Recommendations for a Family Dinner--Lincoln Park area

So both my wife and I have family coming in for an event next weekend and we are looking for a restaurant we can go to on Thursday night. There will be 11 people with a couple of them being kids, and it is not the most adventurous group in terms of cuisine. They are staying in Lincoln Park, so it would be great if it were something around that area (or something with pretty easy parking). Not looking for anything fancy (though no pizza, we are doing that on Friday); just a casual place that can accommodate a larger group and has a kids menu.

Currently, my best thought is RJ Grunts, but I've only been there once and I can never tell if it is a place where folks go just because of the schtick. If anyone has other suggestions I would love to hear them (or if anyone has opinions on RJ Grunts I would take those too).

Northcenter Joe wrote:So both my wife and I have family coming in for an event next weekend and we are looking for a restaurant we can go to on Thursday night. There will be 11 people with a couple of them being kids, and it is not the most adventurous group in terms of cuisine. They are staying in Lincoln Park, so it would be great if it were something around that area (or something with pretty easy parking). Not looking for anything fancy (though no pizza, we are doing that on Friday); just a casual place that can accommodate a larger group and has a kids menu.

Currently, my best thought is RJ Grunts, but I've only been there once and I can never tell if it is a place where folks go just because of the schtick. If anyone has other suggestions I would love to hear them (or if anyone has opinions on RJ Grunts I would take those too).

Definitely wouldn't suggest Grunts for a group that large--I can't think how they'd accommodate a group that big with their seating set up. Some good LP places in that price range that likely could (tho I don't know if all will take reservations) are Barn & Co., Athenian Room, Cafe Babareeba, Basil Leaf and Ricardo Enoteca.

I'll add - http://burgerbarchicago.com/ - to the list.

I'll second the recommendation for Barn. I bet if you sent a PM to G wiv, he'd take real good care of you.

Café Babareeba could be a fun option for your group.

de Quay on Lincoln has an eclectic menus and an open but separate space by the windows that would be about the right size for your group. You can see a picture here:

https://www.urbandaddy.com/articles/347 ... 25&slide=3

It shows it set up for 10 at three tables.

boudreaulicious wrote:

Northcenter Joe wrote:There will be 11 people with a couple of them being kids, and it is not the most adventurous group in terms of cuisine.

Currently, my best thought is RJ Grunts, but I've only been there once and I can never tell if it is a place where folks go just because of the schtick. If anyone has other suggestions I would love to hear them (or if anyone has opinions on RJ Grunts I would take those too).

Definitely wouldn't suggest Grunts for a group that large--I can't think how they'd accommodate a group that big with their seating set up.

I've been there for a larger group than that. They definitely could handle 11 people with a reservation.

Northcenter Joe wrote:Currently, my best thought is RJ Grunts, but I've only been there once and I can never tell if it is a place where folks go just because of the schtick.

I'm not recommending Grunt's over other places mentioned, but I second lodasi in saying I've been there with a group your size or slightly larger which they handled well. And I don't think anyone goes there for the "schtick" anymore. The "schtick" is 45 years old! And my impression is that most of the people there are semi-regulars who have been there about the same number of times we have, which is well into the seven figures. So people are returning for the decent if unexceptional burgers, the decent if unexceptional salad bar, the decent if unexceptional beer, and the atmosphere. (When schtick doesn't change in 45 years, it's not schtick anymore, it's atmosphere.)

riddlemay wrote:

Northcenter Joe wrote:Currently, my best thought is RJ Grunts, but I've only been there once and I can never tell if it is a place where folks go just because of the schtick.

I'm not recommending Grunt's over other places mentioned, but I second lodasi in saying I've been there with a group your size or slightly larger which they handled well. And I don't think anyone goes there for the "schtick" anymore. The "schtick" is 45 years old! And my impression is that most of the people there are semi-regulars who have been there about the same number of times we have, which is well into the seven figures. So people are returning for the decent if unexceptional burgers, the decent if unexceptional salad bar, the decent if unexceptional beer, and the atmosphere. (When schtick doesn't change in 45 years, it's not schtick anymore, it's atmosphere.)

^ I agree with this.
This is how I view most LEYE (Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises) restaurants: it might not be the most authentic nor the absolute best meal, but it's going to be more than acceptable at a fair price. And RJ Grunts is a very accessible restaurant for picky eaters.

Thanks for the suggestions; right now Barn and Co and RJ Grunts are the leaders (I really like Athenian Room too​ but they don't take reservations which makes me nervous).

Always open to other suggestions so we can give our guests options; I always know this forum will be able to deliver.

Northcenter Joe wrote:Thanks for the suggestions; right now Barn and Co and RJ Grunts are the leaders

NJ,
If you contact me directly I will be happy to setup a reservation for you. Barn & Company can easily accommodate 11-people and that's a good night for a group that size as Thursdays tend to be busy but not over crowded. Barn & Company is also quite child friendly with kids menu, crayons, chocolate milk etc.

Regards,
Gary Wiviott
Pitmaster, Barn & Company
gary@wiviott.com

My mother-in-law was excited by the Barn and Co menu and booked our reservation for Thursday night (11 people at 7:00, apparently they were very accommodating). Looking forward to it and thanks everyone for the suggestions!

Just to update this...11 of us went to Barn and Company on Thursday and had a lovely dinner. Gary could not have been more accommodating (coming over to talk to my family impressed them greatly) and the food was excellent. Standouts were the Nora Burger special (my wife could not stop talking about it), the asparagus (just great lemon flavor) and the brisket (with huge portions). It was also great to have the chalk wall for the kids to draw on.

Great suggestion everyone; it is not a place I had been to as I myself am a vegetarian but it is definitely a place I will be returning to and recommending (and don't worry, my mom is recommending it to anyone she talks to).