The city of Chicago is known around the world for its dining scene, offering everything from Michelin-star restaurants helmed by award-winning chefs to Windy City classics like Mr. Beef, a ’60s-era staple now even more beloved thanks to hit comedy-drama TV series The Bear.
As a Chicago native, I know (and crave) the city’s scrumptious F&B all too well—and I also understand the hassle that comes alongside a night out downtown. Parking is usually a nightmare, and if it isn’t, the fee you’ll pay very well might be.
Plus, just getting to the city is a commitment in and of itself. According to the INRIX 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard, Chicago is the second-most-congested urban area in the U.S. and third-most-congested city in the world. On average, drivers lost 102 hours of their lives to Chicago traffic last year alone.
The good news is, if you’re craving a taste of the Second City, you don’t have to be in the heart of downtown to find it.
Chicago’s world-renowned dining scene stretches far beyond the Loop and into the friendly neighborhood streets that make up its suburbs, from the communities of Chicago’s North Shore that line the coast of Lake Michigan down to the historic hubs that’ve become known as Chicago Southland.
Give your attendees a taste of the Windy City and its suburbs at these group-friendly restaurants the next time you meet in Chicago’s suburbs.
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Chicago’s North Shore
Encompassing 10 suburbs, including Evanston, home to Northwestern University, and Skokie, home to the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center (which also happen to be two meetings-friendly locations in Chicago’s suburbs), Chicago’s North Shore provides an opportunity for groups to experience the highlights of the Windy City, including its F&B, without the price tag that comes with meeting among the skyscrapers.
“We have a lot of known chefs and restaurants that are in the city of Chicago that have opened up locations on the North Shore, and it’s really an easier experience to park and enjoy cute tree-lined downtown areas versus big-city vibes,” said Gina Speckman, executive director of Chicago’s North Shore CVB. “So, people really enjoy checking out the restaurants up here, even if there’s a sister restaurant in the city.”
Here are Speckman’s restaurant recommendations for groups hoping to grab some of the best bites in Chicago’s North Shore.
Five & Dime
Five & Dime is Evanston’s only rooftop restaurant and bar.
“People really like the rooftop vibe,” Speckman said. “In the summer, it’s very popular, and in the winter, they have an indoor space next to the outdoor space, so it’s a really popular option for groups.”
The restaurant’s menu is a unique twist on creative bar food. Meal options include The Genuine Burger, with double Black Angus patties, American cheese, classic sauce and homemade dill pickles, and a crispy fried chicken sandwich with hot honey, spicy peach and mustard sauce, and pepperjack.
Five & Dime consists of three spaces, The Terrace, The Bar and The Shed, and is ideal for casual gatherings, teambuilding activities and celebrations.
Hangar Two by Tangled Roots Brewing Company
This casual gastropub was inspired by Glenview’s history of aviation, with a name nodding to the U.S. Naval Air Station that once stood in the heart of the neighborhood. Groups can take advantage of Hangar Two’s glass atrium, available year-round, for light-filled private events.
“First of all, the food is great,” Speckman said. “It’s really popular with groups and very pretty. You see the snow in the winter, flowers and greenery in the summer, so people really like the space.”
Hangar Two’s menu features everything from familiar favorites like brewpub nachos and flatbreads to chef-created dishes such as bison chili, carne asada vampire tacos and the Cease & Desist Burger, with aged cheddar cheese, applewood smoked bacon and chipotle aioli. Visitors can also choose from a variety of Tangled Roots local craft beers on tap to pair with any meal.
Tay’s Tip: You can never go wrong with a classic tomato soup and grilled cheese combo! No matter the season, I highly recommend Hangar Two’s pulled pork grilled cheese, served with a cup of tomato bisque on the side. Delicious!
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Bar Siena
At the Westfield Old Orchard shopping center in Skokie is Bar Siena, one of the restaurants that made its way to Chicago’s North Shore from the city.
“They have indoor space, outdoor space and a lot of special room sizes for groups large and small,” Speckman said. “They’re really amenable to group experiences, and it’s very eclectic. It’s got a great bar scene and great food.”
Bar Siena’s dinner menu features small bites such as grilled octopus, crispy calamari and roasted meatballs and plates such as pan-seared salmon, chicken marsala, gnocchi with prosciutto sausage and bucatini cacio e pepe.
Event spaces at Bar Siena include Treehouse Corner, a high-energy space overlooking the main bar and pizza oven, and Florence, a private dining room with space for 44 seated or 50 for a reception.
Chicago Southland
Representing the south and southwest suburbs of Chicago, Chicago Southland covers over 400 square miles from Chicago Midway International Airport to the north down to Peotone in the south and Homer Glen in the west over to the eastern Illinois state line.
These neighborhoods are rooted in history, as Native American foot trails once crossed the area, and many Chicago Southland communities sit near sites of Underground Railroad stops. That history is often celebrated by those who call Chicago Southland home, and it can even be seen in the area’s local restaurants.
“The Chicago Southland dining scene provides the wide range of cuisines and settings but with far more logistical ease, lower costs, larger spaces and more intimate environments,” said Mary Patchin, president and CEO of Visit Chicago Southland. “Commuter traffic is low. Parking is free and spacious. Prices for meals, catering and room rentals are far more economical.”
Here are some group-friendly Chicago Southland restaurants offering flavorful fare and stories to share.
Aurelio’s Pizza
A Chicago Southland staple, the Aurelio family’s flagship pizzeria in Homewood, Illinois, opened in 1959. The restaurant is housed within a barrel roofed, three-story warehouse decorated in rough-sawn cedar, Tiffany lights and vintage stained glass covering the walls and ceilings, and Homewood’s kitchen still has an original “old oven.”
Aurelio’s is known for its thin crust pizza (which I’ve had plenty of myself, and I can confirm it is delicious). According to Founder Joe Aurelio’s now-famous catch phrase about the pizza’s secret, “It’s in the sauce!”
The Homewood location’s most common private section, Joe’s Party Room, can accommodate 80 guests.
Tay’s Tip: My grandma would take me to Aurelio’s all the time growing up, and there is one thing on the menu she’d never fail to order: Breaded stuffed artichoke. My family still orders one every time we go, in honor of her (and because they’re mouth-wateringly good).
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Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery
Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery sits inside downtown Flossmoor’s historic 1906 train station, restored in 1996 to become the home of award-winning, small-batch, craft-brewed ales, lagers, stouts and more.
Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery keeps to its historically consistent menu, which includes the FSRB Signature Burger, Brewhouse Chicken Pot Pie and The Burrito That Ate Flossmoor. The restaurant also features a hilltop craft beer garden.
Groups of up to 50 can gather for private events in Flossmoor Station’s banquet room, while smaller gatherings of up to 30 can enjoy Pub Room. The Brew Caboose Taproom and attached deck offer space for 20 inside and 50 outside, and the Craft Beer Garden is available for private outdoor events.
Chuck’s Southern Comforts Cafe
A family-owned, slow-cooked barbecue haunt since 1998, Chuck’s Southern Comforts Cafe’s top draw is in the name: Chuck.
Meat aficionados search the restaurant’s website regularly for chef Chuck Pine’s customized multiple-course meal specials, usually announced just a few days in advance and only available during a two-day period.
The eatery is known for its slow-smoked barbecue, featuring flavors from BBQ Mexican to Cajun-Creole rubbed meats that slowly smoke for hours before being served.
Chuck’s Southern Comforts Cafe’s Burbank location offers an intimate party room located off the main dining room that can accommodate up to 45 guests, while Chuck’s Voodoo Lounge has a 100-person capacity.
