Mother Nature, take a bow! Breezes, flowers, sunsets, views of the lake or river change the dining pace in Chicago. Take a seat on a rooftop, hoist a glass from a bistro table, plop on a picnic table by the lake. Restaurateurs welcome the season and change of pace.
“There’s something mood-changing when you eat outside,” says Frank Pullen, general manager/owner of Waterfront Cafe in Edgewater. “When people sit by the water, everyone chills. No one is in a hurry.”
Though the economy factors into dining frequency, people return for the familiar “regardless of the economy,” says William Blair, general manager and co-owner of Hackney’s on Harms, Glenview.
Competition along the Chicago River is stiff but friendly. “There’s room for everyone,” says Jason Butler, general manager of Flatwater.
The recently opened Via Ventuno attracts families with a gated backyard, kids’ menu and breezes in the South Loop, according to Mercedes Ross, manager. An oasis in the middle of converging street corners is Piccolo Sogno. Chef/owner Tony Priolo invested serious money this year in horticulture, including fig trees and herbs for the garden.
Ready to dine outside? Heed the term “weather permitting” and arrive with an appetite.
For even more choices, check out the alfresco dining and drinking options at metromix.com.
By the water
Allgauer’s On the Riverfront, 2855 N. Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook; 847-664-7999; northbrookallgauers.com. View of the Des Plaines River matches broad menu from burgers ($8) to lamb dinner ($30). Hours: lunch 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; dinner 4:30 to 10 p.m. Daily.
Castaways, 1603 N. Lake Shore Drive at North Beach; 773-281-1200; stefanirestaurants.com. Fare of sandwiches, burgers, noshes and brew does not compete with the view. From $5. Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Flatwater, 321 N. Clark St. at river level; 312-644-0283; flatwater.us. Fried calamari, pork tacos, entree salads, burgers. From $9. Hours: lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. and 5 to 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; brunch 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
Fulton’s on the River, 315 N. LaSalle St.; 312-822-0100 fultonsontheriver.com. From caviar-topped stuffed eggs to burgers and steaks. From $6. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; to 11 p.m. Fri.; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sat.; 4 to 9 p.m. Sun.
Waterfront Cafe, Berger Park Cultural Center, 6219 N. Sheridan Rd.; 773-761-3294; dawghauscafe.com (formerly called Dawg-haus Cafe). Nachos, wraps, Asian chicken salad, milkshakes, sangria. From $3. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs.; to 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.
Bring the family
Cafe con Leche, 1732 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-342-2233; cafeconlechebucktown.com. Tidy, busy and worth the wait for a dozen tables and generous portions of Cuban sandwiches, Mexican breakfast icons and sweet cinnamon-laced coffee, from $8. BYOB. Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Coco Pazzo Cafe, 636 N. St. Clair St.; 312.664.2777; cocopazzocafe.com. A new menu features five or six varieties of plates of small bites meant for two or three people to share. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sun.
Hackney’s on Harms, 1241 Harms Rd., Glenview; 847-724-5577; hackneys.net. A backyard populated with 40 tables and containers of blooms. House classics from burgers ($7) to onion loaf, reubens, salads. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sun.-Thurs.; to 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.
Opa! Estiatorio, 950 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills. 847-968-4300; oparestaurant.com. Appetizers of spreads, stuffed leaves from $6, entrees from $10. Patio hours: 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 4 to 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; noon to 9 p.m. Sun.
South Gate Cafe, 655 Forest Ave., Lake Forest; 847-234-8800; southgatecafe.com. Original firehouse with elm-shaded patio. Fish-of-the day specials, steaks, tempura artichokes, mussels. From $6. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mon.-Wed.; to 9 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.; to 8 p.m. Sun.
Fido-friendly
Feast, 25 E. Delaware Pl., 312-337-4001; feastrestaurant.com. Leafy shade for 16 tables off Michigan Ave. Menu features tortilla soup, vegetarian curry, barbecue chicken, from $7. Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs.; to 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.
Cyrano’s Cafe & Wine Bar on the Riverwalk, 233 E. Riverwalk South; 312-616-1400. cyranosbistrot.com. French-inspired spins on sandwiches, salads, crepes and ice cream. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Joe’s Sport Bar, 940 W. Weed St.; 312-337-3486; joesbar.com. Big-screen heaven plus burgers, Greek salad, pitchers of lemonade and beer plus doggy happy hour (Wed). Hours: 5 to midnight Mon.-Fri.; 11 a.m. to midnight Sat.-Sun.
Oak Street Beachstro, Oak Street Beach; 312-915-4100; oakstreetbeachstro.com. Entree salads, sandwiches, grilled entrees. From $6. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
What a view!
Caffe de Luca, 7427 W. Madison St., Forest Park; 708-366-9200; caffedeluca.com. Sit on the sidewalk or upstairs on the deck. Chef Dominic Santangelo plays with the calendar and menu. From $8. Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; lunch 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; dinner 4 to 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; brunch 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun.; dinner 4 to 9 p.m. Sun.
The Parrot Cage, South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Drive; 773-602-5333; kennedyking.ccc.edu. Stunning view of Lake Michigan and New Orleans cuisine. From $6. Hours: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Wed.-Sat.; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.
Tavern at the Park, 130 E. Randolph St.; 312-552-0070; tavernatthepark.com. The sidewalk offers moving scenery and views of the Pritzker Pavilion. Choices from $8. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fri.; 2 to 10:30 p.m. Sat. Closed Sun.
Escape
Bennison’s Bakery, 1000 Davis St., Evanston; 847-328-9434; bennisonscakes.com. Aromas waft from the kitchen’s screen door to six tables. Bracing coffee and bites (from $2) of sticky pecan rolls, flaky almond horns, croissants, warm ham/cheese sandwiches. Hours: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sat.; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.
Gruppo di Amici, 1508 Jarvis St.; 773-508-5565; gruppodiamici.com. You can’t always please your squeeze or kids. Plop yourself at six tables, let the friends roam to discover an Irish pub, take-out gourmet shop, coffee shop and Indian/Pakistani restaurant. Here enjoy Roman-style pizzas, penne, antipasti. From $8. Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Tues.-Thurs. and Sun.; 5 to 11 p.m. Fri., Sat; closed Mon.
Piccolo Sogno, 464 N. Halsted St.; 312-421-0077; piccolosognorestaurant.com. Flee congestion of Grand, Halsted and Milwaukee into this leafy oasis. Fresh takes on Italian on veggies, pasta, pizza, seafood. Hours: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sun.-Thurs.; to 11 p.m. Fri., Sat.
Taxim, 1558 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-252-1558. Pick the sidewalk patio or rooftop (July) for Greek cuisine and wines. From $5 for appetizers and combination plates; breakfast yogurt bar. Hours: 8 a.m. to midnight for cafe/bar daily; dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Wed. through Mon.; closed Tuesday.
Topaz Cafe, 780 Village Center, Burr Ridge; 630-654-1616; topazcafe.com. West suburbanites love to unwind at this 80-seat patio. Highlights of the American menu include superior fish and pasta dishes and clever desserts. Hours: lunch 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Mon-Sat. and 4 to 8 p.m. Sun.
