Restaurant Review: Last-Minute, Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Reservations

Happy last day of 2025, all! Dean’s Team Chicago has been delighted to serve you the best of everything Chicago offers for you and your family this year!

It’s New Year’s Eve, and you might still be thinking about where to have a special dinner with your family tonight. We’ve compiled a short list of affordable, family-friendly restaurants still taking reservations as of Tuesday morning:

River North’s Ed Debevic’s, 159 E. Ohio Street, isfamously known for its diner-style snarky service, 1950s throwback décor, and fabulously messy, outsized burgers and fries, as well as the world’s smallest sundae. 

Start with shareables like OUTRAGEOUS FRIES, your choice of crinkle-cut fries or sweet potato fries, covered in cheese sauce, chopped scallions, crumbled bacon, aged cheddar and parmesan cheese, and served with a side of ranch. FRIED CHEESE CURDS areWisconsinʼs Finest cheese curds, served with ranch dressing . SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP is served with tortilla chips and carrot sticks. KITCHEN SINK NACHOS has a grand mix of tortilla chips, cheese sauce, aged cheddar, Monterrey Jack, Atomic Mix, sour cream, pickled red onions, chipotle salsa. 

Lighter appetites will enjoy an AVOCADO CAESAR SALAD, with heart of romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, black pepper, croutons, and avocado, tossed in avocado Caesar dressing. Or, choose a COBB SALAD with heart of romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, house-roasted turkey breast, hard boiled egg, chopped bacon, red onion, avocado, aged cheddar, carrots, and your choice of dressing.

BURGERS  are served with your choice of crinkle cut fries or side salad, and include their BLUE MOON BURGER, topped with lettuce, tomato, onion strings, and Ed’s Blue Moon cheese sauce. ROADSIDE BURGER has mustard-griddled patties, American cheese, Edʼs special sauce, red onion, and a pickle slice. ROUTE 66 BURGER is served on grilled sourdough, Monterrey Jack, bacon slices, and guacamole. 

Even the smallest appetites will have room for their signature THE WORLD’S SMALLEST SUNDAE withvanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and hot fudge. Though there’s lots of other desserts to choose from! Make your reservations by clicking here.

Located directly on Chicago’s riverfront, Pizzeria Portofino, 317 N. Clark Street has spectacular views of our Chicago River. After 9pm on New Year’s Eve, it becomes Club Portofino with a $150 per person price tag, but prior to that, it’s a great place for your family to enjoy hand-stretched pizzas, coastal wines, and watching the river in an expansive all-weather patio. 

Start with shareables like PROSCIUTTO SAN DANIELE, thinly sliced ham served on focaccia, with whipped ricotta and local honey. ROASTED GARLIC BREAD is served with parmesan garlic butter and rosemary, while PORTUGUESE OCTOPUS has Calabrian oregano, crispy potatoes, and portofino vinaigrette. 

As delicious as their antipasti’s are, save your appetite for their pizzas! CHARRED PEPPERONI hasEzzo pepperoni, mozzarella, Mama Lil’s peppers, and Portofino hot honey. ITALIAN SAUSAGE & FENNEL PIZZA is made with caramelized onion, fresh mozzarella, and parmesan. BLACK TRUFFLE & THREE CHEESE has housemade ricotta and black truffle crema. 

There’s lots more pastas and other specialties to try, but we can’t leave without talking about their desserts, specifically their kid-friendly HOT CHOCOLATE with housemade marshmallows, gingerbread cookies, classic candy canes, and peppermint. Or the PEPPERMINT SUNDAE with chocolate, candy cane, and white chocolate peppermint bark. PORTOFINO SPRITZ CAKE has orange, prosecco, and vanilla cream. For reservations, click here.

At Lincoln Park’s Summer House Santa Monica, 1954 N. Halsted Street, from 11am-10pm on Wednesday, December 31, the party includes A KID’S PIZZA-MAKING SESSION from 4-6pm. Kids 12 and under can craft their own pizzas at their official pizza counter with Summer House Santa Monica chefs for $7.95 plus tax (gratuity not included). Or opt for the tableside option, and have all the ingredients delivered to your table for the whole family to get in on the fun!

Kids will wash their hands, use the flour to form the dough, spread their choice of red or white sauce, and build their zae with cheese and toppings. For the sweetest start to 2026, swing by THE COOKIE BAR for holiday-themed cookies. 

Kid-friendly options aside, adults can enjoy such specialties as BRUSSELS SPROUTS SALAD and SKIRT STEAK FRITES.  For reservations, click here.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago