Sample Menu

• Butternut squash gnocchi with brown butter and parmigiano cheese
• Pan-seared scallops with a soy glaze and roasted rutabaga
• White cheddar burger topped with caramelized onions and a red pepper aioli

Where to Sit: Get a front-row view of the busy kitchen and interact with the chefs at the counter seats. There are only six, so making a reservation is the best way to ensure one of the coveted spots.

When to Go: Sunday evening. That’s when Chef Ken Carter does a special family-style menu that lets you create your own custom feast. You get your choice of three entrées—served in large, shareable portions—two sides, and warm sticky buns for dessert. Oh, and children younger than 10 eat free.

Inside Tip: If you aren’t in the mood for wine or a cocktail, the bartender can whip you up a custom mocktail—just tell him or her what you like.

While You’re in the Neighborhood

Before: If it’s nice outside, grab a drink on the Fountainhead’s laid-back rooftop deck.

After: Go see a movie at the Davis Theater. Built in 1918, the theater was scheduled to be torn down, but its Lincoln Square neighbors banded together to help save the ornate cinema. It now has four screens that show first-run popular movies.