'Girl in The Park' Hits a Home Run

Imagine good food on your plate, a tasty drink in your hand, upbeat music in the air and dear friends at your side. It’s not imagined. It’s all at Girl in the Park--an eatery nestled in the southwest sector of Orland Park.

Owned and operated by an Orland Park family, the American bar and grill known for its handcrafted food and spirits, next month is celebrating two years of providing a fun atmosphere that blends age-old family recipes with new culinary concepts to please palates of all ages.

The menu, which features locally sourced ingredients, boasts everything from scallops, swordfish and salmon to Sloppy Joes, sandwiches, soups and salads. “Our food is fresh and not prepared until you order it,” said managing member Rich Johnston, who with co-owners daughter, Jayme Parker, and her husband, Robert Parker, opened the restaurant in 2016. “The only things frozen are the tater tots.”

“Jayme always wanted to cook starting from when she was younger. Many recipes are from my grandmother, Jayme’s great grandmother,” Johnston said. “My grandmother taught them to my wife and my mom taught my daughter.” One of them is a dish with meatballs in an edible bowl topped with Nana’s red sauce.

In addition to the family recipes, co-founder and head chef Jayme, a graduate of Carl Sandburg High School, infuses culinary skills she honed at Robert Morris University culinary school and from her studies in Florence, Italy. She’s proud of the partnerships forged with local farmers, grocers and brew houses to ensure quality and freshness. The restaurant also caters to those with special food needs and she’s able to switch up ingredients for those who need to be gluten free or have food allergies. Plus, there’s an array of craft beer, cocktails and bourbon.

Noted on the menu are small icons. If there’s a picture of a chicken, you’ll know it’s locally sourced in the Midwest from co-op farms that stand by their free-range, no hormones, no antibiotics and always vegetarian-fed promises. A picture of a pig means the pork is from a highly respected farm in Wisconsin and a picture of a cow means the cattle have never been fed any animal by-products and there’s no supplemental hormones or growth promotants used. Notice a picture of a fish and be assured all seafood is wild caught—never farm raised. A small hen denotes cage-free eggs are used in all products. If there’s a picture of a small flame, it means it’s lit—in other words—it’s spicy.

The restaurant, which can host private parties, caters to myriad of interests beyond the menu. There is live music Wednesday through Saturday night with many musicians who got the gig after performing at the open mic sessions starting at 7 p.m. each Wednesday. Roughly 19 big screen television sets adorn the walls showing local professional and collegiate games.

And last, but certainly not least, is a place for man’s best friend. In more seasonable weather, patrons can grab a bite to eat on the patio and bring Fido along for the experience. The gated area is complete with paper bowls for water and special dog treats.

“It’s very family friendly,” Johnston said. “We want everyone to feel comfortable and have fun.”

Girl in the Park is located at 11265 W. 159th St.—just east of Berkot’s Super Foods. Reservations are not required, but are a good idea. (708) 226-0042 Girl in The Park