The Parkside Fine Food & Spirits in Lauraville a place for family, foodies

The Parkside Fine Food & Spirits occupies the wide first floor of a midblock building in Lauraville. Its ambience suggests a funky antique store that woke up one day to discover it was a restaurant and bar. It's warm and colorful, and there are old furnishings, such as church pews for booth seating. It's yet another amenity for an emerging neighborhood that appears ready and willing to support businesses that respond to its needs and desires. There are so many young families in the northeast corridor, and Parkside means to be a welcoming place for hip parents and children day and night. There's not only a children's menu, but also a separate play and dining area for children and parents. I'd like to imagine that over the years the toddlers will graduate to the grown-up tables, and, eventually, the bar.

By Richard Gorelick

January 15, 2009