ML Interest Tag: communal-tables

6 New Restaurants You Gotta Take the Kids To

by Matt Kirouac

Considering all of the restaurants popping up in and around Chicago this summer, ice cream isn’t the only thing your kids will be screaming for. While we have a new retro soda fountain shop to go wild for, there’s also barbecue, kid-friendly salads, teriyaki … and more barbecue. Your next family dinner date starts now.

photo: Piggyback Tavern

Piggyback Tavern
Summer is the season for barbecue. Which would explain all the new ‘cue spots popping up around here. Forest Park’s much-loved Piggyback Tavern is one, and it’s expanding to the Loop. The new Piggyback is a fast-casual riff of the original, showcasing the slow-cooked, hardwood-smoked meats it’s known for in a comfortable, quick-service environment. Kids and adults alike can go wild customizing their barbecue dishes for lunch. Options include pulled pork and brisket in the form of sandwich, bowl, plate or salad, bedecked with optional sauces like Zesty, Mustard or Smokey Sweet. For sides, there’s jalapeño cheddar cornbread, mac ’n’ cheese and collard greens. Another nice touch here is the barnyard motif, bringing a welcome taste of the countryside to the heart of the city via wood tables, barn wood walls, vintage lighting and pig-inspired artwork. Get ready to pig out!

176 N. Wells St.
The Loop
Online: piggybacktavern.com

Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill
Piggyback isn’t the only meat Mecca in expansion mode these days. Orlando-based Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill made its Chicagoland debut in Mount Prospect’s Randhurst Village, marking the company’s 66th location in the country. The new location showcases the hand-rubbed, house-smoked dishes the company has built an empire out of, so you can rest assured it will be delish. The menu covers a pretty impressive cross-section of America’s regional barbecue traditions, too, offering a little something for every craving. There’s St. Louis ribs, Texas-style beef brisket and Memphis dry rub, to name a few. Additionally, youngsters can feast on smoked wings, build-your-own burgers and other finger-licking delicacies. The restaurant is enormous, complete with a roaring fire pit, lending the feel of a boisterous backyard barbecue party.

164 Randhurst Village Dr.
Mt. Prospect
847-305-1799
Online: smokeybones.com

photo: Be Leaf

Be Leaf
All that barbecue calls for a little reprieve in the form of a wholesome salad or grain bowl. While not necessarily on the same scream-inducing levels as ice cream, kids will certainly take a liking to the vibrant chef-driven dishes on deck at Be Leaf, the Loop’s newest fast casual dining outlet. Working with local farmers to ensure the freshest in locality and seasonality, Be Leaf produces some of the best tasting greenery your kids will ever taste. It’s especially inviting with its build-your-own menu options and the quirky “Decision Tree,” a wall-mounted menu maze of sorts that takes guests on a tour of food options and descriptions. Diners young and old can accent their greens of choice — kale, arugula, mesclun, romaine, spinach, quinoa, farro — with add-ons like grapefruit, caramelized onions, bacon, tofu, sweet potato falafel and steak. So even if it starts off healthy and light, you can easily turn it into summery comfort food. The space is as green as the food, outfitted with planter walls, produce-packed baskets, flowers and other elements designed to echo a countryside farm.

29 N. Upper Wacker Dr.
Downtown
312-877-5399
Online: beleafsalad.com

GLAZE Teriyaki
In the heat of summer, the grill reigns supreme. It helps when said grill is manned by an alum of the Culinary Institute of America. Chef Dennis Lake leads the charge at GLAZE Teriyaki, a Seattle-style fast casual joint that’s heating up Lakeview with its first Chicago outpost. Using locally sourced, organic ingredients, Lake cooks up a menu befitting summertime cookout dreams, complete with char-grilled chicken, hanger steak, pork loin, wok sautéed vegetables and salmon. What helps sets GLAZE apart from the home grill is its signature teriyaki sauce, made fresh daily with an addictive mix of smoky, caramel-y flavors, and notes of garlic, ginger, pineapple and apple. Every entree also has a gluten-free version available, which is a nice touch. The casual restaurant has a laid back, homey feel with an open kitchen, communal tables, reclaimed wood benches, exposed brick walls and Japanese-style vintage fabrics.

3112 N. Broadway St.
Lakeview
773-697-3580
Online: glazeteriyaki.com

photo: Fuller House

Fuller House
This family-friendly pub-style eatery in Hinsdale features a wide array of people-pleasing dishes that run the gamut from brick oven pizza to jumbo pretzels. The restaurant has family in its blood, owned and operated by siblings Sam Vlahos and Patricia Vlahos-Segretto, who worked to compile a comfortable, neighborhood-oriented pub that families could flock to on the regular. And flock they will when they get a taste of the house-brined pickles, the brisket tacos, the prime burgers, the roast chicken and the cookie skillets. The two-story restaurant is warm and inviting, featuring a facade of exposed brick, barrels from local distilleries, salvaged oak and refurbished wood beams sourced from a defunct Chicago church. High-tops and banquettes comprise seating on the main floor, while a curved staircase weaves to a lively balcony area with an illuminated wine wall and a second floor dining room packed with traditional tables.

33 E. 1st St.
Hinsdale
630-537-1653
Online: fullerhousebar.com

Spinning J
What’s old is shiny and new again, thanks to the arrival of Humboldt Park’s eagerly awaited and highly scream-worthy Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain. Americana nostalgia is the name of the game at this corner spot, glistening with the type of comfy, glossy cushioned seats typically reserved for bygone diners and ice cream parlors. True to form, the dessert menu screams comfort, from the vibrant housemade soda drinks to the farm-fresh pies brimming with local, seasonal fruits like blueberries and cherries. This is the ice cream shop we’ve all been yearning for this summer.

1000 N. California Ave.
Humboldt Park
872-829-2793
Online: facebook.com

Where do you like to take the kids out for dinner? Let us know in the Comments below!

— Matt Kirouac

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2 Pizza Joints You Haven’t Visited Yet

by jolie loeb

Parents love pizza almost as much as kids, but sometimes we want a refined meal.  With vegetables that aren’t a topping.  You’d also like the kids to consume said veg, and not leave enough crust to feed a small nation. Here are two hidden wood-fired spots with greens they gobble and crusts that end up in little bellies, not a sad heap of rejection.  Plus wine and a relaxing atmosphere—cue choir of angels. Join us for A Tale of Two Pizzas…

DeSano Pizzeria Napoletana
The mozzarella is made earlier that week, in a small town in Campania.  As in, Italy. The flour? It also came from the boot, by boat. Sea salt, straight from the Mediterranean. Here lies your family trip to Italy before your family trip to Italy. But exacting provenance or no, every parent knows a restaurant is only as good as it is appealing to our kids. So while we may marvel over the San Marzano tomato standard or the ovens handmade in Naples (each weighing over 10,000 lbs, no joke!), our kids arrive with different inquiries. Like how’d that guy toss that massive saucer of dough in the air and not drop it? And: Is it tasty? (Answers: we have no idea and heck, yes!)

Happy (Hour) in Hollywood
Some (most) Fridays can’t get here fast enough. This is where DeSano’s happy hour rides into our rescue. Fancy this: every Monday through Friday, from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. family style happy hour is celebrated with two large pizzas plus a bottle of house wine for $50. So load your pie up with all goodies you please, while kids go minimalist Margherita, and everybody goes home happy.  Very happy.

Salad Days Are Here Again
Here comes the real fun. A special something happens when they serve the Caprese Salad, atop an emerald bed of glistening spinach. One minute the kids are watching  pizza pros toss dough sky high, and they start picking at the food in front of them and suddenly, they’re eating spinach! The spinach nobody is even asking/forcing/bribing them to eat.  Don’t know if it’s the super casual picnic table in a warehouse vibe, the doughboys providing classic pizzeria entertainment, or the fact that the pizza itself is outrageously, out-of-control good. Who cares? Kids are eating spinach. And asking for more.  And maybe it was watching the dough getting tossed in the air, or the pillowy air pocketed edges,  but the crust is eaten as fast as the cheesy middle.

When In Rome, Room To Roam
The atmosphere is old school pizzeria. Think down market digs in what seems like a former warehouse. Huge TV screens, roll of paper towels on the communal tables, plastic wear in a jar. The space is unequivocally kid friendly, the pizza is unequivocally grown-up good. If it has you musing birthday party ideas, run with it. They do those, too.

 

Foodie tested, kid approved.  Salad that everyone loves. (That’s the Caprese, the plain Spinach you’ll dig, but it has decidedly less kid friendly ingredients like mushrooms and artichokes.  You can’t push too far, too fast.)  Dessert that includes one of the only decent cannoli in town.  And free corkage, if you want to bring your own vino.  All that, plus a giant and free parking lot?  Pinch us, we must be dreaming.

DeSano Pizzeria Napoletana
4959 Santa Monica Blvd.
East Hollywood
Phone: 323-913-7000
Online: desanopizza.it

Olio Wood Fired Pizzeria
Don’t judge a place by its corner. At the intersect of Crescent Heights and Third Street, it may appear all gussied and glossy and gorgeous and grown-up, but inside they do things that have children eating Brussels sprouts, finishing their crusts (alas in this instance, as here you don’t mind munching their leftovers), and fashioning their favorite food out of organic, untreated, whole grain flour, locally made cheese, California extra virgin olive oils, and to wash it down, fresh pressed sodas made from fresh fruit. Olio Wood Fired Pizza is a lure for families that touts an artisanal aptitude and the ability to please picky little people.

Such a Teeny Spot Making Big Flavors
Just 26 seats (plus a kick-back and stay awhile wrap around patio) and Zagat still rates them as one of the top 10 destination spots in the US. That’s the whole country, kids. And after 6 p.m., valet is free with validation, just pull into the garage north of 3rd on Crescent, and voila, enjoy the pie life without suffering the search for parking on 3rd.

That’s Right: Free Valet on 3rd
Well, right off of Third, on Crescent Heights, specifically, from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Just pull into the garage and go get what you came for. They’ll validate your parking so you can go ahead and ignore that $6 sign. How is this place still under the radar?

What They’ll Love
What won’t they? Kids can have a seat at the bar (très grown up) and enjoy a front row seat featuring the entertainment of wood fired pizza making. The staff is as kind as they come, chatting it up, showing their captive audience how to sling pie. But can you believe that even more than the pies, the Brussels sprouts here are the indisputable draw. These things are straight up delicious, all glossy and decorated in almond slivers.  Even green-o-phobes gobble these little globes. And the Greek Salad is loaded up with so much good stuff (French sheep’s milk feta and homemade sourdough croutons) that you’ll almost wish they’d eat less salad to leave you more.  Scratch that.  Just order two.  Because when your kiddo asks for seconds of salad, you know you can’t deny them.

“This Salad Tastes Like Pizza”
Direct quote, from two little taste testers. Don’t overreact. Don’t question.  (But seriously, how does salad taste like pizza?) Just serve them seconds and asked no questions.

Serendipity by the Slice
There’s a reason their Margherita pizza has landed the cover of both LA Weekly and Los Angeles Magazine. That crust could launch one thousand Italian dreams. Can your baby say burrata? They will.

What’s for Dessert?
Wood. Fired. Chocolate. Chip. Cookies. Uh huh. Take a minute with that. But don’t take more, because they’ll be gone. All melty inside, a Tollhouse commercial all grown up. Wood firing a cookie. Now there’s one we hadn’t seen, and now dream of.

 

Olio Wood Fired Pizzeria
8075 West 3rd St.
Mid-City LA
Phone: 323-930-9490
Online: pizzeriaolio.com

Eating out in LA is a treat—one that should feel that way to each generation. Pull up a chair, pull off a slice, and inaugurate a new age in pizza eating that would make any Italian grandma proud.

What’s your secret pizza spot where the kids will join the clean plate club and you’ll get a relaxing gourmet meal?

—written and photographed by Jolie Loeb

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6 Cool New Restaurants That Are Family Friendly

by Matt Kirouac

From PAC-MAN-themed dining to pizza scones, the eclectic offerings at new restaurants in and around Chicago are the stuff of kids’ dreams. But there’s plenty for you too, parents. Especially if you’re into bocce, arcade games and offbeat meatballs. Read on for the scoop on six new restaurants the whole family will love.

photo: Scone City / Galdones Photography

Scone City
Let’s cut right to the chase: You don’t come to a bakery called Scone City looking for oatmeal. No, you come here expecting a wonderland of scones, from sweet and savory varieties to the downright wacky. This sunny slice of Wicker Park bakery real estate features the buttery handiwork of pastry chef Laurie McNamara. Adults might be interested in the afternoon tea scone made with currants and Lady Gray tea icing, or the Brie and honey scone. But kids will go gaga over one-of-a-kind creations like the hot dog scones and pizza scones, which are pretty much exactly what they sound like — hot dogs and pizza ensconced in butter-rich dough for optimal handheld snacking. Located in a space that was a dairy barn about 100 years ago, the bakeshop is comfy and rustic, outfitted with reclaimed oak plank flooring, brick walls, and a lofted, plush seating area perfect for scone snuggling.

1632 W. Division St.
Wicker Park
773-904-8722
Online: sconecity.com

photo: Pinstripes / Becky Brown Photography

Pinstripes
With family-friendly venues in Northbrook, South Barrington and Oak Brook, Pinstripes has already cemented itself as a go-to destination for Italian-accented food with a side of frivolity. And by frivolity, we mean activities that involve hurling balls down various lanes. In the case of Pinstripes’ first city location, housed in a massive warehouse space along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan in Streeterville, said activities are bowling and bocce, interactive group games for the young and old alike. In between strikes, you can snag bites of wood-fired pizza, fresh pastas, braised beef short ribs, desserts and more. The enormous space is dotted with a miscellany of cozy nooks and crannies, allowing families to be as private or as open as they like. Sleek, modern bowling lanes share space with indoor and outdoor bocce courts, along with an incredible riverside patio area complete with fireplace, blankets and chairs.

435 E. Illinois St.
Streeterville
312-527-3010
Online: pinstripes.com

photo: Level 257

Level 257
It’s not every day PAC-MAN gets his own restaurant. Which is weird, since he’s always eating those alien things in the video game and he’s clearly a foodie. Level 257 is a dining and entertainment complex like no other, newly opened in Schaumburg. The only restaurant owned by NAMCO Entertainment, Inc., Level 257 allows guests to get up close and personal with the arcade gaming experience while enjoying a wholly unique meal. The kids’ menu contains hand-breaded chicken tenders, cheeseburgers, pepperoni pizza, mac & cheese, linguini and meatballs, seared trout in lemon butter sauce, and more. Adults get their own multifaceted menu options, from Italian gnocchi and steak tartare to turkey banh mi sandwiches and grilled salmon salad. In between bites, kids can peruse the PAC-packed gift shop or explore the gaming lounge laden with more than 70 retro and modern games. There’s also bowling, pinball, air hockey and other family-friendly options — including a four-player PAC-MAN Battle Royale game.

2 Woodfield Mall, Unit A
Schaumburg
847-805-0257
Online: level257.com

photo: Velvet Taco

Velvet Taco
Kids and tacos go together like chips and guac. The latest addition to Chicago’s Gold Coast is a family-friendly affair, an import from Texas called Velvet Taco. This vibrant, lively restaurant gets crafty with their tacos, though, drawing inspiration from across the globe for kid-appealing items like buffalo chicken tacos, bacon burger tacos, and even a “Chicago Haute Dog” taco with pork belly, pickles, chilies, mustard, tomato, red onion, poppy seed, celery salt and NO ketchup, you hear? There’s also tater tots topped with egg and cheese, which is catnip for youngsters. The bi-level counter-service restaurant recalls an urban loft vibe, casual and bustling with communal tables and an open kitchen so guests can spy on the culinary action. While adults nurse their margaritas, kids have locally sourced sodas to slurp.

1110 N. State St.
Gold Coast
312-763-2654
Online: velvettaco.com

photo: Mondo Meatball

Mondo Meatball
Whether sandwiched between burger buns or layered in a lasagna, children love ground beef. This is especially true when that beef is rolled into dainty and adorable meatballs and served up in a variety of exciting new ways. Globally inspired meatballs take the plate at Wicker Park’s new Mondo Meatball, Chicago’s first standalone meatball restaurant, with six kinds of meatballs on hand each day. There’s Mrs C’s classic beef, chick’n bacon, spicy pork, veggie and gluten-free, turkey, and the rotating ball of the day. Each ball can be served as a bowl, a sub, a roll, a salad, as sliders, or as the “Full Mondo” with three balls and a side dish. Accompanying sauce options, from a summer red sauce to an herbaceous pesto, zesty Dijonnaise, “guac-acado” or four-cheese. For dessert, there’s Italian cookies and Black Dog Gelato. Basically, this place has it all. The interior echoes the internationally inspired menu, with a flat-screen TV tuned to soccer and a communal vibe anchored by a 12-foot-long dining table.

1467 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Wicker Park
773-278-5959
Online: mondomeatball.com

photo: Paula’s Cafe

Paula’s Cafe
Do you not have an Italian nonna of your own, but always wish you had? Paula’s Cafe in Franklin Park is here to hug your soul and fill that pasta-shaped void. The quaint new lunch and dinner restaurant feels like grandma’s house, welcoming and warm, with a focus on Italian comfort food. It recalls the type of red sauce Italian restaurants of yore, the type bustling with the convivial din of strangers rubbing elbows and matriarchal characters slapping people on the shoulder. Bring the family and tuck into hulking portions of fried meatballs, breaded steak sandwiches, eggplant Parm, potato gnocchi and oodles more.

9400 W. Grand Ave.
Franklin Park
847-916-2989
Online: facebook.com

What is your favorite place to take the fam out for dinner? Shout about it in the Comments!

— Matt Kirouac

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A Foodie Trend Tots Dig: Tricked Out Toasts

by Christina Montoya Fiedler

Whether slathered in creamy peanut butter or a heaping helping of jam, toast is a classic kid favorite for breakfast and beyond. Restaurants around town are wising up to something our pint-sized foodies knew all along—toast is the perfect vehicle for getting yummy goodness into ones tummy. Savory to sweet, breakfast, lunch, snacks or dinner and found in every corner of town, raise a toast to the newest food trend: toast!

photo credit:  Jolie Loeb

Lavender and Honey
Caffeine deprived with a car full of hungry tots? Morning or afternoon, you can head straight for Pasadena’s Lavender and Honey, which has an espresso bar for you and a kids menu for them. Parents (and adventurous kids) love the namesake toast spread with velvety goat cheese, drizzled honey, and a dusting of lavender. Kids dig the sticky sweet peanut butter, honey and banana option. Or pretty much anything else on the menu. Each toast plate is reasonably priced at $3 a pop. Grab a French Lavender Breve to go along with your snack. The combo will keep you going for the rest of the afternoon.

Lavender and Honey Espresso Bar
1383 East Washington Blvd.
Pasadena
Phone: 310-528-0745
Online: lavenderandhoneyespresso.com

photo credit: Joyce S. via yelp

Sqirl
Calling all parents of early risers: Sqirl is the place for you. We say that because the lines can get pretty long, and your best bet is to show up when the place opens. But the food is worth the wait, and worth the national attention this simple spot is garnering. Toast at Sqirl starts with thick slices of brioche bread. Then they add the good stuff like chocolate ganache, fresh almond hazelnut spread, and house made ricotta. And don’t forget about the jam: strawberry thyme, blackberry lemon verbena or Moro blood orange marmalade. Bring home a jar of the sweet stuff for a toasty morning at home.

Sqirl
720 N Virgil Ave.
Silverlake
Phone: 323-284-8147
Online: sqirlla.com

photo credit: Le Pain Quotidien’s facebook page

Le Pain Quotidien
Tartine is French for open-faced sandwich, but however you slice it this toasty treat is a hand held favorite. Big communal tables welcome strollers, high chairs and weary parents who are eager to feed kids and be fed themselves. Tartines come sweet or savory, but always go well with French press coffee for the adults or fresh squeezed juice for kiddos. Try a savory tartine with smoked turkey and avocado or basil chicken and mozzarella. And picky eaters delight in just plain toast and one or all of the tableside (free) chocolate, cookie or vanilla spreads for a sweet treat.

Le Pain Quotidien has locations in Studio City, Larchmont, West Hollywood, Downtown, Beverly Hills, manhattan Beach, Glendale and more.  To find the location nearest you, check their website.

Online: lepainquotidien.com

Black Dog Coffee
Hit this place up before a trip to LACMA or the La Brea Tar Pits for some down home grub that’s sure to fuel your day. Thick cut rosemary bread is the perfect vehicle for whipped butter and preserves – a little savory, a little sweet, a little salty. One order is enough to feed two kiddos or one really hungry grownup. Wash it all down with organic milk, hot chocolates, fresh juices and more. Insider drink tip: the Café Cubano is worth a try, made with deep, rich coffee with condensed milk.

Black Dog Coffee
5657 Wilshire Blvd
Miracle Mile LA
Phone: 323-933-1976
Online: blackdogcoffee.com

photo credit: Kim Orchen Cooper

Superba
Superba boasts five different toast offerings for hungry breakfast crowds. And if you thought that was superb, just wait until you taste their house made jams. To keep you coming back for more, they offer a new jam every week. And forget about peanut, almond, or sunflower. This place serves a mean pecan butter and jam toast that kids will love. Parents will go hog wild for the maple custard toast with bacon confit and sage.  Actually, kids love that one too, and it’s perfect for palate expanding.

Superba Food and Bread
1900 S. Lincoln Blvd.
Venice
Phone: 310-907-5075
Online: superbafoodandbread.com

photo credit: Tina M. via yelp

The Source Cafe
If you or your kiddos have a gluten sensitivity, The Source Café is serving up some delicious wheat free options. They are also vegan and vegetarian friendly and everything comes from organic ingredients. Talk about a wholesome start to the day. Toast flavor combinations are definitely for adventurous eaters—smoked wild white fish, walnut pesto with cashew cheese, curry egg salad. But you can also always get a plain piece of toasted paleo flax bread with or without toppings for picky eaters or ask them to toast up the cherry cashew bread that comes with ghee and honey for kids who are looking for a sweeter option.

The Source Café
509 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach
Phone: 310-318-1600
Online: thesourcecafehb.com

photo credit:  Swinger’s Facebook page

Swingers
Pre-kids you’d hit this place up for late night eats, but now it’s more of a post play date hang out. But time has not changed the deliciousness of this diner food. Buried in the larger than life breakfast menu (served all day) is the bright green, buttery and oh-so-kid-friendly avocado toast. It starts with an extra thick slice of multi grain toast piled high with California’s favorite fruit, sprinkled with sea salt and a squeeze of lemon. Make sure to ask for it sans red pepper flakes, as it might be too hot for tiny taste buds to handle.

Swingers
8020 Beverly Blvd
Mid-City Los Angeles
Phone: 323-653-5858
Online: swingersdiner.com

Where do you get your toast fix, besides the pop up contraption on your counter at home? Tell us your spot for this trending treat in the comments below.

-Christina Fiedler

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Just Opened: Seed+Salt

by Erin Feher

There are lots of little bellies that can’t handle gluten or dairy, and even more parents who crave a place where they can pick up fresh, healthy and tasty bites for the whole family. Seed+Salt to the rescue—this new casual eatery in the Marina District of San Francisco serves up delectable dishes made with only the best ingredients, and completely forgoes any dairy, gluten or cane sugar. And thanks to an inventive menu and a talented chef at the helm, your crew may never know the difference.

Eat Clean
Seed + Salt was started by Mo Clancy, a mother passionate about providing convenient, healthy options to people of all ages. She worked with New York chef Ariel Nadelberg to develop the menu, which emphasizes whole foods and superfoods, and eliminates cane sugars, trans-fats, gluten, MSG, and GMOs. But beyond its impressive list of clean eating credentials, it’s the tasty bites that will convince you: The S+S Beet Burger is bursting with flavor (it’s packed with beets, walnuts, lentils, mushrooms, brown rice, raisins, spices, smoked sea salt + ranch and served on a gluten-free bun), while the eggplant BLT (made with eggplant bacon and egg-free pimenton mayo) is a healthy take on the more-sinful original. Kids can munch on the Jam and Cheese sando (Balsamic fig jam, cashew cream cheese, caramelized onion and pea shoots) and for dessert or a sweet breakfast treat, don’t skip the spouted S+S nut loaf spread with raw lemon curd.

Eat Pretty
While the menu offers a healthy reprieve for your insides, the restaurant’s lovely and calming interior offers a mini vacation for your other senses. The bright and simple space is set with long communal tables and oversized stools, and an incredibly cool and colorful yarn installation adorns the main wall and may inspire a game or two of Cat’s Cradle. Be sure and check out the tree out front as well, which is wearing a colorful striped sweater knitted by the same artist. And although pretty as a picture, the space is decidedly casual, so young kids wandering the room or older ones getting goofy with their friends are common sights. Guests order at the counter and take a seat wherever they please—on warm days we recommend the benches built around the sweater-wearing tree up front.

Eat Easy
The aim of Seed+Salt is to making eating healthy and easy option, so the food is designed to be taken on the go (it’s all served up in compostable containers) and can even be ordered straight to your door through Postmates. A brand new kids’ menu lets families opt for smaller portions of popular dishes, plus adds a few new ones to the mix, such as an Almond Butter and SuperFood Jam Sandwich ($6); Dill Cream Cheese and Toast ($7); Carrots and Green Garbanzo Hummus ($5); and a Mini Banana Smoothie ($5). Plus, they open at 8 a.m., so picking up a bite on the way to school or work is a tempting option.

2240 Chestnut St.
San Francisco, Ca
415-872-9173
Online: seedandsalt.com

Have you tried Seed+Salt? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

—Erin Feher

All images by Aubrie Pick and courtesy of Seed+Salt

 

 

 

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As Good as Gold: A Day Trip to Dahlonega

by Phebe Wahl

In the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains just an hour outside Atlanta, Dahlonega is more than a small town with a funny name. It’s actually the site of the first Gold Rush in the United States. Read on for your guide to a golden adventure!

The Basics
Thousands of prospectors headed to the hills beginning in 1828 with the hopes of striking it rich. From there, a mining town sprung up and continued to thrive long after the gold was gone. Today, tourists flock to Dahlonega for its golden history and incredible scenic beauty. Mountain views, a quaint town square filled with shops and restaurants, and tons of outdoor recreational opportunities are part of the charm. Your wee miners will love exploring abandoned mine shafts and panning for gold, but there are also plenty of opportunities for rest, relaxation for mom and dad (Dahlonega is also now known for its wine!). Don’t miss the town’s fam-friendly Gold Rush Days this fall the weekend of October 18th and 19th.

Family Time
Dahlonega Gold Museum
Housed in Dahlonega’s 1836 historic courthouse in the center of town square (the oldest surviving courthouse in Georgia), this state-run museum pays tribute to the impact of gold on Dahlonega’s founding and history. While the displays are a bit dated, they contain excellent information and artifacts related to Dahlonega’s Gold Rush. Just touring the building itself it’s a treat. If you look closely, you can see traces of gold in the courthouse’s bricks which were made from local red clay. Upstairs in the old court room you can catch the award-winning film, “Gold Fever.” It’s a great first stop and introduction to the area.
Details: 1 Public Square North, Dahlonega, 706-864-2257, gastateparks.org/DahlonegaGoldMuseum

Consolidated Gold Mine
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to go down into a gold mine, here’s your chance. With a knowledgeable guide, you’ll descend 200 feet down into the earth in what was once one of the largest gold-mining operations in the Southeastern United States. Along the way, you’ll learn all about how gold was mined, see old mining tools (that amazingly still work) and learn more about the difficult life of a miner. Note that it’s almost always 60 degrees in the mine shaft, so bring a jacket and wear comfortable, non-slippery shoes. After the tour, you’ll have a chance to pan for gold prospector style. Gem stone mining is also available for an additional fee.
Details: 185 Consolidated Gold Mine Rd., Dahlonega, 706-864-8473, consolidatedgoldmine.com

Crisson Gold Mine
The oldest gold mining establishment in Georgia, Crisson is an open gold mining pit that operated from 1847 until the 1980s. It’s also home to the only working Stamp Mill in Georgia. Going strong at 130-years-old, it’s still used to crush quartz rock today. You can tour outdoor museum of the mill, observe machinery in action and even take a wagon ride.  Of course, the main event is gold panning which is included with admission, along with two buckets of gemstones for grubbing.
Details: 2736 Morrison Moore Pkwy. East Dahlonega, 706-864-6363, crissongoldmine.com

Yahoola Creek Park
After a busy day of gold mining, your crew may need some time to run around and stretch their legs. Located just outside of town, Yahoola Creek Park is a great place to let the littles burn off some energy. There’s a playground, 1.5 mile nature trail and a picnic area by the scenic creek.
Details: 1166 Captain McDonald Rd., Dahlonega

Grown-Up Time
Let’s say you can entertain the kids with an ice cream cone for 20 minutes or so. Tool around the square and stop in for wine samples at Habersham Vineyard’s Dahlonega Tasting Room and Naturally Georgia, which features Tiger Mountain Vineyards and Crane Creek Vineyards wines along with locally crafted gifts. There are plenty of gift shops, antique shops and art galleries on the square to browse.

When Hunger Strikes
There are many dining options on and around the historic Dahlonega Square. Here are a few family-friendly favorites:

The Smith House
The legendary family-style restaurant and lodge has been a Dahlonega fixture for over 90 years. For a flat rate depending on the time and/or day of the week (ranging from $14.99-17.95 for adults and $7.75-9.99 for children), you can enjoy a generous spread of fried chicken, baked ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, fried okra and more served at communal tables. Come hungry, very hungry, because it’s “all you care to eat.” Yes, it may not be the cheapest place in town but it’s an experience. Plus, you get the chance to take a peek down a mine shaft discovered during renovations a few years ago.
Details: 84 South Chestatee Street, Dahlonega, 706-867-7000, smithhouse.com

Picnic Café
At this mom and pop café on the square, you’ll find homemade soups, salads and sandwiches served on fresh-baked bread. You can even find kiddie classics like PB&J, macaroni and cheese and spaghetti rings for your tots in tow. Both kids and adults will have a hard time resisting the decadent housemade desserts! Picnic Café is open for breakfast and lunch and a great place for a quick pit stop.
Details: 30 Public Square North Dahlonega, 706-864-1095, thepicniccafe.blogspot.com

The Fudge Factory
Another Dahlonega legend, the fudge factory has been churning out homemade, old-fashioned fudge, caramel apples and other decadent sweets since 1982. You can watch the candy-makers in action and try samples of local favorites. It’s seriously good stuff!
Details: 8 North Park Street Dahlonega, 706-864-2256, dahlonegafudgefactory.com

Has your family been to Dalhongea? Tell us about your trip in the comments section below!

—Rachel Quartarone

Photos courtesy of Dahlonega Gold Museum, Georgia Department of Economic Development and Crisson Gold Mine, Susie S. via Yelp, The Fudge Factory, Dahlongea Tasting Room and Consolidated Gold Mine via Facebook

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A New Hub for Gifts, Food & Fun

by Mimi O'Connor

New Yorkers are some of the most adept multi-taskers around, and we apply that skill to child-rearing, too. Come the holidays, that instinct shifts into hyperdrive. Which is why the news that urban market Brooklyn Flea and food extravaganza Smorgasburg are moving inside — to a space attached to food court/beer hall Berg’n in Crown Heights — is cause for celebration. Head here to shop, eat, and drink this holiday season, ’cause there’s something for everyone food and gift-wise, and room for your stroller when you grab a beer.

Interior of Berg’n photo: Mimi O’Connor

What It Is

You’ve probably heard of Brooklyn Flea, a massive outdoor flea market of vintage, handmade and all around groovy merchandise that takes place on Saturdays and Sundays in Fort Greene and Williamsburg, respectively. Its food truck counterpart, Smorgasburg (also well-known), feeds the masses artisanal bites in Williamsburg on Saturdays and Brooklyn Bridge Park on Sundays. The new kid in the Flea empire is Berg’n, a sprawling beer and food hall in Crown Heights, which opened in late August of this year.

 Brooklyn Flea photo: Brooklyn Flea 

What’s Changing (And What’s Not)

For the winter, both the Flea and Smorgasburg have moved inside to 1000 Dean Street, which just so happens to be connected to Berg’n. (We told you this would be easy.) Visitors to the mind-bogglingly large, 30,000-square-foot “Winter Flea” space will find the same collection of vendors, for both merchandise and food, as well as some new sellers.  A short list of the type of gift-worthy items you’ll find here include jewelry, ceramics, home goods, vintage and collectible items, art, body care, herbs and toys and clothes for kids.

Winter Flea vendor Sugar on Snow boots photo: Vivian dos Santos

What’s To Eat

Similarly, familiar foodie favorites and many more will be available at the indoor version of Smorgasburg. Bring your appetite — you can feast on bites from Porchetta, Bite Size Kitchen, Milk Truck Grilled Cheese, Oaxaca Tacos, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Butter & Scotch, Blue Bottle Coffee Company and much, much more.

Smorgasburg photo: Smorgasburg

All About Berg’n

If you’ve shopped ’til you’re about to drop (or maybe want to chill with a snack and a drink) make your way to Berg’n. The massive indoor beer hall and food court features a variety of seating options, from long, communal tables with benches, to individual tables for four, to a handsome bar running the length of one side of the space. (There’s even an outdoor area for when the weather is nice, with window service from Parlor coffee.)

Pizza Moto at Berg’n photo: Berg’n

Ramen Burger photo: Smorgasburg

Berg’n Food & Drink

The food vendors at Berg’n are some of the most popular eats at Smorgasburg. You’ll find gourmet pizzas at Pizza Moto, souped up franks and more from Asia Dog, brisket, pulled pork and the like from Mighty Quinn’s BBQ, and the so-weird it works Ramen Burger (a dressed-up hamburger served on two warm “buns” of ramen noodles) from Ramen Burger. For booze, Berg’n sells a wide range of domestic and imported beers on tap, in bottles and in cans, and wines of the red, white, pink and bubbly variety. They’ve got coffee, juices, non-alcoholic sodas for sale, too.

Berg’n bar photo: Mimi O’Connor

Berg’n Brunch

Berg’n hosts Berg’n Brunch on weekends from 10 a.m. to 4p.m., during which vendors offer items adjusted for a.m. eating. (Think the Ramen Burger take on an egg sandwich, or a sweet slice of pizza. Plus, big doughnuts.) Past brunches have included songs from kiddie cowboy entertainer Hopalong Andrew.

Berg’n photo: Mimi O’Connor

Winter Flea
1000 Dean St.
Crown Heights
Through March
Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Online: brooklynflea.com

Berg’n
899 Bergen St.
Crown Heights
Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m. – midnight
718-857-2337
Online: bergn.com

Where do you go to shop, eat and drink? Tell us in the comments below!

—Mimi O’Connor

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Date Night: Best Pub Grub in Seattle

by Erin Lem

As Octoberfest Activities are winding down, our friends at Seattle Magazine are here to remind us that sometimes it’s not all about the beer. Sometimes it’s all about the food. With this list of Seattle’s best pub grub, you’ll be rubbing your belly with satisfaction in no time! This list of four pubs with excellent grubs is not only delicious but true to Seattle style.

When I moved to New York City a decade ago, I couldn’t believe how bad they had it. Oh sure, they’ve got Mario Batali, Daniel Boulud and so many other of the country’s best chefs. They’ve got world-class service, a genius on every corner, yada yada. But when it comes to what’s really important in life—craft beers, on tap!—I’ve got news for you, folks: The beer selection back east was dreadful.

It turns out that I’d gotten spoiled. Seattle brews some of the best beer in the country, and our restaurant and bar owners do a knockout job of showing it off. I’d learned to expect a minimum of a half-dozen local microbrews on tap at any self-respecting watering hole. And I’d learned to expect pub food made with extra care.

With our recent resurgence of craft breweries (and their tiny little brothers, the nano-breweries), I figured it was a great time to do some more thorough, ahem, research. So I recently made my way around town in search of pubs with a stellar local beer selection and exceptional food. And I didn’t have to look hard.

Porterhouse, in the Admiral District of West Seattle, opened two years ago to little fanfare, but it’s a true gem for local beer drinkers: General manager Krista Maes oversees the 25 taps of mostly Washington microbrews (the rest are West Coast brews) showcasing local favorites such as Schooner Exact (SoDo), Georgetown Brewing, Flyers (Oak Harbor), Anacortes Brewery and American Brewing (Edmonds). Plus, there are always two nitro ales (filtered but unpasteurized) and one cask ale (unfiltered and unpasteurized) on tap.

Having gone twice now, I already recognize the regulars bellying up for pints and I can’t wait to go back; the place is easygoing and neighborly. Bartenders are quick with samples of beers on tap and they pointed me straight to the excellent lamb burger, a whopping half-pounder cooked to order, juicy and delicious on a Macrina bun ($11) and served with thick, hand-cut steak fries.

Kids are welcome in the roomy restaurant half of the pub; there’s a light-drenched bar with tall bar tables and a curving wall of windows for grownups. Either way, I recommend eating like a kid by ordering the truly great hand-dipped corndog ($6), made with a kosher dog.

If you prefer your local brews with a raucous noise level (because this place is loud), then Tom Douglas’ 21-and-older Brave Horse Tavern in South Lake Union is a terrific choice. Eighteen brews on tap—a list overseen by “beer czar” Warren Peterson—include Silver City (Silverdale), Big Al’s (White Center), Chuckanut (Bellingham), plus brews from West Coast breweries like HUB (Portland), and Bear Republic (Healdsburg, California).

You’ll have to share a table (nearly all the seating is at long communal tables), but it’s worth it for the impressive pub food: It is, across the board, delicious. Malt-boiled pretzels served with irresistibly retro pimento cheese dip ($6); outstanding burgers dripping with homemade barbecue sauce and mayo, and topped with iceberg lettuce, for only $6. Celebrate slamming the door on bathing-suit season with a bratwurst plate ($11), a snappy sausage on top of creamy mashers, with the seasonal brew (or two) of your choice to wash it down.

Click through to continue the article (and your drooling)!

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at Seattle Magazine, which keeps readers on the pulse of restaurants, personalities, arts, entertainment and culture that reflect the tapestry of our dynamic landscape. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a weekly dose of fantastic Date Night ideas throughout greater Seattle.

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