Dinner downtown help please?

We're staying at the Drake on Saturday nite in a couple of weeks. We often go to 'the city' during the day, but not at nite. We're looking for someplace for dinner that would be really special, but not frapp us out (Alinea etc) More something off the path of the usual high end recommendations. We're both huge foodies, and will eat pretty much anything. (American, Korean, Japanese, Mexican, Vietnamese, Indian etc etc) Just would like to have a very special, lovely meal with my husband. Help?

We're looking for someplace for dinner that would be really special, but not frapp us out

Perhaps I'm a little behind in the hepcat lingo, but I have NO idea what that means. Translation, anyone?

Been living with my Bostonian husband too long.
I dont' want to pay a paycheck for dinner.
So sorry.

jleblanc05 wrote:someplace for dinner that would be really special, but not frapp us out

My first experience with 'frapp' was at a sky diving meet in Fla. When somebody's chute did not open it was said that that was what they did because of the sound they made when they hit.

Now that you've lost your appetite, may I recommend North Pond-- a really lovely place, excellent food and not terribly expensive.

Sorry I asked!

Anyway, I'd suggest Naha. Lovely, great food, and not too. . .frapp?

Purple Pig. Frapping optional

Not so sure about frapping ...

but Naha always gets my vote as does Mercat. Very different atmospheres - along with very different food with Naha always soothing and just the right mix of luxe with comfort while Mercat feels more a scene but a fun one.

If you can go a little distance (2.6 miles by cab or a little walking and the el), I'd also suggest Dale Levitsky's Sprout where we had the most wonderful meal a little while back. $60 per person for 3 courses plus 2 intermezzos ... all quite spectacular ... a small spot so it feels rather intimate and special.

Sprout
1417 West Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614-2011
(773) 348-0706
http://www.sproutrestaurant.com/

I'd go with Blackbird. Never have I walked away from a Paul Kahan meal disappointed.

I'd never heard "frap" used in a sentence before either, but used along with Alinea, it wasn't too hard to guess that either the food or the bill was feared to be freaky.

Got to love the Drake - isn't there a Seinfeld about that?

Personally, if Himself and I had a chance to spend a night downtown at the Drake and pick a place close by for dinner - a birthday, anniversary, celebration sort of thing, but not a whole paycheck sort of thing - my choice would be:

Roy's
720 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60654
312-787-7599

There are two great options walking distance from the Drake. Both are a little pricey, but not a killer on the order of Alinea or Trotter. Either Spiaggia or The Signature Room on the 95th floor of the Hancock building would be good choices. Both offer great views of the city at night, but from different vantage points!

Spiaggia
980 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 280-2750
http://www.spiaggiarestaurant.com


Signature Room at the 95th
875 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 787-9596
http://www.signatureroom.com/

sundevilpeg wrote:Sorry I asked!

Anyway, I'd suggest Naha. Lovely, great food, and not too. . .frapp?

This is not a knock on the quality of Naha--we've never eaten there. But speaking of frapping and all, I have to admit that the main reason we haven't gone is price. Entrees start in the mid 30s and rise to around $50. Apps alone run from $12 to $26. I suppose this all depends on the paycheck involved and the strict definition of frapp (I'd always heard of frappe, but with that last "e"--and it meant/means a milkshake), but Naha strikes me as a pretty pricey place if you decide to have anything more than entrees.

Not to dis John D. or anything, but Cafe Spiaggia is a much better value than its 'frapperistic' parent. The Signature Room has a great reputation as a tourist trap, but does offer a fine view and would be nice for some liquid replenishment.

Frapp or not, you be the judge: I eat at Naha relatively often - it's around the corner from my office and is our go-to place for taking special guests (or folks we want to recruit!) and dinner normally runs around $85 per person including a drink, tip, taxes. Of course, if you want multiple drinks, bottle of wine, etc you go higher.

It has always been worth every penny - and I'd pay more for the lovely atmosphere, super service and great tastes.

Avec! If you want slightly less noise and a more formal environment, Blackbird. The Gage might be a nice spot for lunch after a sweaty stroll through Millennium Park....

Frapp is in the eye of the beholder. But I have to agree that under 100 a head for food is reasonable for a "special" meal that isn't too extravagant. My votes would be for Naha and Blackbird as others have already said.

Consider Graham Elliot.

There are so many places within a few blocks of the Drake, I'm not sure I would bother taking a cab to places a mile or more away. Obviously that's up to you. But at the Drake, you'll be right across the street from Cafe Spiaggia (as noted above, a better value than its big brother next door), and around the corner from Pane Caldo (a bit more expensive than Cafe Spiaggia, though). You're also just a long block from Le Colonial, the upscale Vietnamese restaurant in a townhouse setting, and from Hugo's for great seafood (and steaks from Gibson's next door). For steaks, Saloon is about as close as Gibson's. I don't know anything about deca, the new restaurant in the Ritz, but I bet it's at least interesting since it's the Ritz. And for delicious contemporary American cuisine, consider Cafe des Architectes, in the curved glass facade of the Sofitel. All of these places are within a five minute walk of the Drake.

If you don't mind taking a cab, though, for a place with great food and a unique setting, then I strongly recommend North Pond if you've never been there. The contemporary American food is excellent and unusual, thanks to James Beard Award finalist Chef Bruce Sherman, and they emphasize local and seasonal ingredients. What makes it unique is its setting in the middle of Lincoln Park (the park itself, not the adjacent neighborhood of the same name). It faces its namesake pond with the city skyline looming over the opposite shore. It's a very special place as well as an excellent restaurant. It's two miles north of the Drake, about five minutes by cab.

Who wants to take a 15 min walk or 5 min cab ride through downtown chicago in the summer. 3 words: Cape Cod Room.

My vote would go for Cafe Spiaggia, but another nice option is LuxBar - its a sister restaurant to Gibsons, just around the corner, & a lot less pricey if you have a yen for a steak or a good burger in a glam atmosphere.

Right near LuxBar, just off the triangle is The Drawing Room, which has some good small-plates and very excellent cocktails. Really nice atmosphere as well.

bean wrote:Not to dis John D. or anything, but Cafe Spiaggia is a much better value than its 'frapperistic' parent. The Signature Room has a great reputation as a tourist trap, but does offer a fine view and would be nice for some liquid replenishment.

Concur completely, that'd be my choice if staying at the Drake.

bean wrote:Not to dis John D. or anything, but Cafe Spiaggia is a much better value than its 'frapperistic' parent. The Signature Room has a great reputation as a tourist trap, but does offer a fine view and would be nice for some liquid replenishment.

No "dis" taken. I haven't been in the Cafe. I really like the big window view from Spiaggia across to the park, which is why I recommended it.

JeffB wrote:Who wants to take a 15 min walk or 5 min cab ride through downtown chicago in the summer. 3 words: Cape Cod Room.

IMHO, the Cape Code Room isn't very good anymore. It certainly is a great location, but the food has missed a beat or two last time I was there.

Personally, I prefer Merlo on Maple to Cafe Spiaggia (assuming you are interested in Italian) and I think both would be far better than the also nearby Il Mulino. I have always thought that Merlo on Maple is one of the most underrated spots in the off-Michigan Avenue area (and maybe in the city) -- outstanding homemade pastas (and great Bolognese ragu), excellent non-pasta dishes (love the Osso Bucco and fish preparations shine), nice plating, relaxed service and an understated elegance in an old brownstone with beautiful woodwork and decor. And it's not a long walk from the Drake.

That being said, if I'm making an anniversary recommendation there, I would probably ask to be seated in their more elegant main floor dining room. I didn't find any elegance in the downstairs dining room, but I can't recall what I thought about the upstairs room.

http://www.merlochicago.com/pages/maple.html

I live about 3 blocks from the Drake. Several of the rec's here are very good, but if you still don't have plans I'll narrow it down a bit and add at least one.

Naha is awesome. Different preps, great wine list (though the markup is above average). I don't think it's terribly over- or under-priced for its peer group. But the room is LOUD. REALLY LOUD.

Cafe Spiaggia is great food, but in my opinion just isn't special. Especially for a "night in the city".

North Pond is totally awesome. Great food, beautiful room, and a lovely setting. You probably don't want to walk there, unless you don't mind showing up rather shiny. However, walking home through the park might be possible (you're looking at probably 1.5 miles though).

No offense to anyone, but Roy's, Cape Cod Room, and Hugo's/Gibson's don't really keep up with the rest of the group for food.

Drawing Room is a super-cool place for a drink, and a small plate might catch your eye.

Cafe des Architectes is a really neat place, and Noguier's food can be fantastic, but I continue to think the front of the house needs work.

Unfortunately I've still not made it to Merlo or Pane Caldo, so can't comment. Come to think of it, that sounds kinda good.

My wife and I really like Eve on Wabash. Small and beautiful room, nice food, great vibe.

Another interesting choice is Balsan at The Elysian. Bistro/gastropub style food, very chic/modern/"big city" vibe. Rather loud and scene-y though.

Eve
840 N. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
312-266-3383

Balsan
11 E. Walton St.
Chicago, IL 60611
312-646-1400

basis wrote:My wife and I really like Eve on Wabash. Small and beautiful room, nice food, great vibe.

I have not yet been to Eve, but I decided that must change after they served what was probably my favorite offering at the Green City Market BBQ the other night, as I noted here.

basis wrote:My wife and I really like Eve on Wabash. Small and beautiful room, nice food, great vibe.

I too really like Eve a lot. I typically go there on their BYOB nights (Sunday, Wednesday). In fact, I'm hosting the season opening black tie there in September for the Northern Illinois branch of the International Wine & Food Society.

Prairie Fire has quickly become our family's go to for a pleasant meal in a room where you can talk to your companion. In fact a few weeks ago, my husband had a reservation for dinner there with a friend one night and I had one the following night with a different friend (wanted to make sure they knew the family name & numbers 2 nights in a row was not an accident ).

Here's some comments and pics from the Loop Lunch Group. I can already tell you that those French Lentils ( I know it is a simple food) are going to be in my top ten things I ate this year list. I've even tried to mimic them at home, mine were good, but not Prairie Fire.

Prairie Fire
215 North Clinton Street
Chicago, IL 60661-1227
(312) 382-8300

John Danza wrote:

JeffB wrote:Who wants to take a 15 min walk or 5 min cab ride through downtown chicago in the summer. 3 words: Cape Cod Room.

IMHO, the Cape Code Room isn't very good anymore. It certainly is a great location, but the food has missed a beat or two last time I was there.

basis wrote:No offense to anyone, but Roy's, Cape Cod Room, and Hugo's/Gibson's don't really keep up with the rest of the group for food.

*Was kidding*

What visitor wouldn't want to take a short walk to/from dinner in the fine weather we've been having. Cape Cod Room is in the hotel, so the OP wouldn't even have to step foot outside, was the tongue-in-cheek suggestion. My non-sarcastic suggestion was Graham Elliot. Many other good ones above too.

Though it's farther than I want to walk, I meant to mention Graham Elliott as damn fine food. We rarely go, though; the in-your-face "WE'RE NOT FINE DINING CAN'T YOU TELL BY THE INSANELY LOUD BAD EMO ROCK" vibe ruins it for us. I'm all for relaxing, but sheesh.

Agreed. Batali does similar but with stuff like Skynard and the Outlaws, which is oddly more tolerable. Heard a lot of Vampire Weekend at GE the other day, which I like fine.