Galileo’s Cafe (Website)

1300 S. Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

312-322-0336 (Map It)

Hours:

     Daily, 11a-3p

Electrical Outlets:

Very few

WiFi:

Yes, Free

A little food …

The Adler Planetarium!  It’s difficult to rate Galileo’s Café without contaminating the rating by the fact that it resides in the Adler.  Also, it’s the only consistent eatery at the end of the peninsula.  That said, Hungry Physicists visiting the Adler will notice three things about their café – the inviting atmosphere, the good food, and the somewhat outrageous pricing.  The prices themselves aren’t the issues, it’s the price per pound that catches your attention.  Several wide tables populate the eating area, but you’re in a museum … so group study just doesn’t fit there.  All of that aside, it’s a great place for a physics debate, with copious napkins to aid the arguments of both sides.

The food really is good!  Many of the specials are some type of American fusion, although various sandwiches, subs, and salads are available.  Pictured is Barbeque Chicken Flatbread.  Tangy and a little smoky, the sauce really stands on its own.  For all intents and purposes, it’s BBQ chicken pizza on Naan-like bread.  Chips, fountain drinks, and desserts round out their menu.

A little science …

Galileo Galilei would have been proud to patronize Adler’s cafe, even just for the view.  Not only does it sport a great panorama of the city, but a great view of the sky.  As the discoverer of Jupiter’s four largest moons, Ganymede, Calisto, Io, and Europa, you can imagine how much valued an unobstructed view.  Today, strong evidence suggests Europa may have liquid water below its icy surface!  If proven true, it will mark the first discovery of liquid water on a world other than Earth!  *crossing my fingers*