IL - Travel, Hotels, and Restaurants

Travel Options - Getting to Evaston

Getting to campus via the Metra train system:

1. Take the Metra Union Pacific North Line toward Kenosha.
2. Get off at Davis Street, Evanston.
3. Walk to the north end of the platform and go down to Church Street.
4. Turn right and walk three blocks east to Orrington Avenue.
5. Make a left, turning north onto Orrington Avenue.
6. Walk one block to Clark Street.
7.  In front of you, on the north side of Clark Street, will be the Rebecca Crown Center.

Getting to campus via the Chicago Transit Authority:

1. Take the CTA Red Line to Howard Street. Change trains and get on the Purple Line north toward Linden.
2. Get off at Foster Street.
3. Make a right, turning east onto Foster Street.
4. Walk two and a half blocks to Sheridan Road.
5. In front of you, on the east side of Sheridan Road, will be the Jacobs Center.

Chicago has the O'Hare airport, and from there you can take the Chicago Transit Authoriy to Northwestern.

From O’Hare International Airport:

1. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA/elevated/"L") train provides rapid transit service from O'Hare to downtown and from downtown to Evanston.
   1. Take the CTA Blue Line train from the O’Hare station to Washington Street in Chicago's Loop.
   2. Get off at Washington Street and walk through the pedestrian tunnel to the Washington Street stop on the Red Line. Take the Red Line north to Howard Street.
   3. Howard Street is as far as the Red Line goes in the direction of Evanston, so you will need to get off the Red Line train and transfer to a Purple Line train (the Purple Line train will come exactly where you exited, so you don’t have to move). Take the Purple Line north to the Davis Street stop in Evanston.
2. There are cabs (www.northshorecab.com) available for around $30 dollars straight to the hotel. This is a time efficient – and if shared – cost efficient route to Evanston.
3. Airport Express 800.654.7871:
   Shared van service departs O'Hare every 20 minutes between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM. Upon arrival at O'Hare, see ticket agents in baggage claim areas 1E, and 3E and ask for a suburban shuttle. Cost is approximately $31.00 per person and $54.00 round trip (2nd and 3rd passengers are $8.00 per person one way). They require a one day advance notice for return trips to O'Hare. (www.AirportExpress.com)
4. Driving directions from O'Hare:
   1. Take the main exit road from the airport, which turns into I-190, east for about a half-mile.
   2. Exit right and go north on I-294, the Tri-State Tollway. You will be headed north toward Wisconsin and shortly after entering, you will need to pay a 50-cent toll.
   3. Go north about three miles to the Dempster Street eastbound exit.
   4. Take Dempster Street east approximately 10 miles through Park Ridge, Niles, Morton Grove and Skokie into Evanston.
   5. At Chicago Avenue in Evanston, turn left and go north.
   6. Main campus is approximately three-fourths of a mile north at Chicago Avenue and Sheridan Road.

Nearby Hotels

The Hotel Orrington
1710 Orrington Avenue
Evanston, IL. 60201
Phone: (847) 866-8700
Website: www.hotelorrington.com

Best Western – University Plaza
1501 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 6020
Phone: (847) 491-6400
Website: www.bwuniversityplaza.com

Hilton Garden Inn
1818 Maple Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: (847) 475-6400
Web: www.hiltongardeninn.com

Nearby Restaurants

Dixie Kitchen
825 Church Street
Phone: (847) 733-9030
Baskets of hot cornmeal johnnycakes arrive soon after you sit down, and the appetizer menu features fried green tomatoes, crawfish and corn fritters and breaded oysters with chili sauce. Dixie Kitchen specialties include Cajun items such as jambalaya and gumbo, as well as traditional Southern dishes -- fried catfish, North Carolina pulled pork, black-eyed peas and country-fried steak.

Pomegranate
1633 Orrington Avenue
Phone: (847) 475-6002
The chicken shawerma is already a favorite, super-tender and flavorful served over yellow rice with a skewer of vegetables. If you're in more of a hurry, try the signature steak-in-a-sack or the nicely spiced falafel and hummus served in a fresh, warm pita.

Noodles & Company
933 Church Street
Phone: (847) 733-1200
Noodles & Company features 10 noodle dishes that run the gamut from Japanese and Thai to Italian or good ol' American mac 'n' cheese.

Flat Top Grill
707 Church Street
Phone: (847) 570-0100
Pick and choose from more than 70 fresh ingredients and create your own stir-fry at this Evanston location. Flat Top offers seasonal seafood, meat, fruit and vegetables, plus 25 homemade sauces.

Bat 17
1709 Benson Avenue
Phone: (847) 733-7117
A small cozy spot with sports on TV and a deli-style blackboard menu -- not to mention a slightly out-of-place nature mural starring, of course, bats -- it'll satisfy the previously unmet craving for high-quality deli sandwiches in downtown Evanston with freshly baked bread and pastrami, roast beef and Reuben

Kafein
1621 Chicago Avenue
Phone: (847) 491-1621
This funky coffeehouse is a favorite of Northwestern students. Expect the usual boho vibe, complete with books, Trivial Pursuit, comfy furniture and good soups and sandwiches.

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
1850 Sherman Avenue
Phone: (847) 328-5400
Lou Malnati's serves up both deep-dish and thin-crust pizza with the requisite toppings as well as a selection of soups, salads, pastas and sandwiches. Signature stuffed spinach bread and cheese cubes are must-try appetizers, and both the chicken Parmesan sandwich and antipasto salad serve as yummy pizza alternatives.

Cozy Noodles and Rice
1018 Davis Street
Phone: (847) 733-0101
Cheap prices and the BYOB policy makes the spot popular with local students on a budget, especially during lunch when $5.50 will buy you a plate of mini egg rolls and a full Thai entree like cashew chicken or crazy noodles with shrimp, chicken, egg, carrots and peapods.

Buffalo Joe’s
812 Clark Street
Phone: (847) 328-5525
Buffalo Joe's serves up giant piles of their specialty wings that can be ordered up mild or covered in hot peppers and are so good there will be nothing left but bones, sauce and maybe that celery side.

Dave’s Italian Kitchen
1635 Chicago Avenue
Phone: (847) 864-6000
Homemade Italian dishes in generous portions at affordable prices draw locals to Dave's Italian Kitchen. Open only for dinner, specialties include the spaghetti carbonara and the lasagna "con amore" layered with spinach, pesto and tomato sauce.

Prairie Moon
1502 Sherman Avenue
Phone: (847) 864-8328
Head to Evanston for classic cocktails and "all-American" dishes including Colorado brook trout, chipotle-glazed pork chops and cedar-planked salmon.

Clarke’s
720 Clark Street
Phone: (847) 864-1610
A classic retro diner (the menu and walls are packed with cheesy '50s-style pictures) Clarke's specializes in breakfast all day and night, with heaping piles of chocolate-chip pancakes and skillets packed with potatoes, eggs, cheese and meat.

Merle’s #1 Barbeque
1727 Benson Avenue
Phone: (847) 475-7766
Portions are generous, with favorites including fall-off-the-bone baby-back ribs and sandwiches piled high with pulled pork, all served with a choice of sides including fries, cornbread and baked beans.