Potbelly: 277 E Ontario St, (312) 337-6488
It’s Potbelly.
Bijan’s Bistro: 663 N State St, (312) 202-1904
I sent Steve here when I wanted a salad to make up for the Potbelly I had for lunch that day.
M Burger: 161 E Huron St, (312) 254-8500
This was the first thing I ate after I had Paul. I was starving. My regret is that as I was chowing down the nurse on duty said “Don’t eat too fast or you’ll get sick” so I slowed down more out of shame than anything else. Then I got wheeled to our recovery room. Then the food was cold and it was time to go to bed and half of my burger and fries got wasted. I remember this more vividly than I have any thoughts I had about my brand-new baby.
West Egg Cafe: 620 N Fairbanks Ct, (312) 280-8366
Just a diner. Steve and I love their West Coast club. It comes with really good potatoes, a bit of fruit salad and a side salad with a nice sweet poppyseed dressing.
Pizano’s: 864 N State St, (312) 751-1766
This is my favorite pizza in Chicago. They are owned by the same people as Lou Malnati’s, so if you like their pizza you will like Pizano’s.
They have refrigerators in the break rooms in the hospital so if you get more food than you need you can hold onto it. I do recommend procuring napkins, paper plates and plastic silverware when you get your takeout because they don’t have that super handy in the hospital rooms. It’s as if the primary use of them is not eating. Congratulations in advance on your new bundle of joy! And on the baby too.
List: The restaurants we ate from while I was at Prentice hospital having or recovering from having a baby
This post started off as an email I was going to send to my cousin’s wife who is expecting a baby in a few weeks. However, I realized that maybe it could be of use to more people than just her. Prentice Hospital has a cafeteria but I hold a grudge against it because the very last thing I ate before I was surprise-induced was a shitty, shitty granola “parfait”. You know the good ones where there is granola and yogurt and fresh fruit? Well, in this case the fresh fruit was replaced by whipped cream. I remember eating it and feeling disappointed because it tasted weird and the “healthiness” of the choice was negated. Suddenly I was informed that I would be having a baby three weeks sooner than planned and PS I wouldn’t be allowed to eat anything that wasn’t a clear liquid for about 36 hours so I will always hate that cafeteria for supplying me with that terrible last meal. Anyway! If you’re going to be having a baby at Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago in the near future (or having to stay at Lurie Children’s Hospital, which I hope you won’t), here are some places within walking distance that you can send your partner to.
Lynne Miller
How soon after giving birth did you eat, Claire? I thought I could handle delicious meat loaf from a good restaurant soon after delivering Jake. Unfortunately, my stomach rebelled. Lynne
clairezulkey
Let's see...I gave birth at 7:15ish, then I got, you know, put together again. I remember sending Steve out at 8:45 because the restaurant closed at 9 (I think) so that was about my timeline.