Making time for your young ones is vital in developing a happy childhood and a strong family relationship. In this article, we’ll provide details on where you can take the whole family for a day of fun. Don’t forget to bookmark your favorites in your browser; you won’t want to miss these experiences with the kids!
BREAKFAST THAT CAN’T BE BEAT
Hoosier Mama Pie Company
You can’t go wrong with the blend of coffee and sweet pie. A joint venture between Hoosier Mama Pie Co. and The Dollop Coffee & Tea Co. brings hand-made pie, buttermilk biscuit sandwiches, and all of the espressos you could possibly want for breakfast.
Sounds just about perfect, doesn’t it? The quality and variety don’t stop there, as they provide a savory variation of pies such as curry lamb and chicken pot pie. Whether you’re looking for the feeling of a home-cooked meal or the best crafted sweet pie you’ve ever tasted, they’ve got you covered.
You can find this unique establishment on the corner of “Chicago & Kedzie,” as it’s famously known. More specifically, you can find them one block south from both the Metra Union Pacific North Line and CTA Purple Line Main Street Stations.
Frida’s Breakfast and Lunch
Hands down, one of the most revered breakfast spots in Evanston is Frida’s Breakfast and Lunch. Providing a Mexican-inspired cuisine, you can expect tasty recipes, namely their Winter Omelette and highly reviewed Enchiladas Mamacitas.
For the kids, they might have their eyes on Mixed Berry Pancakes, or the numerous french toast options, such as Frida’s Classic French Toast, or rather the stacked Strawberry Banana Nutella French Toast!
This quaint restaurant has generous brunch hours ranging from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week. Planted in the middle of Evanstons’ downtown area, they also offer a small amount of outdoor seating.
WHERE TO WALK OFF THE BREAKFAST WEIGHT
Halim Time & Glass Museum
Truly a hidden gem of Evanston, the Halim Time & Glass Museum offers an in-depth look at the history of keeping time and the many methods humankind has used to do so. Their latest exhibits include thirty masterfully made stained glass pieces and the many clocks that have existed throughout history, displaying over 1,000 different clocks.
You can find the Halim Time & Glass Museum near the NorthWest corner of Oak Ave. and Grove St. Additionally, the museum provides a somewhat particular pricing structure, and you can find that in more detail below.
Admission prices are as follows:
Adult Admission: $20.00
Seniors (65+): $17.00
Educator (ID required): $17.00
Students (ID required): $12.00
Children (9-13): $12.00
Children (under 9): Free
Currently, on their website, they state that all exhibits are closed due to the installation and expansion of new exhibits! So even if you may not be able to take your son or daughter tomorrow, it’s an excellent option for future plans. The museums’ regular hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, and they’re closed on Mondays.
Beat Street Toys and Gifts
This shop is your go-to for toys and various gifts of a unique and quirky variety. There are two locations, and the one in Evanston is near the SouthEast corner of Central St. and Poplar Ave. Beat Street is a fantastic place to take your children and let their imaginations run wild.
Here you’ll find items from retro eras up to the present day, providing something interesting for all ages. They also offer a neat service that allows your child to create their own birthday wishlist in-store, then family and friends come to the store and can view the wishlist for what your daughter or son wants for their birthday!
The business is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Furthermore, you can also contact them to organize special events by appointment.
TIME FOR LUNCH
Firehouse Grill
After you’ve burned some of those morning calories walking around town, it might be a good time to get your burger fix at the Firehouse Grill. With the likes of their popular Fish n’ Chips, Cheese Curds, and of course, Firehouse Burger, this restaurant’s menu has something for the whole family.
If you have young ones who won’t eat too much, their appetizer or kids menu should do the trick with options like their crispy, cheesy corn tortilla nachos, Jumbo Pretzel, or, possibly, their Loaded Fries with smoked chicken and BBQ sauce!
They do have pretty specific operating hours, which you can find listed below.
Firehouse Grill Hours of Operation:
Monday: 4:30pm – 10:00pm
Tuesday: 11:30am – 10:00pm
Wedneday: 11:30am – 10:00pm
Thursday: 11:30am – 10:00pm
Friday: 11:30am – 11:00pm
Saturday: 11:30am – 11:00pm
Sunday: 11:30am – 9:00pm
You can choose to sit in their spacious outdoor seating area or indoors if you’d rather have the bar a bit closer. Lastly, they also offer “Family Meal Deals” meant for a certain number of family members and comes with enough food for everyone, such as pizza, salads, wings, and various sides, and a pricing structure that’s hard to pass up.
Soul and Smoke
If you’re seeking some of the best comfort food Evanston has to offer, Soul and Smoke is an easy choice. This restaurant is known for the quality of their BBQ, with a fine-dining chef behind the grill; you can only imagine what to expect.
The establishment specializes in smoked, braised, and slow-roasted meats, and they’ll make sure the meat falls right off the bone. They also offer delectable cornbread muffins and savory garlic mashed potatoes or mac n’ cheese as side options.
Furthermore, Soul and Smoke have their own food truck, and you can find their trucks schedule here. If you and the kids have stirred up a decent mid-day appetite, Soul and Smoke will have no problem putting you and your family down for an after-lunch nap.
DINNER IS SERVED
Siam Paragon
You’re craving some delicious Asian food, but you’re not exactly sure which kind. Fortunately, Siam Paragon offers various dishes of Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Chinese fare.
Reviews rave about this bistro’s lunch specials for their price, quality, and for the many dishes to choose from. Some of their popular dishes include the Panang Curry, Pad Thai, and Tom Yum, a spicy lemongrass Thai-style soup with chicken and mixed vegetables!
Their entire menu is available all day during operating hours, and they offer dine-in, pickup, or delivery options as well. You can find this spectacular restaurant at 503 Main St., and keep in mind, that they aren’t open until after 11:30 a.m.
Five & Dime
This beautiful restaurant provides an entertaining space for the whole family, from a gorgeous roof-top deck to playing Jenga or pinball with the kids to their tasty dinner plates and decadent desserts.
Five & Dime’s space itself is comprised of the “Shed,” the bar, and the terrace, each giving off their own vibe depending on how you’re feeling and who you’re with. You can find this restaurant located above their neighbor Taco Diablo at 1026 Davis Street in Evanston.
Depending on your appetite, I’d suggest giving their charred Salmon with lemon and herb butter a try or their meatless burger if you don’t want something too heavy. They also have simpler options like nachos and quesadillas, although they all taste just as good! Don’t forget to finish your evening with the family by sharing some of their warm butter cake or the sweet chocolate mousse cake if that’s more your style. Their hours of operation are the same seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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