Just a few months ago, family friends invited me to dinner at their new home in Lincoln Square.

Having always been heart-of-the-city people, I was surprised to hear that they had moved at all! And to Lincoln Square! Not that I knew a thing about the area, just that it was on the North Side and it was more of a commute than they were used to.

Upon arriving, I instantly realized that Lincoln Square had something… It had all of the amenities and at-home coziness of a suburb or a small town, but here it was in Chicago. Real estate for sale in the neighborhood proved similarly invaluable: if you’ve always seen yourself in a wood-frame Victorian or a prim little graystone, but you’d still like to be in the city center pretty quickly—Lincoln Square is for you.

Located between Damen Avenue and the Chicago River, from Foster to Montrose, Lincoln Square is a blend of residential areas and neighborhood shopping and dining, and all the charm you expect from this historically relevant Chicago real estate. For sale sign spotting in Lincoln Square?

One of the best ways to get a feel for the neighborhood is by stopping for a bite in their thriving restaurant scene. Get back to the roots of the area with some German cuisine, or try something from the rest of their diverse restaurant scene—perhaps some Middle Eastern? Some Thai food?

From fine dining to outdoor cafes, the area restaurants serve everything from contemporary, American dishes to Italian, French, Mexican, and more. If you’re like me, an unexpected factor in your real estate search: takeout options.

Yes, it’s a hard job, doing all of this “research,” but that’s the price you pay for being so savvy when it comes to browsing Chicago realty.

Taking a stroll through Lincoln Square, you’ll pass by shops specializing in everything from the finest bath products to vintage clothing, from hand-crafted toys to furniture finds, perfect for putting together your new home.

Now you’ve definitely decided Lincoln Square is the place for you; yes, you might not have the lawn space or the house width you’d find in suburbia, but you’re not going to find any cookie-cutter homes here in Lincoln Square, or its surround neighborhoods.

Historic, “old world-style” homes are aplenty in Lincoln Square, in addition to new construction, revamps, condominiums, walk-ups, and town homes (and the list goes on and on) in a variety of architectural styles.

Such as the contemporary-but-cozy new home I had dinner at a few months ago: just steps away from one of the Chicago Park District’s lovely outdoor parks, blocks away from my favorite new restaurant, and a short train ride from the Loop.