Chicago with kids
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Anonymous
+1 Those restaurant suggestions are meh to bad (I hate Yolk), except for Scooters (that custard is gooood) - but don't go to boring Roscoe Village just for custard. If you will be seeing a Cubs game at Wrigley, instead of Frasca or Tuco, go to Small Cheval or Big Star (both right by stadium in adjacent Gallagher Way) or Coalfire on Southport. |
Anonymous
I didn’t say I liked them, I said my kid liked them. She doesn’t know it’s a chain, she knows Yolk has s’mores pancakes. BeAnother restaurant she likes Ed Debevics. I’m sure someone will pop on to say it’s not as good as the original location, it’s designed for kids. |
Anonymous
Come on. Do you want people to have a favorable impression of food in Chicago? Kids also like McDonalds. There are places that can be good for both kids and adults. People from out of town want to try local favorites not food they can get anywhere. |
Anonymous
For sure. But the options along Michigan Avenue/downtown that are walkable are mostly chains or in hotels. I say this as a person who worked for a decade at Northwestern hospital so was down there every day and bought lunch frequnetly. Personally, I think Doc B's is decent but my kid would rather go to Yolk. Chicago's best restaurants are in the neighborhoods. I guess I'm assuming the OP and family will mostly be downtown/Michigan Avenue. Even around Millennium Park - what are the kid-friendly non-chain options? Hot Woks, which is a local chain, and the Gage, which my kid loves but I'm not sure every kid would (no kid menu, for one). It's Shake Shack, Cane's, etc. |
Anonymous
| Anyway OP - no shortage of fun things to do or dining options throughout the city. Have a great trip! |
Anonymous
The kids are 8-10, not 3-5. They don't need specific kid friendly options. They could go to one of the many Italian beef joints around there, head up to Lincoln Park for meals, there are always options other than Subway for sandwiches or Sbarro for pizza because some kid likes it. I'm not local anymore so I don't have current suggestions. I'm going in a few months and am following this for suggestions, and was disappointed to read those. |
Anonymous
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Wishbone and Ann Sather my choices for visitors with kids.
-DP |
Anonymous
| Millenium Park movies, music, fitness, etc in the park schedule just came out - https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/05/02/millennium-parks-free-summer-movies-music-and-workout-schedule/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=IT%20S%20HERE%3A%20Millennium%20Park%20s%20Summer%20Movie%2C%20Music%2C%20Fitness%20Lineup%20%E2%98%80%EF%B8%8F&utm_campaign=Millennium%20Park%20summer |
Anonymous
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I second Ann Sathers! YUM!
I'd also add the Art Institute. My kids at 8-10 liked it because they have a lot of familiar or recognizable art (famous pieces). There also used to be a fun exhibit in the basement of miniature houses and rooms if the painting galleries aren't interesting. |
Anonymous
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My 10 yr old DD with a major sweet tooth loves Margie's Candies, but their locations are not near all the great tourist stuff.
Her favorite museum is MSI. She really enjoys Millennium and Maggie Daley parks. Loves riding bikes along the lake and going to the beach (Montrose Beach is our favorite). I had one of the best breakfasts of my life recently at Kasama, but I waited in a line around the block (in the cold), ha! Six will be playing here in June and July, but maybe not for an 8 yr old... |
Anonymous
Yes we had so much fun there too!! They had a lot of activities for kids including free batting cages. |
Anonymous
| Giordano's pizza!! I'm from NYC but I love Chicago pizza!! |
Anonymous
If the OP likes pizza, Chicago doesn't just have deep dish and all the Neapolitan-type spots, etc. Another home-grown pizza is "tavern style," which is a thin crust pizza -- it typically has a cornmeal dusting on the bottom and it cut in squares. So good and won't leave you feeling like you ate a brick for lunch. I haven't been in ages, but if you're near the Loop, Pizano's used to do a pretty good version. |
Anonymous
I know Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder is popular. It's not my favorite pizza and it's not real Chicago style, but it's well known. |
Anonymous
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The food is insane. I come back and I'm depressed.
It's a city OP that you'll love because it's so easy with kids. It's very lively there and easy to navigate. I will always consider Chicago one of the best cities in the world and I've been everywhere. |