Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Park Ridge

"West LoopWhen this West Loop pioneer opened back in 2003, the elegant yet approachable eatery quickly made a name for itself thanks to sleek communal tables, a forward-thinking wine list, and, most importantly, the juiciest medjool date dish the Midwest had ever encountered. Plump dates undergo the full hog treatment here, plied with spiced chorizo sausage before being wrapped in a thick slab of bacon, fired until crisp and crackling, and doused in a warm piquillo pepper tomato sauce that practically demands a hunk of good, freshly baked bread. Don’t think, just order.How to book: Reserve via Tock or order take-out and delivery via DoorDash, GrubHub, and Caviar."

"For sit down kid-friendly options at Navy Pier, try the tasty cheeseburgers at Billy Goat Tavern or a classic slice of deep dish pizza from Giordano’s. Tiny Tavern has a great section for kids aptly named “Tiny Mates,” featuring hot dogs, chicken tenders and ice cream sundaes for children under 10. Counter service restaurants such as Potbelly, Ozzie Pops & Pretzels and Ben & Jerry’s offer quick-stop treats and bites for children, too."

"My boyfriend and I particularly enjoyed Fado Irish Pub, simply for the atmosphere (and of course the drinks). My favorite part was actually listening to Aaron Wilhoft perform live on Friday nights. If he happens to not be there when you visit Chicago, you can see what you missed on his website."

"Flub A Dub Chub's Hotdog Emporium is a small, family-owned, good ol' Chicago dog shop. Customers can get fries or tots with their Flubby (100 percent Vienna Beef) or Chubby (quarter-pound grilled Vienna Beef) dog. Not much beats the perfect simplicity of this hole-in-the-wall spot."

"Most Popular: The Flub BLT ($7) or Chicago’s Best BBQ Pulled Pork Hot Dog ($9). Here’s a confession. Flub’s is probably the most overlooked, best-kept secret in all of Chicago."

"As we navigate the evolving impact of coronavirus on our communities, we are temporarily closing our dining room seating to help limit person-to-person contact. Some of our restaurants may only offer service through our drive-thrus, while others may be able to offer takeout, delivery or mobile or..."

"900 North Michigan Shops is a visually stunning shopping destination stunning 465,000 square feet on 7 floors. With their massive shopping complex, they feature more than 70 luxury retailers and host a 22,000 square-foot food hall. Their food hall includes a wide range of cuisine from street tacos to sushi, coffee to cocktails, bread-bowl chowder to vegan bowls, and many more."

"The 900 North Michigan Shops are located in the iconic Chicago skyscraper, which was built in 1989. This monumental building is home to many offices, condominiums, and a vast shopping mall. Similarly to the Water Tower Place, the place has a vast multi-story atrium, of which the rear is occupied by Bloomingdale’s."

"Shopping at 900 North Michigan is one of the coolest things to do in downtown Chicago. Not only does it offer amazing views from its pillar-like towers, but since it’s all indoors, it’s perfect for a cold or rainy day. Hundreds of retailers call it home."

"Looking for brand shops for clothing, sporting goods, home supplies and more, under one roof?. Head to The Maxwell. It is smaller (around 10 stores) but complex."

"Source: Photo by Flickr user Patrick Hoesly used under CC BY 2.0. Photo is only for illustrative purposes. Addison is a smaller, cosy mall (fewer than 30 stores), located in the Avondale neighbourhood."

"Oz Park is an ode to author L Frank Baum’s most famous book, The Wizard of Oz. Baum was a resident of the surrounding Lincoln Park neighborhood back in the 1890s, before it became the established community it is today. Between 1995 and 2007, the Oz Park Advisory Council commissioned sculptures of the book’s characters including the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and Dorothy and Toto."

"OZ Park is a community garden that celebrates a fun-filled “The Wizard of Oz” theme. The park features “Dorothy’s Playlot”, with play equipment for young children to climb, swing, and run. Families can then leisurely enjoy their afternoon among the beautiful flowers in the “Emerald Garden”."

"Chicago’s Lakefront Trail I promised we’d do a lot of walking today, so next, head back towards Lake Michigan and enjoy the lakefront trail, a nearly 20-mile stretch of paved walkway that meanders down the city’s coastline. The views are spectacular and it’s a great way to see the city’s skyline from a distance. If you’d prefer to bike the trail (highly recommended!), check out the city’s bike-sharing system, Divvy, where you can grab a bike for a 24-hour rental period from one of the city’s many stations"