I recently made a whirlwind trip alone to Chicago to visit some dear friends. Unfortunately, my husband came down with a nasty flu bug the day before we were to leave so he couldn’t join me. In an effort to help him feel not so sad about missing out on the trip, I made him some homemade chicken noodle soup before heading out on my solo journey. Warm comfort food is always a good thing when you’re feeling sick and down. 
While I’ve been to Chicago several times, I’m usually the passenger. Even though I was feeling a bit scared to go without my husband, I reminded myself it would be okay. Traveling alone helps me grow. For some reason, I wasn’t afraid this time to drive to the windy city. I just put on my big girl panties and took off down the road. The 5.5 hours in the car is a long time to travel alone. Thankfully there was an awesome tailwind making the trip feel like I was going warp speed.
That is until I got close to the city limits. Traffic there comes to a screeching halt. Slowly moving along like a crawling snail makes the destination seem so much further away than it really is. I’m amazed at how many people and cars travel into and out of Chicago on a daily basis. You just know it is busy when the trains are going by faster than the cars. It can take 30-40 minutes to go just a short 3-mile stretch. It is best to know that and plan accordingly.
That reminds me, I have a friendly tip for anyone traveling into Chicago. It is imperative if you have a small bladder to make sure you stop for a bathroom break at the Oasis before entering the slow-moving traffic. Trust me, your bladder will thank you.
A favorite part of every trip to Chicago is trying out new restaurants and dishes at the favorite spots we love going to. Logan Square is one of our favorite stops. Not far from the bus stop area are two close restaurants I visited this trip.
For dinner, we went to Reno Chicago. Their rustic looking interior is welcoming. They have very friendly staff. The pizza is awesome. We had the Popeye, with toppings of smoked Gouda and mozzarella cheeses and spinach. I asked the waiter his suggestion for a beer since their beverage list has lots of choices. He said since they just got in Solemn Oath Brewery’s – Snaggle Tooth Bandana – American India Pale Ale, it would be a good one if I like IPA’s. That was a good suggestion and a tasty complement to the pizza. I prefer it being served a bit colder though. Not sure if “just in” meant just off the truck and not chilled in the cooler long enough? Refreshing nonetheless. The rustic chair I had wasn’t that comfortable, it sat crooked on the floor. The window seating area was nice. We were able to people watch, another favorite activity for visits to Chicago. Of course, I was scouting out the different hair colors. Gray hair was right there in the restaurant, making my skunk stripe fit right in. I’ve mentioned it before, gray is the new “in” color!
My takeaway advice about Reno: Time your visit to coincide with the menu you want to order from. We arrived in between the change in menus, so had to wait to order pizza. Reno is a cash only place. Make sure you have cash on hand or a debit card to use in their ATM in the entry of the restaurant. I recommend trying the pizza, you won’t be disappointed. I’d definitely go back to Reno again.
Logan Square seems very family friendly. People with strollers walking to and from the coffee shops. Joggers running. Dogs taking their owners for walks. Bike riders. It is a very charming area.
If you have the time, take a nice little stroll through the neighborhood on the way to breakfast at JAM. JAM isn’t very big, so go early to get a seat before the rush. The staff is so friendly and they always have great recommendations about items on their menu. The clear chairs are comfy, fun to sit on and they add a cool touch to the decor of the restaurant. I’ve never been there in the summer, but I bet their outside dining area would be enjoyable for people watching.
We were fortunate to get a window seat. Makes for nice food photos with the natural lighting. I decided not to go with my favorite breakfast choice. I tried the chef’s special of the day. It was a savory sage waffle, topped with braised lamb, arugula and pistachio salad, and a poached egg. I even branched out of my comfort zone and instead of their fresh squeezed carrot juice, I tried their Boulevard drink. The fresh mashed cucumber and lime juice mixed with bourbon complemented my meal surprisingly well.
I told my breakfast companions, the whole meal was a “party in my mouth.” I don’t believe the dish is normally on the menu. It was a chef creation for the day. I’m definitely glad I had the chance to try it.
My takeaway advice about JAM: Unlike Reno, they do accept credit cards. Go hungry, the food is delicious. Try something you wouldn’t normally eat, your mouth will be happy you did so. Sit by the window and take a camera along to capture the photo-worthy presentations of the food. JAM definitely remains a must stop at on my list when visiting Logan Square.
Good graycious, Cheers! It is time to plan another trip to Chicago! How about you, have you ever been to Logan Square? What is your favorite restaurant recommendation? Please leave me a comment below.
