Restaurant Recommendations
Bat 17
1709 Benson Avenue
847.733.7117
www.bat17evanston.com
Bat 17 is a breakfast, lunch and dinner pub that takes a page from some of New York's finest delis. They offer some of the best sandwiches on the planet, and you can have breakfast for dinner if you want!
847.733.7117
www.bat17evanston.com
Bat 17 is a breakfast, lunch and dinner pub that takes a page from some of New York's finest delis. They offer some of the best sandwiches on the planet, and you can have breakfast for dinner if you want!
Bar Louie
1520 Sherman Avenue
847.733.8300
www.barlouieamerica.com
A small spot focused around a central bar, Bar Louie brings in serious crowds on the weekends and on any night there's a game on. The menu offers a wide assortment of oversized sandwiches, appetizers, salads, wraps and pastas, with favorites including macaroni & cheese and the skirt steak sandwich. Artful martinis and mojitos headline the drink list, which also features 20 beers on tap and several wines by the glass.
847.733.8300
www.barlouieamerica.com
A small spot focused around a central bar, Bar Louie brings in serious crowds on the weekends and on any night there's a game on. The menu offers a wide assortment of oversized sandwiches, appetizers, salads, wraps and pastas, with favorites including macaroni & cheese and the skirt steak sandwich. Artful martinis and mojitos headline the drink list, which also features 20 beers on tap and several wines by the glass.
Dave's Italian Kitchen
1635 Chicago Avenue
847.864.6000
www.davesik.com
An Evanston institution, and one of our faves for birthday celebrations and on snowy December nights. Always bustling with families, friends, couples. Pasta in all sorts of shapes, with sauces like carbonara, bolognese, alfredo and marinara. Get a meatball! Get the mustard chicken with rotini! You can't go wrong at Dave's.
847.864.6000
www.davesik.com
An Evanston institution, and one of our faves for birthday celebrations and on snowy December nights. Always bustling with families, friends, couples. Pasta in all sorts of shapes, with sauces like carbonara, bolognese, alfredo and marinara. Get a meatball! Get the mustard chicken with rotini! You can't go wrong at Dave's.
Davis Street Fish Market
501 Davis Street
847.869.3474
www.davisstreetfishmarket.com
Fresh fish and shellfish are flown in every day from all three coasts to create imaginative and authentic seasonal daily specials. You can also have your favorite fresh fish prepared anyway you like. A bustling Raw Bar boasts a variety of seasonal freshly shucked oysters and clams, fresh cracked crabs, steamed whole Maine lobsters and many other items. They also have great steaks (they partner with Pete Miller's; see below), if you don't like seafood but others in your group do.
847.869.3474
www.davisstreetfishmarket.com
Fresh fish and shellfish are flown in every day from all three coasts to create imaginative and authentic seasonal daily specials. You can also have your favorite fresh fish prepared anyway you like. A bustling Raw Bar boasts a variety of seasonal freshly shucked oysters and clams, fresh cracked crabs, steamed whole Maine lobsters and many other items. They also have great steaks (they partner with Pete Miller's; see below), if you don't like seafood but others in your group do.
Gio
1631 Chicago Avenue
847.869.3900
www.italianrestaurants-chicago.com
Just down the block from Dave's Italian Kitchen, you'll find Gio. Good Italian, and upscale from the vibe (and food) at Dave's. The food here is less "Americanized" than Dave's. A favorite of Henley's is the "seafood stew" (cioppino). Chock full of all sorts of items from the sea...if you're into that sort of thing.
847.869.3900
www.italianrestaurants-chicago.com
Just down the block from Dave's Italian Kitchen, you'll find Gio. Good Italian, and upscale from the vibe (and food) at Dave's. The food here is less "Americanized" than Dave's. A favorite of Henley's is the "seafood stew" (cioppino). Chock full of all sorts of items from the sea...if you're into that sort of thing.
Koi
624 Davis Street
847.866.6969
www.koievanston.com
Koi offers specialty entrees like the savory Black Mushroom Duck and sweet and spicy Shanghai Red Snapper. Even the sushi novice can indulge in the sweet flavors of a Red Dragon Maki and the artfully crafted Eggplant roll. This was our first date dinner location in February 2009 after we hadn't sen each other since May 1991.
847.866.6969
www.koievanston.com
Koi offers specialty entrees like the savory Black Mushroom Duck and sweet and spicy Shanghai Red Snapper. Even the sushi novice can indulge in the sweet flavors of a Red Dragon Maki and the artfully crafted Eggplant roll. This was our first date dinner location in February 2009 after we hadn't sen each other since May 1991.
Merle's #1 Barbecue
1727 Benson Avenue
847.475.7766
www.merlesbbq.com
It takes time and effort to get things right and that's how Merle's does barbecue: low and slow with tender loving care over fresh hickory wood. Locally owned and operated, Merle's has been a Chicago-area destination for fantastic barbecue since 1992. Merle's also sports a top notch burger list, abundant fresh salads, awesome steak, cold beer, and authentic sides like fried green beans, corn bread and cole slaw.
847.475.7766
www.merlesbbq.com
It takes time and effort to get things right and that's how Merle's does barbecue: low and slow with tender loving care over fresh hickory wood. Locally owned and operated, Merle's has been a Chicago-area destination for fantastic barbecue since 1992. Merle's also sports a top notch burger list, abundant fresh salads, awesome steak, cold beer, and authentic sides like fried green beans, corn bread and cole slaw.
Pete Miller's
1557 Sherman Avenue
847.328.0399
www.petemillers.com
Pete Miller's has been serving the finest prime-aged steaks and fresh seafood and treating customers to the country's best live jazz since 1994. Most often we enjoy burgers and salads, and finish it off with their amazing hot fudge sundae. This seems to be THE place parents take their Northwestern students and friends when visiting from out of town or for Parents' Weekend.
847.328.0399
www.petemillers.com
Pete Miller's has been serving the finest prime-aged steaks and fresh seafood and treating customers to the country's best live jazz since 1994. Most often we enjoy burgers and salads, and finish it off with their amazing hot fudge sundae. This seems to be THE place parents take their Northwestern students and friends when visiting from out of town or for Parents' Weekend.
Tommy Nevin's Pub
1450 Sherman Avenue
847.869.0450
www.tommynevins.com
Nevin's is a well-liked hangout for locals and Northwestern University students alike. The menu features an all-day Irish breakfast, hearty meals such as shepherd's pie and Irish stew, plus healthier options such as a raspberry balsamic-spiked salmon. There are 17 beers on tap, including Guiness and Harp. If the food and drinks don't provide enough Irish spirit for you, there's live Irish music Wednesday night and Sunday afternoon. Not to be missed during the summer is the fantastic beer garden!
847.869.0450
www.tommynevins.com
Nevin's is a well-liked hangout for locals and Northwestern University students alike. The menu features an all-day Irish breakfast, hearty meals such as shepherd's pie and Irish stew, plus healthier options such as a raspberry balsamic-spiked salmon. There are 17 beers on tap, including Guiness and Harp. If the food and drinks don't provide enough Irish spirit for you, there's live Irish music Wednesday night and Sunday afternoon. Not to be missed during the summer is the fantastic beer garden!
Starbucks
1726 Sherman Avenue
847.492.0490
www.starbucks.com
Everyone knows about Starbucks, so there's not much to say!
847.492.0490
www.starbucks.com
Everyone knows about Starbucks, so there's not much to say!
Union Pizzeria/Space
1245 Chicago Avenue
847.475.2400
www.unionevanston.com
Union is probably Bridget and John's favorite place for date night. Stunning floor-to-ceiling windows and exposed wooden rafters lend an urban loft feel, and a dozen-plus glass lights dangle over the bar to create a warm glow. From nearly every vantage point, you can spot the wood-burning pizza oven: a domed soapstone behemoth, custom-made by a Vermont craftsman. If you go, you MUST try the prosciutto and arugula pizza, featuring buttery meat atop an even more buttery bechamel sauce, crowned with lemon-kissed leaves and shaved parmesan. Adjacent (or part of?) Union is Space, an intimate music venue that books top acts, including Johnny Rabb! Tickets range from $10 to $50, and shows begin at 8:00 p.m. www.evanstonspace.com
847.475.2400
www.unionevanston.com
Union is probably Bridget and John's favorite place for date night. Stunning floor-to-ceiling windows and exposed wooden rafters lend an urban loft feel, and a dozen-plus glass lights dangle over the bar to create a warm glow. From nearly every vantage point, you can spot the wood-burning pizza oven: a domed soapstone behemoth, custom-made by a Vermont craftsman. If you go, you MUST try the prosciutto and arugula pizza, featuring buttery meat atop an even more buttery bechamel sauce, crowned with lemon-kissed leaves and shaved parmesan. Adjacent (or part of?) Union is Space, an intimate music venue that books top acts, including Johnny Rabb! Tickets range from $10 to $50, and shows begin at 8:00 p.m. www.evanstonspace.com