Meeting the parents!!!

Hey everyone,

I%26#39;ll be in the Chicago area 6-14 to 6-18 for my boyfriends graduation from Northwestern University (Evanston) and I%26#39;ll be meeting his parents for the first time that weekend.

He has given me the task of finding a restaurant anywhere in the Chicago area for dinner the night of graduation (Fri, 6-15).

I%26#39;m sure reservations are filling up as we speak so I%26#39;m in need of some help.

Here%26#39;s the criteria:

Anything BUT Italian.

Budget is something middle of the road. Not too cheap, not insanely high. It is a special occasion so I guess it%26#39;s ok to throw in 1 or 2 higher end places for consideration. :)

I%26#39;m nervous just typing this so any restaurant where there%26#39;s a distraction to avoid the awkward meeting-the-parents-of-the-person-you%26#39;re-going-to-spend-the-rest-of-your-life-with silence. Ok, this is optional. I realize it%26#39;s not realistic.

It could be any area in Chicago. Hey, if you know a good place in Evanston that would be good too.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you so much in advance.

Meeting the parents!!!

A few nearby choices:

Jacky%26#39;s Bistro

2545 Prairie Ave., Evanston

(847) 733-0899

Chef%26#39;s Station

915 Davis St., Evanston

(847) 570-9821

Oceanique

505 Main St. Evanston

847-864-3435

You can read reviews and do dining searches by location, cuisine, budget etc at metromix.com and chicagoreader.com

Meeting the parents!!!

Jilly%26#39;s Cafe is within walking distance of the NU stadium, with a very good high end French menu. Papillon in Skokie (10-15 minute drive) is a little less money, good French food. Both of these have small rooms and quiet atmosphere. Reservations are mandatory at both.

If you want something more casual and noisier, look at Wildfire in Glenview, or Prairie Grass Cafe in Northbrook (15-20 minutes drive.) There are also a number of restaurants around Old Orchard shopping center (Golf/Emerson Road and the Edens Expressway, a 10-minute drive) Check out locals like Don%26#39;s Fishmarket, Daily Grill, Shallots, or chains like Bonefish.

I%26#39;ll throw in a second for Papillon....make your reservation asap, though.

I went to a post-graduation dinner at Pete Miller%26#39;s in Evanston. Mid-range steakhouse and very good. If you have a larger group, they have a semi-private area in the back that they can close off just for you.

Hey, Pete Miller%26#39;s might be just the place. It%26#39;s business-casual, has very good steaks and usually has a decent jazz trio playing. Service can be slow, in my experience. Do make a reservation ASAP because graduation night will be crazy.