| LOCATION SCOUT 08.26.08 7:00 AM |
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| Where to Entertain Near Midway Airport |
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Located within a 10-mile radius of Midway Airport, these venues are go-to spots for entertaining travelers arriving on Chicago's South Side.
1. Among the long strip of Italian restaurants lining Taylor Street in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood, Francesca’s on Taylor stands out for entertaining. The venue’s private dining room holds as many as 60 and is often used for smaller semi-private functions of 15 to 30. Specialty menus of four and five courses can be crafted for each event and offer appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts. Guests can choose from roasted meats like chicken, veal, and tilapia, or handmade pastas like rigatoni, ravioli, and gnocchi. Desserts include classic European treats like tiramisu and profiteroles, while platters stacked with sweets offer a taste of everything. The restaurant’s regional wine list and specialty martini list are also available for private functions. Francesca’s is available for full buyouts. |
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PHOTO GALLERY |
 | Francesca's on Taylor, which is located in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood, offers a casual supper club atmosphere, classic Italian dishes, and private dining for as many as 60 people.
Courtesy of Francesca's on Taylor |
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 | The South Side Royalty East Banquet Hall can accommodate as many as 300 guests in its ornate surroundings.
Courtesy of Royalty East Banquet Hall |
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2. Home Run Inn is a popular neighborhood restaurant that got its name in 1923 when the winning run from a nearby baseball game shattered the original tavern’s front window. Decades later, Home Run Inn is still serving its signature pizzas and finger foods. A private dining room that holds as many as 60 guests offers casual surroundings for various events, with multiple windows that pull in plenty of natural light. As for the menu, Home Run Inn serves the "Banquet Feast," complete with mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, garlic bread, and Italian salad to start. For the main course, its all about the pizza. Planners can also craft their own menu from Home Run Inn’s catering list.
3. Located less than two miles from Chicago Midway Airport, Royalty East Banquet Hall has been in business for more than 20 years and holds as many as 300 guests. The restaurant’s international cuisine touts everything from kabobs to classic comfort foods like mashed potatoes, dumplings, and pierogis. Menus are specifically tailored for each event and offer an extensive list of choices (more than 10 varieties of soup are available). Entrees range from baked or fried chicken to breaded pork cutlets and barbecue ribs. Guests can also opt for an open bar, charged on an hourly basis. Royalty East Banquet Hall is available for full buyouts.
4. Nikos Restaurant and Lounge is an upscale spot located roughly four miles from Midway. Cut crystal chandeliers imported from Vienna hang from the private ballroom’s ceiling, and a spiral staircase, often used for grand entrances, serves as an elegant focal point. Nikos’s ballroom holds as many as 700 guests and has hosted an eclectic range of events, from weddings and anniversaries to business meetings and corporate parties. The ethnic-infused menu offers everything from flaming entrées (a specialty) to fresh seafood, poultry, and pastas. An attached Art Deco-inspired lounge can accomodate as many as 100 people for a cocktail reception, and the entire venue is available for full buyouts.
—Stacy Warden
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