Say what you will about chain or corporate restaurants, some can do good food consistently. A few of the restaurants of the Lettuce Entertain You (LEY) group fit this description.

Just some of the Restaurants that are operated by LEY in the Chicago area:

Tru
Everest
Ambria
Brasserie Jo
Vong’s
Nacional 27
Maggiano’s
Café-ba-ba-reeba
Shaw’s Crab House

Rich Melman is a pretty innovative guy. I generally enjoy my meals at LEY restaurants, they are “safe” bets. One pays for this safeness.

Some of his places are pretty weak IMO such as Ben Pao (the satay bar is very good) and RJ Grunts but then there are some very good places such as Ambria, Brasserie Jo and Tru.

A way to make dining more affordable at LEY restaurants is to wait until December. In December, LEY restaurants provide a $25 bonus gift certificate with the purchase of every $100 worth of certificates.

I personally prefer the small, independent restaurant experience but LEY restaurants can be quite good if you need to take out the “mainstream” diner who wants to go to a name place.