upscale restaurants - suggestions please
 

Greetings to the resident Chicago experts. Im going to be in town for a couple of days in June... will be staying at one of the W's (not sure if City Center or Lakeshore just yet). I have to plan 3-4 dinner events and would like to have some insight from you guys...

It would be nice to visit a couple of really great restaurants, they dont all have to be fine dining or ultimate luxury joints, but yes have outstanding menu, wine lists and service. Also, places that dont absolutely positively have to include a formal dress code would be a plus, although if the place is ultimately worth it I do have a suit ready.

If possible, I would like the shortlist to include a Japanese restaurant and one French cuisine choice. Finally, I need one meat eaters place since I will be hosting a good friend for some red meat... please, if possible no chain steakhouses.

Many thanks to all!!! :D ^

A uncommon example of 'serious' Mexican cooking: Topolobampo

http://www.epicurious.com/g_gourmet/...polobampo.html

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/d...104_lgcy.story

Menu sample:

http://www.fronterakitchens.com/rest...polo_menu.html

"Dressy" business casual (or higher) would be fine.

Many thanks, non-nonRev.

BTW, Im also looking for one recommendation for a great Chinese restaurant.... (not a classic Chinese eatery though). Thanks.

Before even reading Non-NonRev's post, I was going to suggest Topolobampo as well :) The attached Frontera Grill (same kitchen, Topolo is a little fancier) is also wonderful.

For the meat eaters place, if you haven't been to a Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo de Chao (chain, but small one) is an experience. Local steakhouses abound. Morton's is Chicago based. The Chicago Chop House, Kinzie Chop House, Gene and Georgetti's, Petterino's, Magnum's, and Gibson's are all local places, and all pretty good. Ditka's is also good and you might just see Da Coach there as well.

When you say "classic," what do you mean? That's really open to interpretation.

Anyhow, I've heard good things about this place:
http://chicago.peninsula.com/pch/dining_01.html

Thanks for your question... you are absolutely correct. What I mean by "classic eatery" is the regular Chinese restaurant, where the food may be excellent but the place has no ambience, the service is spartan, and the bathrooms are war zones. Nothing wrong with these place, I absolutely love them and go there often, only this time the events around these meals are not suitable for such conditions.

Therefore, I need some recommendations for an upscale Chinese restaurant, where the food is still authentic despite the posh surroundings.

Thanks.

Thanks for the above recommendations. The Mexican option looks very good, only that we are going to be in Mexico por 2 weeks after ORD, so that kinds takes that place off the list.

Just to sum up what Im looking for....

1) A steak place. That is taken care of, with the recommendations above, I will just pick one.

2) A Japanese restaurant.

3) A French.

4) A Chinese.

5) Optional.... if there is a place that is American-Fusion, perhaps somthing like The French Laundry, or similar.... I would also love to hear from that and put it on my list.

Thanks!!!

I have never been here. But I have heard great things:

http://www.trurestaurant.com/

For the French Laundry-type option, Charlie Trotter's is the obvious choice (assuming you can get a reservation). I've also heard good things about Tru but have not eaten there

http://www.charlietrotters.com/



Now for a curveball - for a different type of ethnic, how about a Polish-Eastern European restaurant. A while back I took business guests to Lutnia, on Belmont Avenue. The Hunter Stew is excellent. (No direct website)

http://www.digitalcity.com/chicago/d...sbid=108607781

http://entertainment.metromix.chicag...l-5526,00.html

Charlie's restaurant..... of course :o (que boludo, I dont believe I forgot about that...)

Well, I have some restaurant business connections in NYC that may be able to help me with this..... thanks for the reminder.

francophile, thanks for the tru tip. Looks very interesting.... guess this will be the plan B is Charlie's joint wont give me a table.

Charlie Trotter's is a fine restaurant but not its former self what so ever. So frankly I would stay away.

In Chicago we have two of the most cutting edge fine dining restaurants in the US: Trio and Moto

I just posted on Trio in the Chicago forum, please read and drool.

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308706

I have not been to Moto yet.

Moto's website: http://www.motorestaurant.com/

For your Chinese, if still looking for an stunning interior and food, Opera
1301 S. Wabash Ave, 312-461-0161. will fit your bill. I have yet to post my experience here, but the dishes ranged from excellent to good with most falling in the great.

Tru has been written up in the Chicago Forum. Certainly a top 10 recommendation.

For French, there is also Everest. Formal though.

http://entertainment.metromix.chicagotribune.com/top/1,1419,M-Metromix-Home-!PlaceDetail-2251,00.html

Another great place - though not quite fitting your list - Spring.

http://entertainment.metromix.chicagotribune.com/top/1,1419,M-Metromix-Home-!PlaceDetail-22468,00.html

I also recommend Tru.

Thanks SWillie and Student.... some great info!! :D ^

One of the most memorable restaurant experiences that I ever had was at a Fondue restaurant in Chicago (it was north Chicago). It was truly outstanding meal - 3 different courses of Fondue (cheese, then oil to cook main course, then chocolate fondue for desert)

I took a date there when I was in Chicago and I have to tell you, it made an impression.... The place is kinda underground, with candlelight tables, flamenco guitar playing, and it was very romantic. If I remember correctly, you need reservations. I think that the name is Geja's Cafe (I really don't remember the name, but I just did a google search and this popped up. From the description, it looks like where I went).

http://www.gejascafe.com/

p.s. - Anybody know of a Fondue restaurant in Boston area?

My favorite place for non-traditional Chinese is Ben Pao. Seven flavor chicken and black pepper scallops are two of my favorite dishes anywhere. http://www.benpao.com/

Another good choice and my second favorite would be Red Light although I guess they call themselves "Pan-Asian" or some such thing. http://www.redlight-chicago.com/

Excellent, now I also have some candidates for Chinese... thanks IluvParis... :D ^

yes Red Light!, Chef Shen is now here. I posted about this place in this forum, a search will bring it up.

I has been iffy for me at Ben Pao, The satay bar is excellent and so is the duck w/Chinese buns. Other dishes have been less impressive. I will have to try the two you mention. In fact I'll post a gathering in Community on it.

I forgot to mention for an excellent French Bistro, try Le Bouchon, see this thread: http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...ighlight=steak

^ to Le Bouchon and ^ to a gathering - I think most of us have forgiven you for forgetting about us on your anniversary! ;)

Nomi?
 

Has anyone been to Nomi? I hear it's great and am thinking of going...

I have not been but my friends who have, loved it. Nomi's chef was nominated this year for a James Beard award.

The setting is supposed to be amazing.

MK was pretty good.

I've heard less than positive things about Nomi. Aside from the high prices (which you can pretty much count on going in), the attitude of the staff there is supposed to be less than stellar. I've also heard that the setting (i.e., the seats in the window area overlooking the Watertower) are usually impossible to get and are often left open in case VIPs show up.

Avenues--across the street at the Peninsula--has pretty much the same view (maybe not quite as spectacular but pretty darn good) and the food is phenomenal.

Ben Pao celebrates the legend of the mythological Chinese moon goddess Chang O during its seventh annual Autumn Moon Festival Saturday through Tuesday, Sept 28
A host of festivities are scheduled during the four-day event. A lion dance takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday; dinner and a movie, which will feature "Kiss of the Dragon" with Jet Li and Bridget Fonda, takes place at 5 p.m. Sunday. Dinner for the event will be a buffet of Ben Pao favorites, including Mongolian beef, kung pao chicken, wrinkled string beans, wasabi popcorn, spiced peanuts and Tsing Tao beer, $30. On Monday complimentary slices of Mandarin orange moon cake will be served.
The "harvest dinner around hot pot" is at 6 p.m. Tuesday. A variety of fresh meats, seafood and vegetables will be on the menu.

From Crain's

Located blocks from each other near the Mag Mile, Ben Pao and P. F. Chang's China Bistro duke it out for dining dollars. The first is a link in the ever-growing chain of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc., the second is one of 135 China Bistros nationwide. Both also serve regional Chinese cuisines, but only one remained standing after this bout.

Ben Pao (at right)
52 W. Illinois St.
(312) 222-1888
Price range at lunch, $9.95-$19.95

Dramatic and decorated in traditional red, gold and black, Ben Pao first impressed me with its decor, then its food.

Soothing waterwalls, gleaming red pillars, even a ferocious dragon suspended from the ceiling are tastefully done. Well-spaced tables lend themselves to business lunches even when the dining room is abuzz.

Told it was our first visit (but not why we where there), the manager served us complimentary egg rolls ($6.95), generously filled with shrimp, chicken and vegetables and stuffed into marvelously crisp, flaky wrappers.

For groups of two or more, take a tour of four appetizers with the Ben Pao platter ($7.95 per person). Crispy garlic tofu cubes ($4.95 ordered separately) are soft inside and served with garlic sauce and chives. I loved the tender dough surrounding well-seasoned chicken and mushrooms in the pot stickers ($6.95 ordered separately). Vegetable spring rolls ($4.95 ordered separately) are lighter but just as crisp as their egg roll cousins.

But slow-roasted barbecued ribs ($7.95 ordered separately) were my favorite: tender, chewy morsels coated with tangy sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds and cilantro.

Service stumbled at this point. Our entrees arrived before we had finished our appetizers, then sat until the busboy remembered to come back with clean plates so we could serve ourselves. Still, the food remained hot and tasty.

Spicy Dragon noodles is marked as one of the hottest dishes on the menu. But when I requested medium heat, the kitchen overreacted and gave me none. Even without the red chiles, I enjoyed this mixture of seasoned chicken, mushrooms and spinach with tender wheat noodles.

Ginger asparagus shrimp with Fresno chiles impressed with its flavor and meticulous preparation: pencil-thin asparagus is tender-crisp, while the seafood is done to perfection. Ginger-soy sauce ties the dish together but doesn't overwhelm it.

Desserts could hardly pass for authentic, but who cares? Chocolate crème brûlée ($5.95) is artfully done, with an unusually delicate crust and velvety interior of fine-quality chocolate. But the flag-waver is the piping-hot chocolate-and-banana egg roll spiced with cinnamon, drizzled with fudge sauce and served with vanilla bean ice cream.

P. F. Chang's China Bistro
530 N. Wabash Ave.
(312) 828-9977
Price range at lunch, $7.95-$18.95

Contemporary styling and subtle Asian accents give P. F. Chang's the feel of a minimalist city loft; only a few warrior figures hint that this is a Chinese restaurant. Attractive banquettes line the walls of the second-floor dining room, while wooden latticework overhead lowers the ceiling and adds coziness. Despite the full house, the volume never impeded conversation.
TOP TABLE
Ben Pao scores a knockout in this round for elegant decor, consistently outstanding food and friendly service.
Prompted by our friendly waitress, I started with the chain's popular chicken lettuce wraps ($6.95). A dish of sweet and salty chicken and water chestnuts comes with a stack of crisp lettuce cups for do-it-yourself Asian-inspired wraps. Light and refreshing, this dish would be too sweet without a dip in the soy, chile and mustard sauce mixed tableside by the waitress. More substantial are the Shanghai street dumplings ($5.95), fluffy pillows of dough filled with seasoned chicken, ginger, green onion and soy.

Take a pass on shrimp with lobster sauce ($7.95) unless you like bland. The lo mein combo ($9.50) delivers more flavor, but matchstick-shaped bits of beef and chicken are overcooked. Overpowering hoisin sauce in the mu shu pork ($9.25) turned this dish into a one-note song. I also prefer traditional crêpes as wrappers over this dry, tortilla-like variation.

Six-layer chocolate cake with raspberry sauce ($6.95) is oversized and better than average but lacks the depth of top-quality chocolate.

PF Changs is yucky - no comparison to Ben Pao's.

If you feel at all adventurous, Alinea is amazing.

For French, I like Le Francais, though it's a little outside Chicago.

During my last Chicago visit in September, had an amazing meal at Le Lan on Clark Street. It is French-Vietnamese, and the menu is a collaboration of Chefs Roland Liccioni and Arun Sampanthavivat (both well known for their other Chicago restaurants).

http://www.lelanrestaurant.com

Le Lan thread here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...&highlight=Lan

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Free cheese fondue
 

The term "holiday weekend" may have made you think Passover or Easter. But don't forget NATIONAL CHEESE FONDUE DAY. Head to Geja's Café for free Swiss Gruyere Cheese fondue, paired with fruits and breads, to toast the cheesy day. April 11 2009 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free.
Geja's Cafe
340 W. Armitage Ave
Chicago
(773) 281-9101
www.gejascafe.com

Moto
 

For a memorable experience, try Moto:

http://www.motorestaurant.com/

Very different and not to everyone's taste. The chef is extremely inventive. For example, the Cuban Cigar is a Cuban sandwich essence but made to look like a cigar!