Lettuce’s Spring Break Staycation Guide
Take a trip around the world with kid-friendly menus
Planning a spring break staycation? You can still take your taste buds around the world at one of your Lettuce local favorites! From child-sized servings of Pad Thai or paella, to frites and ramen noodles, transport the whole family to far-flung locations, no passport required. Check out our list of ideas to fuel your spring break adventures.
Big Bowl – Chicagoland & Minnesota
Introduce your little ones to Thai and Chinese cuisine at this family favorite eatery, which offers a robust kids menu including Crispy Orange Chicken, Chicken Noodle Soup, Teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice and ice cream sundaes.
Staycation suggestion: Dig into Big Bowl before or after a visit to Chicago’s Navy Pier (where you’ll also find a fast-casual version, Big Bowl Express!).
View the menu at Big Bowl | Make a reservation at a Big Bowl location near you
Beatrix – Fulton Market, Loop, Oak Brook, River North, Streeterville
Aside from the eye-popping selection of cookies and other baked goods available at Beatrix’s coffee and pastry counters, Beatrix serves a range of kid-friendly options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including Light and Fluffy Lemon Pancakes and a child version of the restaurant’s signature Prime Burger and Kennebec fries.
Staycation suggestion: Stop at Beatrix – Oak Brook for a coffee and pastry before or after checking out the new Sony Pictures’ Wonderverse experience at Oakbrook Center.
View the menu at Beatrix | Make a reservation at a Beatrix location near you
We’ve got more kid-friendly options at Oakbrook Center! Antico Posto and Wildfire – Oak Brook are more family faves at the mall! Pop in during happy hour at both to treat yourself and the kiddos.
Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba!Could there be a more perfect kid-friendly meal option than tapas? Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba! offers an authentic taste of Spain, right in Lincoln Park. Introduce the littles to a classic Valencian rice dish with Vegetable Paella from the kids’ menu.
Staycation suggestion: Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba! opens at 11:30 AM on Fridays, so spend the morning on the swings at nearby Oz Park, then stroll over for lunch before an afternoon siesta.
View the menu at Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba! | Make a reservation at Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba!
Kids don’t just get a kick out of the cabin-in-the-woods vibes at L. Woods, they also love the Northwoods supper club-inspired BBQ and American comfort food favorites like Mac & Cheese, Sima’s Pounded Chicken, Barbecue Chicken and Baby Back Ribs! All kids meals are served with grapes and choice of fresh-cut fries, house-made potato chips or seasonal vegetables.
Staycation suggestion: Hit the playground at Henry A. Proesel Park next door (bring your inline skates to sail through the skate park!), then scoot over to L. Woods to refuel.
View the menu at L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge | Make a reservation at L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge
Mon Ami Gabi – Chicago, Bethesda, Las Vegas
Your “Little Frites” will love the fancy, yet approachable atmosphere at this bistro classique, plus with options like Chicken Fingers with Frites and their very own Profiterole, you can pretend you’re dining at a cafe along the Champs-Élysées.
Staycation suggestion: Bask in the warmth of the Butterfly Garden at Lincoln Park’s Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum before spreading your culinary wings at Mon Ami Gabi – Chicago.
View the menu at Mon Ami Gabi | Make a reservation at the Mon Ami Gabi location nearest you
Let’s be honest: You can never go wrong with pizza. But Pizzeria Portofino also offers a magical, all-seasons patio, where you can watch boats cruise down the Chicago River and pretend you’re on the Italian coast while indulging in the ultimate crowd-pleasing dessert, a Warm Chocolate & Nutella Cookie Skillet.
Staycation suggestion: Tuck into some pizza before setting sail on a Chicago architecture boat tour or strolling along the Riverwalk.
View the menu at Pizzeria Portofino | Make a reservation at Pizzeria Portofino
Ramen-san – Fulton Market, Lincoln Park, River North, Streeterville
A family that slurps together, stays together! You’ll rarely get a no on noodles from the young’uns, and with the fun atmosphere at Ramen-san locations, everyone will eat well and have a blast.
Staycation suggestion: Grab Express Lunch at Ramen-san Deluxe in Streeterville, just a quick jaunt from the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Magnificent Mile.
View the menu at Ramen-san | Make a reservation at the Ramen-san location nearest you
Served on cute cafeteria-style trays with a side of animal crackers and a super-fun kids menu with jokes, coloring and other distractions, R.J. Grunts is an iconic go-to for the whole family.
Staycation suggestion: Visit the animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo across the street, then share some potato skins, fried pickles and milkshakes with your little monkeys at Grunts.
View the menu at R.J. Grunts | Make a reservation at R. J. Grunts
Summer House Santa Monica – Lincoln Park, Las Vegas, North Bethesda, Orlando
It’s summer all year long at Summer House! The bright and airy spaces and California-inspired menu will transport you to a beachside cottage. Junior appetites will appreciate the range of options on the kids menu, like Breakfast for Dinner, Pasta with Turkey Meatballs and the Quesadilla.
Staycation suggestion: Come into Summer House – North Bethesda at Pike & Rose for Kids’ Pizza-Making, every Monday – Thursday from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, before catching the latest family flick kitty-corner at IPIC Theater. Or if you’re lucky enough to be visiting Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, don’t miss the new Summer House on the Lake at Disney Springs!
View the menu at Summer House | Make a reservation at the Summer House location nearest you
The place to go in Schaumburg for sushi, ramen and Japanese izakaya-style eats, Tokio Pub has a lengthy kids’ menu that makes it a no-brainer for a fun family lunch or dinner. Kids will love the mini version of Tokio Pub’s signature Ramen Burger, which features grilled noodles as the bun!
Staycation suggestion: Game your heart out at Dave & Busters across the street, then come in for Sushi & Sangria Happy Hour, available daily from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Plus, throughout March, enjoy the Tokio Pub Street Food Festival for plenty of kid-friendly handheld options like Street Tacos and Bao!
View the menu at Tokio Pub | Make a reservation at Tokio Pub
