Best Western
A bustling retail corridor blooms on Madison Street in Forest Park, Oak Park's neighbor to the west.
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Latte and brunch at Caffe De Luca; old-fashioned treats at The Brown Cow
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK
You needn’t be Irish to imbibe in Forest Park—but it doesn’t hurt: Eight Gaelic-themed pubs populate this stretch of Madison Street. Light and airy O’Sullivans is among the best, with Irish beers on tap, formidable burgers and onion rings, and an outdoor patio. Molly Malone’s also is popular, with an eclectic menu that includes Irish favorites Guinness stew, fish and chips, and corned beef and cabbage. Shanahan’s, oddly enough, specializes in gumbo, po’ boys, and other Cajun classics.
Excellent Italian fare is the other dining theme here. At La Piazza try ultra-fresh roasted chestnut–butternut squash ravioli with black butter, figs, and sage, or go for the Chef’s Choice, a four-course menu based on whatever chef Gaetano Di Benedetto picked up at the market that day. Francesca’s Fiore, part of the popular Francesca chain, features a seasonal menu of Northern Italian fare that changes every two weeks. Caffe De Luca is the charmingly rustic outpost of the Bucktown restaurant, and serves an ample weekend brunch where the Café Milano—coffee, sambuca, and amaretto—will kick-start your day.
Slightly off the strip, Goldyburgers may look like a dive, but this 81-year-old bar makes what many aficionados swear is the best burger in Chicago. For a cup of fair-trade organic java, check out Blue Max Coffee, which serves soup, sandwiches, salads, and breakfast all day in a converted house with a fireplace and new deck. Wind up your day with dessert at The Brown Cow, an old-fashioned ice-cream parlor that makes its own super-dense brand.
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