**** (4 stars)
This is an excellent sandwich shop, with an almost infinite number of combinations of bread, meats and accompaniments available, all scrawled on a large menu on the wall. Or you can come up with your own favorite. Service is friendly but not incredibly speedy, and it can get quite backed up at lunch, especially on Wednesdays, when the popular deli next door is closed.
Rollin’ To Go
910 Noyes St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 332-1000
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rollin-to-go-evanston-2
**** (4 stars)
I really enjoyed my lunch here, and they were able to accommodate my limited time frame.
The meal includes a simple green salad or soup. I had the salad with balsamic dressing.
I chose the broiled fish sandwich, which was a nice serving of salmon on a good bun. The sandwich was accompanied by lettuce, tomato, cole slaw, pickles, cucumbers, tartar sauce and thin slices of carrot, so I had no trouble finding an interesting way of dressing it! There was also a large mound of hot, crisp french fries.
This was a good sized lunch, all fresh and quickly prepared, and I felt the $11 price tag was quite fair.
Noyes Street Cafe
828 Noyes St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 475-8683
http://www.yelp.com/biz/noyes-street-cafe-evanston
*** (3 stars)
This is a fairly busy Panera. There is a large seating area at the rear, although since it is far from any windows it can be a bit institutional. Service is efficient and friendly.
Panera Bread
1700 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 733-8356
http://www.yelp.com/biz/panera-bread-evanston
*** (3 stars)
This is a pleasant Italian restaurant in the middle of an old fashioned block of main street surrounded by lots of interesting shops. Pizzas are served uncut so they don’t get soggy, and there are some interesting salads. I had a combination of celery, apple and radicchio that was quite refreshing.
The wine list has some uncommon offerings by the glass, including the seldom seen primitivo.
There is some sidewalk seating that’s perfect on a nice day.
The only downside is that it’s not inexpensive, and there doesn’t seem to be a lunch menu, so two courses can result in a rather pricey noon-time meal. But on a nice summer evening it’s certianly a good outside dining option.
Trattoria D.O.C.
706 Main St
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 475-1111
http://www.yelp.com/biz/trattoria-d-o-c-evanston
*** (3 stars)
A perfectly acceptable Chicago dog. Quite a variety of other offerings, and large portions. Not a lunch destination, but a reasonable choice if you’re in the area and looking for something inexpensive and quick.
DD Dogs
825 Noyes St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-1909
http://www.yelp.com/biz/dd-dogs-evanston
***** (5 stars)
This is my go-to place for a light lunch in Evanston. I completely skip the meats, and have two vegetarian courses. The first I turn into soup, and the second into a stir fry with roti bread. Ingredients are always fresh, and there is a broad selection of interesting sauces. Service is quick, friendly and efficient. I wish there was one of these close to my home!
Flat Top Grill
707 Church St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 570-0100
http://www.yelp.com/biz/flat-top-grill-evanston-3
***** (5 stars)
There’s a reason why SPACE is the artist’s favorite venue. Time and again they say how special it is, with a sounds studio for practice and recording, a lovely green room for before the show, amazing acoustics, and a caring staff. As spectators we derive a benefit from these same things, because the artists are always at the top of their game as a result.
I’ve seen at least a dozen shows here, and the sound has been great for every one. The cocktail table seating can get a bit crowded, but it’s nice to have table service and a place to put your drink.
You can also take a drink and a pizza in with you if you order one at the Union Pizza company out front, and they have a more extensive list of beers. Or have dinner first, and then go back for the show.
Great venue!
SPACE
1245 Chicago Ave
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 492-8860
http://www.yelp.com/biz/space-evanston-2
***** (5 stars)
From the outside Symphony’s looks like it might be a period diner, but in fact the interior is bright, modern, sleek and very appealing. So is the service, which is very friendly.
While a large section of the menu is breakfast, there are some great sandwiches and entrees here as well. I had the Chicken and Vegetables, which were stir fried to caramelized perfection. On a tip from another Yelper I ordered the accompanying salad with garlic dressing. Wow, was that fantastic! Fortunately I got it on the side, and while I used very little on the salad, I saved it and couldn’t resist dipping my chicken in it. Great combination. I’ll definitely be back to explore more of this menu.
Symphony’s Cafe
1945 Central St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 475-1200
http://www.yelp.com/biz/symphonys-cafe-evanston
**** (4 stars)
Dave’s may have the best wine list in Evanston. It’s certainly the best priced wine list. The selections are well thought out, good quality, and priced only a bit above retail. Weirdly, the best section of the list is Australian, where there are a number of old gems.
Food-wise, our results were good but not amazing. I really liked the Ceasar salad, and the bread was great. I was less enthusiastic about the house made pasta, which seemed heavy and overcooked. The small calzone was huge and tasty, although next time I’ll make sure to get one with ricotta cheese in it. We didn’t sample the pizza, but it looked very good.
The entrance is weird, with steps leading down to an industrial cubicle and no signs indicating where the restaurant is. But this makes it a delightful surprise to open the door onto a cheerful, bustling, and surprisingly large space.
Service was very friendly and attentive. We’ll definitely return for another crack at that wine list.
Dave’s Italian Kitchen
1635 Chicago Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-6000
http://www.yelp.com/biz/daves-italian-kitchen-evanston
**** (4 stars)
Jilly’s is a casual French cafe with friendly service and a fairly traditional menu. One of the more interesting aspects is that there are almost as many specials each night as there are regular menu items.
The meal begins with excellent crusty French bread, butter, and chicken liver pate.
I had the escargot, which were the traditional preparation, topped with small croquettes and served with a slice of lemon. The escargot and garlic butter were good, especially with the French bread. I’m not sure the croquettes and lemon added a lot.
My second course was my favorite, a poached pair and bleu cheese salad. It had just the right mix of bitter and sweet ingredients.
An intermezzo of pinot noir sorbet cleared the palate.
For my entree I selected their specialty, the skinless duck breast and confit. Both were good, but the breast was swimming in a very sweet sauce, so I stuck with the confit.
Service was extremely friendly at all the tables, and they were reasonably busy on a Tuesday night, with a crowd composed of about half regulars. Wine prices is reasonable, although the website version of the wine list is out of date.
Jilly’s is a good choice if you are in the mood for traditional French food in a friendly atmosphere.
Jilly’s Cafe
2614 Green Bay Rd
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 869-7636
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jillys-cafe-evanston