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Hungry for more than just a meal? These restaurants offer food with a side of entertainment.

Thursday Apr 17, 2008.     By K. Tighe

Food Feed

My husband and I are television diners. We're even past the sheepish denial stage, not even bothering to set the dining room table. Come to think of it, it's been a while since we've even seen the dining room table. It's probably still there. As a result of this socially debilitating affliction—one that's stricken leagues of Americans since the 1950s—we've taken to gobbling down our meals before the first commercial break.

Eating out poses a challenge, though; what are we supposed to look at? Sure, there's always the fine art of conversation, but where's the visual stimulus in that? Fortunately for us (and all of the brutish couples like us), there are some Chicago-area restaurants that cater to the short-attention span.

La Pomme Rouge
A night at the movies used to harbor a certain charm, but these days it's all endless lines, screaming children, stale popcorn and an hour of coming attractions. Nevermind the ridiculously high ticket prices or the scowls you get from the usher if you try to sneak in booze. If it's charm you're after, snub the multiplex and head to River North's La Pomme Rouge. What could be more delightful than watching "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" while nibbling on caviar, artesian cheese and tuna tartare? Only washing it down with a magnum of Moet & Chandon.

Film screenings take place at the lavishly appointed salon every Monday night and run the gamut from "Some Like it Hot" to "A Fish Called Wanda." Half-priced wine specials usually accompany the weekly festivities, so you can get soused without all those dirty looks. Sure, the bill will run you more than a hop down to the local AMC, and you can't Fandango ahead of time, but La Pomme Rouge has brought the class back to the movies.

Tommy Gun's Garage
Like most major cities, Chicago is rife with dinner theater options. Wanna attend a faux wedding? No problem. In the mood for a little murder mystery with your entree? Check. You can even catch rousing equestrian renditions of "The Nutcracker" or "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" if you fancy. But it should come as no surprise that one of the best bets around is the show that's about Chicago. Tommy Gun's Garage, which has been in business for the better part of two decades, transports patrons back to a Prohibition Era Chi-Town.

Enter with a password, play like you're in a speakeasy, hobnob with gangsters and get busted by the cops. The evening's entertainment pretty much covers all bases, so how could Tommy Gun's Garage possibly offer more Chicago-style? A generous slab of prime rib called "Kingpin" ought to do the trick.

A La Turka
What's more extravagant than lounging on a floor cushion in an elaborately draped room, sucking on a hookah and watching the rhythmic hips of a traditional belly-dancer? Lakeview's A La Turka delivers incredible cuisine—authentic zucchini pancakes, musakka and roasted lamb shank—but it doesn't stop there.

The emphasis at this intimately appointed den is on hospitality; this means guzzling Turkish wine while being treated to weekend floor shows (8 p.m. Thursday and Sunday; 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday) from a bejeweled flock of dancers. You won't see the campy, cartoonish gyrations employed by some theme restaurateurs here, as the folks behind A La Turka have great reverence for the traditional art of belly-dance. Top-notch performers interact with the crowd through impressive shimmies that also happen to be very family-friendly. If you're dazzled by the veils and wiggles, sign up for one of the classes taught by the A La Turka dancers.

Uncommon Ground
These days, most music venues pack audiences in like sardines, serve watered-down brews in flimsy plastic cups and offer token noshes like greasy fries just to encourage folks to keep drinking. When you're craving a more intimate musical experience, it's time to trade in the ordinary for the Uncommon...Ground, that is.

The Chicago institution offers nightly music at both locations (Wrigleyville and Rogers Park/Edgewater); touring singer-songwriters alternate calendar spots with rising local bands. But this isn't "Kumbaya" coffeehouse drivel; the music leans toward rock, folk and indie with just a sprinkling of world flavor. Duck confit, pistachio-encrusted tilapia and glazed pork belly make up a menu that's a far cry away from the fare at your typical musical haunts. While you're upgrading, trade in that can of PBR for a Tree-tini; for every pear-flavored tipple ordered, the Live it Green organization will plant a tree. Eating sustainably. Listening locally. Helping the environment through alcohol consumption. You'll be Bono in no time.

Lincoln Restaurant
Few things are known to lift the "social pariah" stigma with the same ease as beer, breakfast or a few good belly laughs, but such a breezy trifecta is difficult to come by in one sitting. Good thing this is Chicago, where the simple pleasure reign supreme. Settle into a seat at the Lincoln Lodge, which is the re-christened back room of the Lincoln Restaurant, a big-on-quirks, low-on-frills diner that's best known for its oversize Honest Abe sign outside, eclectic Lincoln paraphernalia and a Civil War-themed omelet selection.

The wood-paneled backroom here has been hosting some of Chicago's best stand-up comedy since 2000. Without the stuffy two-drink minimums, overpriced bar food and marketing machines of more established clubs, the Lodge has easily stepped in to become Chicago's best bet for rising alternative comics. Shows take place on Thursday and Friday nights.

Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club
Nothing soothes a short attention span with the same finesse of a good trannie floor show—and this Lakeview supper club is the place to see 'em in all of their sequined, feathered, fabulous glory. Care to catch a glimpse of Marilyn's dewy (but oh-so-lusty) ingenue, a disco-ready Cher or even a belligerent Amy Winehouse? You'll find them performing in the aisles here, interacting with martini-sipping bachelorette parties, Boystown regulars and giddy tourists. The food matches the décor—all old-Hollywood class with cheekily named entrees like "Just for the Halibut" and "Salmon Sez" and a gracious appetizer selection.

The true draw, other than those delightful divas, is the martini list. An entertaining (but entirely dangerous) drinking game to try: Pair your sighting of a saucy singing J-Lo with a "South of the Border." Was that country-legend Patsy Cline? That'll go great with the "Peach Cobbler" or "Iced-tea-ni." Hey, there goes Britney; time to order a "Coco-Bananas." In no time you'll be the one dancing in the aisles.

Pete Miller's
Upon hearing the phrase, "dinner and a show," the old-school amongst us will wax nostalgic for a time when a live jazz set scored an evening of great steak, superior vino and good company. Believe it or not, such illustrious evenings of yore are alive and doing well in the suburbs of Chicago.

With locations in Wheeling, Evanston and Schaumburg, the classy steakhouse Pete Miller's has resurrected that old-time vibe down to the tiniest detail. Each locale offers its own take on post-World War II décor, fawning-yet-casual waitstaffs and meat-heavy menus, but one thing remains the same at all three: On any night of the week, you can expect to hear some amazing live jazz. Touring greats, established locals and up-and-comers rotate through each locale, bringing with them a mix of ragtime, swing, bebop, fusion and everything between (and beyond). Not too shabby for a show without a cover or minimum to pay.