Where to eat out on Christmas Day-An Ageless Guide

According to a 2008 Rasmussen telephone survey,” Eighty-eight percent (88%) of American adults say they will be celebrating Christmas this holiday season, Three percent (3%) say they will celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, with two percent (2%) celebrating some other unspecified religious observance. One percent (1%) each will recognize the Winter Solstice or some personal milestone in their lives.”

I know that many travel North Shore people travel to warm and exotic lands like Puerto Vallarta, Barbados, Scottsdale West Palm Beach et al. Or enjoy winter sports (a phenomena I accept but can’t really understand). Those of us who are left behind (whether we celebrate Christmas or not) may need to get out of the house and eat something.

Here are some Ageless faves!

DELI

Max and Benny’s 461 Waukegan Road, Brookside Plaza, Northbrook,  (847)-272-9490
Hours: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Pastrami on Rye

This Northbrook deli has been in business since 1985 satisfying North Shore residents with their great take out and their seating for over 300. This is “comfort food” at its core.

Max and Benny’s received some notoriety during the 2008 election for offering Obama and McCain cookies. At the time of this Sun Times article, in September 2008, then candidate Obama lead Senator McCain by 20 to 1. And if the poll were held today?

Max’s 191 Skokie Valley Rd.,Highland Park,, (847)-831-0600
Hours: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Max’s is the home deli for Ageless North Shore. We have conducted several of our Ageless interviews  at Max’s including Michael Levin’s “How We Work Now.” I think he had pastrami and I had corned beef but my notes are smeared with mustard. This New York style deli is noisy and lively and serves a basket of rolls and pickles.

CHINESE

Koi: Chinese-Sushi-Saki Lounge 624 Davis Street, Evanston, (847) 866-6969
Hours: 11:00 AM to 10PM

We’re big fans. So is this blogger from the Medill School of Integrated Marketing Communications. “Dim light with flickering candles, modern wooden floor and Asian artworks on the wall create an enjoyable ambiance that also gives relish to gourmet food. If you have never been to Koi, which has fabulous Chinese dishes and a sushi bar, this is the place you should definitely go and try. Sushi with fresh air-shipped fish from Japan can be an excellent choice, too.”

This is the real deal. A comment from the same blog. “Five of us went to this place last night. It was really good! It made me a little homesick of Asia though…:)”

They also have a full and creative bar if you have a hankering for that stuff.

Little Szechuan 1900 1st St, Highland Park (847) 433-7007
Hours: 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM

This is an old-school, family restaurant. You won’t find them changing the name to Sichuan anytime soon. Although the Szechuan cuisine is known for its liberal use of garlic, chili peppers and peppercorn, Little Szechuan has enough variety to match everyone’s spiciness quotient. Favorites here include hot and sour soup, Governor’s chicken, Mongolian beef and especially the pot stickers.  They do serve wine and beer.

MEDITERREAN

A few years ago, the Ageless crew went to Los Angeles over the “winter break.” We ate a Persian restaurant in Los Angeles on Christmas Day. For reasons we cannot disclose here, we believe that we dined with Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah of Iran. Well, we saw body guards at the restaurant.  And a limo and a black chase car zoomed away from the restaurant with this important looking man in the back seat.

We don’t except you will see Mr Pahlavi at either of these two places.

Pita Inn 3910 Dempster Street, Skokie (847)677.0211
Hours 11:00 AM to 12 Midnight

Business as usual for this 80 seat bustling spot for shawarma, falafil, hummus,baba ghannoug and kebabs. And of course, freshly baked pita. Remember to ask for extra tahini sauce. Their mint tea is excellent. It’s a great place for take-out. If you feel like making your own stuffed grape leaves or other specialty on December 25,  The Pita Inn market is open next door,

Mizrahi Grill 215 Skokie Valley Rd., Highland Park (847) 831-1400
Hours 11 AM- 1:30 PM   Kosher

Chicago Magazine describes Mizrahi Grill as “congenial, unceremonious and kosher”. “In addition to protein, pita sandwiches come stuffed with cabbage salad, pickles, and ‘chips’ (french fries), as well as the usual tomato, cuke, onion, and tahini, with even more options available.”

Their food is homemade and prepared All menu items are original family recipes, handed down from grandparents of the owners. A taste of Israel without all the tourists.

PIZZA

Restaurant Pizza is not easy to come by on Christmas Day. At least pizza that we can recommend. However, one of our Ageless friends has a restaurant that will satisfy your craving for Italian delicacies and more.

Da’Nali’s Cafe 4032 West Oakton, Skokie  (847)677-2782
Hours: 10 AM – 2:00 PM  Kosher

Da’Nali’s Cafe has become one of the most highly rated Kosher restaurants in the country. Best known for their brick oven pizza, Danali’s Café really specializes in its haimish (home-like) environment.

Besides pizza, you can enjoy sandwiches liked grilled salmon fillet with tomatoes and sauteed onions on garlic bread or Albacore tuna as sandwich, a wrap or grinder with melted mozzarella cheese, sauteed onions, tomatoes on garlic bread. Don’t forget the split pea soup.

Oh, and you can get breakfast all day. The pancakes are highly touted!

GROCERIES

Not usually a good day to shop. Often your choices are restricted to convenience stores and gas station candy counters. This year you can have the full shopping experience and probably save money as well.

Garden Fresh Market 275 Skokie Blvd. Northbrook, (847) 272-0300
Hours 7:00 AM to 06:00 PM  (features a Kosher Korner)

Where else can you find nationally advertised brands of American as well as Israeli groceries? Besides their Kosher Korner (we particularly favor the whole cooked chicken), a large selection of dried fruits, nuts, trail mix, and other goodies, and reasonably priced produce, there is an awesome variety of sausage and cheeses from all over the world. Serious Eastern European sausage.

The aisles always overflow with specials which are surprising either for their low prices or their seemingly random placement. Like a local brand of pomegranate juice or a large display of rice pilaf.

Their product mix and diverse customer base makes the Garden Fresh experience entertaining as well as productive.

Did we miss any? Send us your picks.