Roscoe Village, North Center

Like Lincoln Square to the north, the neighborhoods of Roscoe Village and North Center were settled by German immigrants. Both communities have been steadily gentrifying and growing into thriving residential and commercial districts, with plenty of family-friendly brunch spots, coffee shops, Irish pubs, German restaurants and live music and entertainment venues. Popular outdoor festivals such as Ribfest and Retro on Roscoe draw large crowds to North Center and Roscoe Village every summer.

North Center/Roscoe Village: Dining and Entertainment Options Abound in Two Unique North Side Neighborhoods

Written by Alan Solomon, with research assistance from the Chicago Neighborhood Tourism Project.

North Center is a neighborhood that, through no fault of its own, is defined by its proximity to its neighbors.

Lakeview, with the Cubs and Wrigleyville, is east. The Lincoln Square neighborhood is directly north. South is ever-trendy Lincoln Park. Chicago people tend to know those three.

Ask most Chicagoans where to find "North Center" -- large as it is -- and the response likely would be, "Um . . . is it . . . north center?"

But in a quiet way and two strong neighborhoods with clear identities -- North Center and, with its own vibe, Roscoe Village -- North Center offers a variety of dining and entertainment options, most of them in clusters that make enjoying them easy.

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