Family-friendly restaurants in Downers Grove

From: Friday, June 23rd, 2006

Original article located here.

June 23, 2006 (WLS) — The suburbs are known for having a number of family-friendly restaurants. In Downers Grove, two new places are aiming to reach a wide audience. ABC7′s Hungry Hound says their focus is on breakfast and lunch and the food is worth the trip.

In downtown Downers Grove — the 2 Toots Steam Whistle Grill has become the de facto destination for kids of all ages.

“We were looking for an area to put a train concept and this one was perfect because of the train station. The trains are coming and going all day long, it was just phenomenal. We saw the kids, we saw the familes, this was perfect,” said Dale Eisenberg, 2 Toots Steam Whistle Grill.

The highlight is that all meals are delivered to your table via electric train. Its standard kid fare, but the burgers rise above the average diner.

“It’s very simple. It’s just basic hamburgers, the way they cooked them in the fifties,” said Eisenberg.

Adult options include noteworthy egg salad and tuna salad – both served on some high-quality multi-grain bread. Cupcakes and Rice Krispy treats are the desserts of choice and Eisenberg says the food and atmosphere instantly transport kids of all ages back to another time.

“When they were kids, they get to live it through their children now,” said Eisenberg.

If Jimmy Bannos from Juicy-O looks familiar, that’s because he’s the chef and owner of Heaven on Seven restaurants and Dale Eisenberg from two toots may look familiar to fans of the original pancake house in Park Ridge because he’s owned that legendary joint for over 20 years.