From Friday through Sunday, Grant Park is hosting a large food festival, with vendors peddling fare from a wide range of Chicagoland restaurants. Rumor has it there may be a musical accompaniment provided by the likes of Radiohead, Kanye West and many more. OK, fine, it's really a music festival – Lollapalooza, no less. But while the tunes take center stage, there's actually some decent grub to eat in the park at two food courts – Chowtown Northside (Jackson Dr.) and Southside (Balbo Dr.) – so you don't have to worry about missing a great set.
While you listen to the Motown-tinged soul of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, you can chow down on ribs and pulled pork from Western suburbs soul food mecca Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs. Another Chicago favorite, Goose Island Brewpub, will be at Lolla too. Sadly, they will not be offering any of What Made Milwaukee Famous, but you can grab a fish taco, falafel or chicken caesar salad sandwich. Mexican cuisine will also be in ample supply, with Adobo Grill providing guac, chips, chicken tamales and pork tacos.
Grooving to the Eastern European gypsy punk of Gogol Bordello or rocking out to British legends Radiohead may prompt you to seek out some Old World fare. Luckily, Italian restaurants Café Bionda and Dinotto Ristorante are making such classics as meatballs, eggplant parmigiano and Italian sausages. Meanwhile, Salud Tequila Lounge offers the
perfect item for a hot, sweaty day of dancing with big crowds:
watermelon.
- Linus Feder