saturday
5:00am - 8:00pm
Closed Sundays

rober wrote:Manny's? Though only beer and wine are served, as far as I know.

1141 S. Jefferson
Chicago, IL 60607

Monday - Saturday
5:00am - 8:00pm
Closed Sundays

good call, I was thinking Manny's as well. Some of my co-workers were there a day or so ago, and didnt bring me back a sandwich..

I could go for some corned beef.

In case you're looking for an option walking distance from Navy Pier, i'd suggest the italian joint Volare, which makes the best vodka sauce in the city according to several people i've known. I'm a huge fan of their salmonatta sauce (tomato cream sauce with generous chunks of salmon) on a bed of their fantastic angel hair pasta.



Volare Restaurant
201 E Grand Avenue (at St Clair St)
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 410-9900

Ghazi wrote:In case you're looking for an option walking distance from Navy Pier, i'd suggest the italian joint Volare, which makes the best vodka sauce in the city according to several people i've known. I'm a huge fan of their salmonatta sauce (tomato cream sauce with generous chunks of salmon) on a bed of their fantastic angel hair pasta.

Volare Restaurant
201 E Grand Avenue (at St Clair St)
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 410-9900

different strokes...

Ghazi wrote:In case you're looking for an option walking distance from Navy Pier, i'd suggest the italian joint Volare, which makes the best vodka sauce in the city according to several people i've known. I'm a huge fan of their salmonatta sauce (tomato cream sauce with generous chunks of salmon) on a bed of their fantastic angel hair pasta.



Volare Restaurant
201 E Grand Avenue (at St Clair St)
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 410-9900

thanks for an option near Navy Pier.

You wouldn't be too far from The Saloon. Not quite the price point you're looking for?

The GP wrote:You wouldn't be too far from The Saloon. Not quite the price point you're looking for?

Saloon steakhouse? I wish, I could go for that Dry aged KC strip for sure.

If it want X-mas time I would just head to Joe's for a few orders of Stone Crab claws. But we are trying to be financially responsible this time of year.

I know you don't want Chinese, but didn't know if that included all Asian ... there is Niu, the Japanese fusion restaurant on Illinois. I've eaten there several times. It was decent, and it's only about two blocks from Navy Pier.

Niu - website
332 E Illinois, Chicago, IL
312-527-2888

Podhalanka or Bruna's might fall within your parameters, both culinary and geographic.

GreenFish wrote:I know you don't want Chinese, but didn't know if that included all Asian ... there is Niu, the Japanese fusion restaurant on Illinois. I've eaten there several times. It was decent, and it's only about two blocks from Navy Pier.

Niu - website
332 E Illinois, Chicago, IL
312-527-2888

thank you for the rec. maybe not this time as we took her cousing to Renga-Tei her first night here, probably not the same type of place you are recommending, but maybe for a future visit.

I have printed out directions and menus(where avaialable) for the following(and any that may be broght to my attention), and I am going to let her choose

- Coalfire
- Kumas
- Manny's
- Honey 1
- Klas

seebee,

thank you for the rec. for Klas, we went, and had a great time, and the food was very good, and a perfect match for a cold, snowy night. I will post on the Klas, and Cemitas thread, but since I suck at posting pictures on the LTH site, I will put the photos on my blog... grubseeker