Fez’d entertainer Smarty Pants — who performs Tuesday nights at this local Italian chain’s Wrigleyville location and Thursdays at the one in Park Ridge — may just be the greatest balloon animal tamer/twister there is. (His services are free, but you can tip him for that meal you just ate in peace.) 1351 W. Addison St., 773-477-1822; 742 W. Higgins Rd., Park Ridge, 847-518-8700.
International flights with a toddler are daunting to most parents, but a trip to Rosemont is pretty doable. Bavarian-themed Hofbrauhaus — with a menu of German specialties as well as burgers and salads — has live music nightly, and servers who lead the tables in singalongs. And while this will amuse your kid, a stein of beer will amuse you. 5500 Park Place, Rosemont, 847-671-2739.
While train-themed restaurants — even ones that bring your meal to the table as cargo — are nothing new, this west suburban burger-and-sandwich spot also has a train table for some hands-on play, plus ride-on trains and a chalkboard wall for drawing. 7401 W. Madison St., Forest Park, 708-771-5276.
This North Center spot, once known as Schulien’s, has been a neighborhood fixture serving solid pub grub for more than a century. Come with kids in tow on Fridays, when veteran magician Al James performs tableside tricks 6–10 p.m. 2100 W. Irving Park Rd., 773-478-2100.
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The book-length menu of Italian dishes at Leona’s is sure to have something for even the pickiest of eaters. And if that’s not enough, at the Rogers Park location, the kids can get up from the table and go to a chalkboard-walled playroom, where cartoon movies loop on big-screen TVs. 6935 N. Sheridan Rd., 773-764-5757.