River North-ish area with young kids?

We're coming into town for a Cubs game and staying in River North (Westin) in late June. Me and my foodie wife, my 6yo that will eat anything as long as it has carbs or sugar, and a 1yo that will eat anything until he gets bored and starts throwing it at you (neither has much experience with medium/heavy spice).

We need to cover dinner both Friday and Saturday. Between our bodies being on Eastern time and a little one used to going to bed around 6 or 6:30 CDT, we're looking at an early dinner. I'd rather not brave a walk-in unless it's a sure thing, so reservations preferred. Walkable with a stroller is best, but not afraid to journey a little bit. My 6yo will have stuffed himself on hotdogs and other stadium fare around lunch on Saturday, so if there's going to be a "bigger" meal, Friday is the best bet, although we likely will have spent 3 hours in the car on Friday afternoon.

My 1yo and I also need to cover lunch on Saturday (we're not going to the game); is the Purple Pig at all some place that he and I could do without annoying people assuming he's in good form(and do they have a high chair squirreled away anywhere)? My other thought a little further south if the weather is decent is the Gage. I'd love to hit Sheffield's a little after the game starts, but likely not the best place

It has been 5 years since we've been locals, so I'm out of touch with what our best options might be with the kids, so putting us in your collective hands.

Friday night in River North is super busy with quite a club scene which makes it a little tricky to suggest a spot where you can comfortably have dinner with kids. My first thought is to book a booth or a table on the patio at Sable - call and ask them if they have one free ... as a hotel restaurant, they're more used to having families and in the booth, the kids can watch the kitchen work which is fun. Many folks describe the food as bar food but I think it's way better and every guest I've taken there has raved ...comfort food but done up ... and with cocktails that are superb. It continues to be a real favorite spot.

Xoco deals well with kids but no reservations and often a long line to order.

Zed 451 is fun and would probably work well - ask them about pricing for children as they have a prix fixe. The buffet section has such a good selection of tasty salads, fruits, cheese, etc that even a child feeling fussy will find something to like and the roasted meats (a la Brazilian steakhouse) are really delicious. I'd imagine your 6 yr old would like the whole idea of getting to pick from the passing skewers. We go here a bunch from work and it's really fun and tasty.

La Madia gets packed up near the bar but if you get a booth in back, it would work - really good pizza and salads .. nice wine selection. Not too fussy.

Any of these would also work for lunch on Saturday.

Don't spend 3 hours in a car for the Cubs. Take the train. Kids love trains.

I am forced to eat in River North all the time. If I moved away and came back, I'd jump back on the train at Wrigley and head up to Argyle or other points north for Ethiopian or Indian etc. or walk over to Southport and board favorite Toon's.

Near your hotel you have a million steakhouses. Harry Caray's or Joe's might be fine at that hour. Gino's East's latest incarnation is near if pizza is ok. Ramen places are close- slurping turtle and the newer spot near Paris Club. I'd probably stroll over to Eataly and settle down in one of the many restaurants in there.

For Saturday lunch, Publican Quality Meats on Fulton is quite child-friendly and there's usually not a wait if you go early or after 2 pm. You can wheel the stroller up to an outside table on the end or there are a couple of highchairs inside. You can look up their brunch menu on facebook or on their website on Fri evening.

Glazed and Confused is also next door if you're into that.

Quartino is great with kids. Italian small plates.

Take JeffB's advice about ditching the car and riding the train. You can get unlimited 3 day passes for $20 each (the kids ride free). It will really make going to Wrigley Field much more tolerable (no traffic or parking hassles), and open up a whole world of places to eat near the redline. Plus it is kind of fun to ride a train full of cubs fans.

d4v3 wrote:Plus it is kind of fun to ride a train full of cubs fans.

I read somewhere that they were douches.

riddlemay wrote:

d4v3 wrote:Plus it is kind of fun to ride a train full of cubs fans.

I read somewhere that they were douches.

Speaking as a Cubs fan, any concentration of Cubs fans are douches.

d4v3 wrote:Take JeffB's advice about ditching the car and riding the train. You can get unlimited 3 day passes for $20 each (the kids ride free). It will really make going to Wrigley Field much more tolerable (no traffic or parking hassles), and open up a whole world of places to eat near the redline. Plus it is kind of fun to ride a train full of cubs fans.

We aren't planning on driving around the city, just to/from Michigan. We'll get to bust out our new El passes (whatever the smart cards are called now) to head up to Wrigley.

Hi - Sable and Quartino are excellent ideas. I would add Siena Tavern (dinner or brunch), Hub 51 (brunch), and Chicago Cut Steakhouse as options. Chicago Cut has always done a wonderful job accommodating my five and two year olds (we usually go around 5pm). If nice weather, the outdoor tables at any of these places will be good for your family.

Purple Pig will be more difficult, better if you sit outside on the patio. It is my favorite restaurant in Chicago.

Glazed and Infused (30 E Hubbard) in the Courtyard by Marriott would be a nice treat - they make excellent doughnuts.

And Portillo's always hits the spot if you're looking for a quick, tasty meal on any day.

Just to note that while I enjoy Eataly, I'm not sure I'd plan to eat there on a Friday night with kids or even Saturday lunch with them as well - it gets so crowded and there are no reservations so you have to keep the kids occupied for 30 or 45 minutes. There's lots to see but at that hour on a Friday it's wild - and the gelato line is sooooo long and I really can't walk through their doors without heading for gelato pronto! ;->

Siun wrote:Just to note that while I enjoy Eataly, I'm not sure I'd plan to eat there on a Friday night with kids or even Saturday lunch with them as well - it gets so crowded and there are no reservations so you have to keep the kids occupied for 30 or 45 minutes. There's lots to see but at that hour on a Friday it's wild - and the gelato line is sooooo long and I really can't walk through their doors without heading for gelato pronto! ;->

I agree with this-- especially with a stroller, Eataly can be crowded. That said, you can snag a very tasty slice of focaccia from the bread counter (the version with just mozzarella and tomato sauce is very kid friendly) and then stand at some of the tables-- my kid enjoyed sitting on the crossbar underneath.

Jen

All of this depends on the little kids and how much grip the parents have. Crowded Eataly seems like a natural. Lawyers and consultants (and their admirers) at Chicago Cut smack in the middle of Friday happy hour sounds suicidal. Kids or not. And I resemble my own remarks. Ditto Sienna. I say this as a dad who took tiny kids to starred restaurants in Europe. It's not the kids or the places, per se. It's the context. But YOLO!

Early will definitely be the way to go with a 1-yo, and all of the places mentioned above should be great. The Gage should definitely work, it's been one of my daughter's favorites since she was 5 or so. They don't have an official Kids' Menu, but the servers will always mention a number of special options they have for kids. They have great chicken fingers, which became my dinner one night when my daughter devoured my charcuterie platter. In addition to PQM, The Publican is also very kid friendly early in the evening. Another place we've been going to a lot when downtown with kids is Bar Toma.

Let me clarify: many of these places at happy hour/ 4-630 on a sunny Friday afternoon will not be great with a tiny kid, or not. Especially places in or near Loop office buildings. After that, it's the dinner rush. Saturday at that time, completely different story.

spinynorman99 wrote:

riddlemay wrote:

d4v3 wrote:Plus it is kind of fun to ride a train full of cubs fans.

I read somewhere that they were douches.

Speaking as a Cubs fan, any concentration of Cubs fans are douches.

Yeah, after I posted that, I immediately reconsidered it. It is fun going to the game with a bunch of still relatively sober fans, after the game, not so much (especially night games). In fact, I usually try to ditch out a little early to avoid the onslaught of drunken douches (who are actually in the minority).

Speaking as a Cubs fan, any concentration of Cubs fans are douches.

Is that to be understood semantically, like a "gaggle of geese"?

Also, let me second La Madia for unhectic, inexpensive, quality lunches (particularly if you're fond of pizza and salads).

Purple Pig has a few high chairs. They will still be slammed on Saturday lunch. When I was working there it was one of the busiest shifts of the week. Line outside by 11:30 but if the patio is an option for you that might help things a bit.

Club Lago at Orleans and Superior is fun and also very kid friendly. Lunch and dinner.