The Hoosier Mama Pie Company creates pure pie magic. You can sample a perfect slice, or five, at the Chicago location or at my go-to spot, Dollop Coffee & The Hoosier Mama Pie Company in Evanston.
Credit: Hoosier Mama Pie Company
Parenting comes with plenty of joyful moments, and some of my favorite times throughout the day with my toddler are morning cuddles and reading to him before bed each night. But there are challenging parenting moments too, which makes getting out for some grownup time imperative to stay sane. Evanston has solid options for parents in need of a date night or catching up with friends, or whatever you want to call time that does not involve cleaning up after your kiddos.
Break the fast at a funky spot
Lucky Platter Restaurant has solid breakfast fare with super eclectic decor. I usually opt for a scramble or an omelet and the tasty potatoes are always a win. They keep the mimosas rolling on the weekends and offer an apple cider variety. It is a cozy spot and can be pretty crowded on the weekends, so you will not feel bad for a minute that you left your munchkins at home and avoided having to entertain them while waiting for a table. Be sure to try the apricot cheese flakey before you head back to parenting reality!
514 Main St. Evanston, IL 60202
847-869-4064
Indulge your inner news nerd
Just west of Lucky Platter on Main Street, there is a gem for print lovers. Chicago-Main Newsstand has more magazines than you ever knew existed. They have dozens of newspapers and thousands of magazines in stock (between two locations, as there is another one in Chicago). The Evanston location will kick your curiosity into high gear as you browse all of the interesting titles and headlines. Once you narrow it down to your top choices, take your reads to Dollop Coffee & The Hoosier Mama Pie Company.
860 Chicago Ave., Evanston, IL 60202
847-425-8900
Share a sweet plate
Calling all pie lovers! Dollop Coffee & The Hoosier Mama Pie Company is a prime spot for coffee and sweets. It could be an ideal spot to catch up with a friend over a cup of artfully decorated java or just savor some alone time with your newsstand reads. My fave way to enjoy this bright, modern-meets-vintage space is savoring sweets with my honey. I have two words for you, folks: Pie Flight! Yup, you can sample a variety of out-of-this-world pies and not feel bad about it, because having a bunch of them is kind of the thing with flights. #nomnom
749 Chicago Ave., Evanston IL
847-868-8863
Sneak away for sushi
Todoroki was the first place my husband and I went for a date after our son was born, and we love to savor a sushi feast there whenever we can. It has an all-you-can-eat option for really tasty sushi plus a ton of hot appetizers. As you sample cool salmon nigiri and steamy miso soup, there is ample time for grown up conversation in the relaxed ambience. If you really want to get away from it all, you could opt for one of the booths that are partitioned off from each other and have a private feel. For adult beverages to round out grown up time, you can BYOB (Sunday through Thursday only) with no corkage fee in the main dining room. Cheers to that!
526 Davis St., Evanston, IL 60201
847-733-0536
Call the sitter, kiss those little cuties goodbye, and say hello to grown up time — Evanston style.
