globetrotter wrote:charcoal oven

Another good choice!

Yet again, thanks to all. So many places I've never heard of or heard anything about. We're in the serious "winnowing" stage of the process 'cause I need to make a reservation soon. I do promise to post on our choice--probably the name of the place in this thread and a substantive post in the appropriate dedicated thread.

I know you are closing the bidding, but I third Charcoal Oven! It is usually quiet - although there have been times when a single loud table can dominate the dining room. If you're the table dominating, then you probably won't have any problems! The menu is very straightforward and each order comes with salad, appetizer and family-style sides. Very very delicious, old school-style supper club.

Another option, if you are OK with a chain place:
McCormick & Schmick's in Old Orchard mall - it is usually very quiet for dining, and even though a seafood restaurant they ALWAYS have several steak options on the menu. Prices are moderately high. Very good bartenders. You could do a lot worse.

Franabanana wrote:McCormick & Schmick's in Old Orchard mall

That was absolutely dreadful the last time I ate there last year, with improperly-cooked food we had to send back, and service by waitstaff who disappeared for long stretches of time. If a chain seafood restaurant is what you want, you'd be much better off at the nearby Bonefish Grill.

One other thing to consider is whether a place is really appropriate for a birthday celebration, where you probably want a place that is better than an everyday casual family eatery.

I look forward to Kennyz's alternative ending to this statement:

nsxtasy wrote:If a chain seafood restaurant is what you want, you'd be much better off ....

I'd love to hear what the OP chose and how things went for them.

My post- graduation dinner last night ended up at Ristorante Abruzzo in Deerfield (at 3:30 on Sunday)
where everything went a little slow, but amazingly well considering the group.
The appetizer of grilled Octopus was a particular standout IMO.
The only food that got sent back was from a sullen teenager who was trying to punish her parent by refusing to eat anything. (nice!)
Fortunately MY children were beautifully behaved ....
A bottle of prosecco helped mellow out the mood,
and all was relatively well with the world.

Any dinner the parents don't complain about is a good one for me.

OP reporting back. To begin, I presented a list of six to my sister (Deerfield resident and other half of the vetting team), selected in part based on the feedback I received here:

Amici, Niles
Jameson's/Glenview
Cafe Lucci/Northbrook
Di Pescara/Northbrook
Froggy's/Highwood
Wildfire/Glenview

She narrowed it down to Cafe Lucci and Froggy's and then suggested three further options:

Mimosa--closed, so not viable;
D&J Bistro--not open on Mondays, so not viable;
Tuscany--vetoed by me, so not viable.

Feeling the need to present the parents with three choices, we agreed to round out the options with Avli Estiatorio.

In the event, the parents chose Cafe Lucci. We gave them no information (which is to say, neither of us lobbied for any of the choices, although we ate, as a family group, at Avli last year) other than websites to choose from. So, all things considered, it seems like things will go well. I certainly hope so. I called the restaurant and the gentleman who answered was very understanding and helpful. When dinner is in the past and life has returned to a semblance of normality (meaning, Mom and Esteemed Patriarch have returned home), I'll report.

Thank you all for your help; this voyage would have not have been possible without your assistance.