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Where to Eat Near Northwestern University

The Barn Steakhouse
Mid Kitchen 
Bat 17
Tapas Barcelona
Alcove
Evanston Chicken Shack
Bob's Pizza
Table to Stix Ramen
Habibi In Mediterranean Grill
Bennison’s Bakery
steak from the barn near northwestern
The Barn Steakhouse
sandwich from mid kitchen near northwestern
Mid Kitchen 
burger and side from bat 17 near northwestern
Bat 17
spanish dish from tapa's barcelona near northwestern
Tapas Barcelona
entree from alcove evanston near northwestern
Alcove
wings and fries from chicken shack near northwestern
Evanston Chicken Shack
cheese pizza from bob's pizza near northwestern
Bob's Pizza
ramen from table to stix near northwestern
Table to Stix Ramen
Mediterranean food from habibi near northwestern
Habibi In Mediterranean Grill
baked goods from bennison's bakery in villanova
Bennison’s Bakery

Evanston, home of the Northwestern University Wildcats, is a great town with an even better food scene. If you’re a college student or just live around the area, there are tons of options to choose from when going out to eat, from nice steakhouses to late night pizza joints. You will never go bored or hungry in this town, that is certain. We’ve put together a list of restaurants for you to check out from boozy breakfasts to bison burgers. You’re going to want to add these spots to your list of places to eat near Northwestern University. 

 

Photo credit: yelp.com
Photo credit: yelp.com

The Barn Steakhouse 

1016 Church St Rear, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 868-8041

The Barn is the perfect place to check out for a birthday or anniversary dinner. It is cozy, classy, and chic with an upstairs level overlooking the main dining area. The building and decor combine modern and traditional giving this spot an elevated casual vibe. As for the menu, they have several different types of steak to choose from like the center strip Manhattan and dry age ribeye as well as mouth watering toppings like parmesan crust and truffle butter. For appetizers, start off with the french onion soup or burrata and delicate squash. Moving to the main course, you have many steak options as well as mushroom carnaroli risotto, bison bolognese, and shrimp spaghetti. Add a side of brussel sprouts with arugula pistachio pesto or German butterball potatoes and you’re all set. They’ve also got delicious cocktails, beer, and wine to pair with your meal. 

 

Photo credit: yelp.com
Photo credit: yelp.com

Mid Kitchen 

1512 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 563-8454

Brunch is always a good idea, and grabbing brunch at Mid Kitchen is an even better idea. This super cute and comfortable spot is perfect for everyone, no matter what you’re in the mood for. It’s great for grabbing something quick and tasty or hanging out for a while and catching up with some old friends. Start with an iced coffee or a mimosa, or both. For breakfast you have tons of items to choose from like a classic eggs, meat, toast, and potatoes plate or you can create your own omelet. If you’re not feeling eggs, carb up with a waffle, french toast, pancakes, or a rockin’ breakfast sandwich. With great prices, flavors, and company, Mid Kitchen is the perfect place to start your day off. 

 

Photo credit: yelp.com
Photo credit: yelp.com

Bat 17 

1709 Benson Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 733-7117

No college town is complete without a classic sandwich shop, and this one truly outdoes itself. It has a pub vibe with intricate decorations and pictures hanging all over the walls. There are several TV’s hanging from the ceiling so it’s also a great spot to hang out and watch some sports with your buddies. No matter what kind of sandwich you’re craving, Bat 17 has it, and the odds of you finishing it aren’t super likely. The portions here are incredible and each sandwich is so stacked and loaded, your phone will probably eat first. From chicken, pork, and fish, they’ve got you covered. But what’s really special here are their burgers. They were voted best burger in Evanston for a reason. They’ve got options from the sunny side up burger and ruben burger to the deli burger and more. There is something for everyone to enjoy here. 

 

Photo credit: yelp.com
Photo credit: yelp.com

Tapas Barcelona 

1615 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 866-9900

This Spanish Tapas restaurant is a great place to bring some good friends and try all kinds of delicious Spanish flavors. Stop in for some drinks and bites for a small dinner before going out or try 10 different dishes and fill up on plates like valenciana paella or the gaudi pizza. To start off, try the patatas aioli, salmon, ahumado, or delizia de queso. There are also many soup and salad options to start off with as well. Moving on to some of the larger dishes, there are so many tasty options to try like rigatoni con salchicha, pollo al whiskey, chuletitas de cordero, and mejillones plancha. Pasta, chicken, lamb chops, and mussels among others make for a diverse and flavorful meal. They also serve some classic Spanish desserts like arroz con leche and uvas de san benigno. If you’re not sure what something is, don’t worry. The menu translates everything perfectly and your server will be happy to help translate something. Be sure to try one of their refreshing cocktails or a glass of wine with your meal!  

 

Photo credit: alcoveevanston.com
Photo credit: alcoveevanston.com

Alcove

1625 Maple Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 570-9821

Alcove is a lovely fine dining restaurant tucked away near the train tracks in Evanston. It appears to be a hidden hole in the wall from outside but when you walk into this little restaurant you feel warm and welcome. They have hot and cold appetizers to begin the meal. For the hot appetizers you can choose from things like mini lamb meatballs, goat cheese tart, and pan seared hudson valley foie gras. For the cold you can try the yellowfin tuna tartare, baby kale salad, or Henry’s farm roasted beet salad. For the main course choose from dishes like maple leaf duck breast, grilled branzino, carnaroli rice risotto,  and grilled New Zealand rack of lamb. There are plenty of delicious options and you are sure to thoroughly enjoy any of them. 

 

Photo credit: yelp.com
Photo credit: yelp.com

Evanston Chicken Shack 

1925 Ridge Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 328-9360

Yes, Evanston Chicken Shack is quite literally a shack, or hole in the wall if you will, but don’t let that scare you away. They’ve been serving up some of the best chicken in town for over 30 years and probably for the next 30 to come. They’re always hot, made to order fried chicken is just crunchy and seasoned enough it’ll probably become your new favorite lunch, dinner, and late night spot. They have specials that include two breasts and a leg for just over 10 bucks. And all of the specials come with a biscuit and mashed potatoes and gravy, or you can do a biscuit and a side of spaghetti, or your other option is to get fries and bread on the side.  They’ve also got some delicious fish and wing options. Tons of deals, tons of combos, and tons of flavor will all be found at this chicken shack! 

 

Photo credit: yelp.com
Photo credit: yelp.com

Bob’s Pizza 

616 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 485-1973

Bob’s Pizza is a huge favorite among Northwestern students, Evanston locals, and out of town visitors. For starters, they stay open relatively late and can cure those late night pizza cravings in an instant. They serve a New York style pizza and you can make your own or try one of their specialty pies. Bob’s margherita and the Korean BBQ chicken pizza are some fan favorites here. They do more than just pizza though, so you better come ready to eat. Their cheese curds are something magical and their meatballs are also delish. To top it off, they’re also serving sandwiches, dessert, and beer, wine, and specialty cocktails. If you haven’t been here yet, you need to check it out ASAP. 

 

Photo credit: yelp.com
Photo credit: yelp.com

Table to Stix Ramen 

1007 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 859-6847

Whether you like ramen by choice or because you’re a poor college kid (we’ve all been there it’s okay) you need to check out this ramen spot downtown. The inside has a cool and modern vibe to it. It’ll make you feel like you could just sit there and sip on a hot bowl of soup all day to warm up. They’ve got tons of options so you can create your own bowl if you know what you like, or try one of their specialty bowls like the miso veggie or modern tonkotsu. They also have tons of yummy small bites that are perfect for getting a few and sharing like crab ragoons, edamame, pork gyoza, and calamari. Whether it’s date night, girls night, or you’re just running errands downtown and need a bite to eat, Table to Stix Ramen is a great place to check out. 

 

Photo credit: yelp.com
Photo credit: yelp.com

Habibi In Mediterranean Grill 

825 Church St, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 328-3278

Habibi In is serving up some of the most fresh and delicious Mediterranean food in the area. The food is always hot and the portion sizes are big enough you’ll probably have some food left over. They have several entrees to choose from like the shredded grilled chicken, beef shawarma, falafel, and plenty of other options. Each entree is served over rice and comes with a side salad, pita bread, and their famous white sauce. They also have each of their entree options as a sandwich in either a wrap or pita and fries on the side. If that’s not enough Mediterranean food for you, you can get an extra side of pita and hummus or lentil soup! So many delicious options here and everything is so tasty you’ll be coming back for more.

Photo credit: yelp.com
Photo credit: yelp.com

Bennison’s Bakery 

1000 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 328-9434

Bennison’s has been serving the great people of Evanston since 1938, and they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon! If you’re from the area or just visiting, a stop at this classic bakery is a must. They have everything from donuts, cupcakes, and macaroons, to artisan breads, fresh sandwiches, and authentic bavarian pretzels. If you need a specialty birthday cake or you’re just stopping in to grab something quick for breakfast, they’ve got you covered. The shop itself looks like it’s hardly been touched since the doors first opened way back when, you’ll feel like you’re going back in time when you go to pick up your baked goods. You’ll never be able to get enough of Bennison’s but lucky for you, they have some many delicious options you can try something new every week!