Clearly, institutional food courts are not destination restaurants, except when they are (mainly at art museums,) but I'm always glad when they at least make the necessary refueling for their captive audience pleasant. (I'm looking at you, Field Museum.)

I must say that the Shedd food court 1. has improved greatly in selection and price (and wallpaper) since my last visit in 2007 and 2. is the current front-runner in my personal best museum/zoo/aquarium food court competition.

I had felafel. Felafel! It was even good felafel, with fries and a refillable drink, for $5.99. A veggie burger with cheese and fries and a 20-oz. bottled soda at the Aquarium of the Pacific this February cost me $12, and a Pizza Hut personal pan pizza (cheese) combo at Shedd in 2007 cost $7.99. I remember sitting there, exhausted and hungry, resenting my lunch.

There were no astonishing feats of gourmandery, but they had a wide menu with interesting stuff, beyond burgers, and it tasted good, and it was cheap, and some of it was even healthy. It sounds basic and simple and to be expected, but trust me - that's unusual.

And by the way, ReCaptcha for Shedd - "that Atlantis"