Restaurant Review: Honey, I Shrunk the Pop-Up

Pop-up restaurants continue to pop up throughout Chicago, bringing a mix of nostalgia themed-food and decor to cater to fans of all things 80s and 90s. Recently, a Saved by the Bell pop-up debuted at Dorian’s in Wicker Park. The latest pop up is inspired by the 1989 flick Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, starring Rick Moranis. Fans of the hit movie can head to the award-winning The Sixth, located at 2202 West Lawrence Avenue in Lincoln Square. The pop-up restaurant, cleverly titled Honey, I Shrunk the Pop-Up, is open now until November 1.

So what makes this pop-up worthy of venturing to? Let’s start with the setting. The exterior and interior are fashioned to make you feel like the main characters from the beloved film. In other words, expect to feel teeny tiny as you dine amongst the oversized furnishings, giant movie stills from the film, and six-foot-tall toy dinosaurs that make up the décor. Talk about a truly immersive dining experience.  

Of course, nailing the setting is only one aspect of a pop-up truly hitting it out of the park. A pop-up restaurant is only as good as its creativity when it comes to the menu, and Honey, I Shrunk the Pop-Up stands tall in that area. 

For starters, the cocktails do a fantastic job of mixing themes from the film with delicious ingredients. Stella Miller of the West Loop’s Yūgen crafted 14 cocktails that are sure to be a hit with fans of the franchise. 

“The Dad, Don’t Eat Me” cocktail ($13) will be a fan favorite. The drink features Plantation 3 Stars Rum, Honey Nut Cheerios House-infused cereal milk (yes, you read that correctly), and house toasted oat syrup. The best part? As you down the tasty beverage, an ice cube is revealed, depicting Moranis’ characters kids pleading with their dad to not eat them, just like in the film. The “Something with Potassium” ($15) concoction consists of Lucy Pistolas Mezcal, Crème De Banane, coconut water, and orange blossom. Other film-inspired creations include the “Shrink Ray,” “Get Off The Grass!” and “It’s A Jungle Out There.”

The food menu continues the cleverness with eats created by chefs Chris Teixeira and Nate Henssler of the Fifty/50 Restaurant Group. For instance, the “I Could Eat a Corndog the Size of a Truck” ($9) is literally three corndogs and fries with sweet chili aioli and ketchup served in a toy truck. The “We’ve Been Saved By…Onion Dip!” ($9) features French onion dip with housemade potato chips. Your sweet tooth will be pleased with either the oatmeal cream pie cookies ($5) or the vanilla mousse semifreddo ($7). 

Honey, I Shrunk the Pop-Up is open Monday thru Friday from 4 pm to 11 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 2 pm to 11 pm. Like every other restaurant, The Sixth is functioning at reduced capacity with only 20 seats inside and 10 seats on the outdoor patio. Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time, as they are required for each 90-minute max visit. The usual COVID-10 protocols are in effect, so bring your mask.

ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO