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None of our friends knew that The Green at Grant Park existed. We got many incredulous looks when we said that there was a miniature golf course and restaurant hiding just south of Millennium Park. No, we exclaimed, we don’t mean eating at the Park Grill and then hitting people in the fountain with a putter - a real miniature golf course! With cocktails!

While we were “in the know” about The Green, we’d never bothered to eat or drink there. Unlike most attraction-based restaurants and food stands, the Green at Grant Park’s food was both good and relatively inexpensive. They offer cocktails by the glass and by the pitcher - we tried a pitcher of Gin Collins, which was sparkling and refreshing. Every Sunday, throughout the summer, all of their cocktail pitchers are only $10 - a great deal. They offer a variety of dishes, mostly variations on standard bar food. A large basket of chips came with salsa and guacamole ($8) and a Mediterranean salad ($12) with feta, kalamata olives and an oregano-cucumber dressing was crisp and tasty. We’d definitely order the shrimp quesadilla ($7) again - it was surprisingly sweet, filled with caramelized onions and a mild white cheese. They also have a full wine menu and a collection of sandwiches.

The mini-golf course itself is challenging and surprisingly grown-up. No windmills to hit through or clown’s mouths here - just the greens, with roughs and sand traps to stymie even the best players. We’re actually proud of our 30-over-par scores. The whole golf course (18 holes) costs $10/adult to play, and they let you bring pitchers of drinks with you on the course. We suggest eating and drinking first - you’ve never played miniature golf until you’ve played it ever-so-slightly tipsy.

Despite all of our cocktail-talk, the Green is a great place to bring kids on the weekends. Golf is cheaper ($6 for kids) and the staff seemed happy to let the kids play over and over while their parents ate or chatted, as long as they didn’t cause any trouble. They offer a kids meal that includes mini-cheeseburgers and mini-corndogs for $6. Next time you’re looking for a fun, summery outing, give The Green at Grant Park a try - we’ll see you on the back nine.

The Green at Grant Park is located on Monroe Street, between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive. Parking is at the Millennium Park Garage, but we suggest public transportation - it’s within walking distance of many train and bus lines. They are open until 10 PM, Sunday-Friday and 11 PM on Saturday.