On Your Way To The Beach, Enjoy A Meal At This Hidden Gem Pizza Cafe In Illinois
By Linze Rice|Published June 05, 2023
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Linze Rice
Author
Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
There’s nothing quite like spending the day under the hot sun and cooling off in the water. But, a day at the beach can really bring out the hunger. And while there are a ton of great restaurants in Illinois, this hidden gem restaurant in Chicago, Illinois is conveniently located for fueling you up before or after a day at Lake Michigan.
Rewired Pizza Cafe and Bar, 1100 W. Thorndale Ave., is a restaurant located on the Far North Side of Chicago in the scenic Edgewater neighborhood, which butts up to Lake Michigan.
The cafe is bright, open, and airy. It's situated along Thorndale Avenue which is just four blocks from Thorndale Beach, as well as just steps from the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line train station — meaning those headed toward the beach will almost surely walk by.
One of the last businesses amid a sea of residential properties, the diner can easily blend into its surroundings. Its floral-decorated patio makes it feel like you're seated in your backyard, rather than at a restaurant.
The cafe is great for early-rising beach-goers who want to grab a coffee or some breakfast before heading out for the day. The breakfast and brunch menus feature fresh fruit, wraps, sandwiches, avocado toast, quiche, and house specialties guaranteed to give you the energy you need for a day in the waves.
Of course, the pizza cafe is also known for slinging homemade pies. Build your own, or choose from one of the diner's signature pizzas like the veggie, truffle mushroom, al pastor, fried chicken, or onion soup pizzas.
They also serve up hearty wraps, sandwiches, burgers, and appetizers made with fresh ingredients. My recommendation is the fried chicken sandwich or the Rewired BLT, which compiles bacon, lettuce, tomato, and Swiss cheese on sourdough bread with garlic basil mayo.
On a hot summer day, I tend to look for something lighter. Fortunately, there are several delicious salad options to choose from that provide plenty of satisfying flavors.
Spice up your order with a drink from the full bar, which has practically everything you need for a refreshing adult beverage. Pro tip: There is a happy hour from 3-5 p.m. Monday through Friday that offers discounted specials on wine, draft beer, pizza slices, and appetizers.
The cafe is just down the street from one of my favorite beaches in Chicago. For several years I walked past the restaurant's location on my way to Thorndale Beach, which is a hidden gem itself.
Linze
The beach offers some of the clearest water in Lake Michigan and can easily be accessed by bus, train, bike, or foot. Down the block is also Ardmore Beach, Kathy Osterman Beach, and Hollywood Beach — a long stretch of sand, water, and park land where many people gather during the summer.
Linze Rice
Have you ever been to this hidden gem restaurant in Chicago, Illinois? What are you choosing from the menu? What do you like to eat on a hot summer’s day at the beach? Tell us in the comments! Start planning your trip by checking out the Rewired Pizza Cafe and Bar website and the Rewired Pizza Cafe and Bar Facebook page. And while you’re in Edgewater, make sure to stop by and take a look at this glorious pink landmark building!
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