Suggestions for a proposal dinner

Traveling to Chicago the weekend of December 19-21st, and planning on popping the question. Not going to do it in a restaurant, but would love to find a good place to celebrate afterwards.

Price is not an option, but I'm going for a specific vibe I'll try to articulate:
-We've been to many of the nicer multiple-Michelin star tasting menu venues in the city, but I don't think that's the right choice for this evening, as we'll want to focus on us and not food. Money is not a worry, but I don't think this is an Alinea, L2o or Grace-type evening.
-That being said, I still want the food to be great. More towards the classic and comforting than the avant-garde.
-Ambience is a paramount concern; a great view and a semi-private table would be excellent. Chandeliers would be excellent.
-We are staying at the Palmer House Hilton but traveling anywhere in the city should not be an issue.
-I'm thinking of the following places, none of which I've previously dined at, so let me know your thoughts given this criteria, and feel free to add any other suggestions: Everest, Tru, North Pond

Thanks in advance for your thoughtful suggestions!

Of the three, I'd say North Pond would be my first choice, for great food, interesting architecture and a great view out over the park. Everest offers great views from above, but I think the hi-rise atmosphere might be a little lacking for what you're planning. To my mind, Tru's atmosphere is relatively austere.

Another very romantic option, albeit with no view, would be Geja's Cafe. The dimly-lit basement space, with the live Flamenco guitarist, is arguably one of the most romantic spaces in the city - especially if you can get one of the booths with curtains for privacy. The aspect of sharing/interaction that comes with having fondue can only heighten the connection you feel with your dining companion.

Thanks, I will look into Geja's - never heard of it!

Also, have never eaten at Spiaggia - how might it be for this situation?

As I recall, the renovated Spiaggia room though beautiful is not especially cozy or conducive to privacy. Love the North Pond idea. While Geja's may be over the top romantic, it's definitely a throwback choice -- be warned that there's no view and definitely no chandeliers. I'd throw out mk as a choice -- not a view, but for my money one of the nicest combinations of great food & elegant atmosphere in the city. And the staff are more than happy to work with you on special requests.

Sorry, while I view a lot of posts here, I don't post much and don't want this to be seen as completely negative. I would think that someone for whom money seems to be no object and is looking for a memorable venue in which to ask likely the biggest question of his life would not choose Geja's...unless you want your proposal night to be remembered for eternity by the cloying smell of oil soaked into your entire being after visiting there. I agree its cozy and dark but man, that smell will inhabit your clothes for a long time.

I'll second (or third) the idea of North Pond. The absolutely perfect location (and the food was terrific when I ate there earlier this year - don't miss the desserts). When making your reservation, make sure you request seating in the front room, with the big windows facing the pond.

Everest would be my second choice.

Wherever you go, I suggest you discuss your plan with the restaurant over the phone in advance. They can assist you in several ways (e.g. perfect seating, etc) and may have some possible ideas regarding the act itself (e.g. bringing the ring under a platter, something like that).

Maybe I misunderstood - I thought the OP was going to ask the question somewhere else, and then go to a restaurant to celebrate the (hopefully) positive response. If the response is negative, there are plenty of other, different options.

To be clear - I am not asking at the restaurant! This would be for the (hopeful) celebration post-proposal. Thank you for the suggestions thus far, North Pond is unfortunately running waiting-list only for a party of 2 that night, so it seems out of the question.

Sorry about that. Still, for dinner after a proposal, you could still have the restaurant do something special, like come out with a dessert with "Congratulations" written on the plate.

Everest is still very romantic, IMHO, with its views looking out over the city.

Another great French choice is Brindille. No views, but impeccable service, and a sense of intimacy in the dining room.

What about upstairs at Maude's? Dim, private, lux, with great food. Or Bavette's?

chgoeditor wrote:What about upstairs at Maude's? Dim, private, lux, with great food. Or Bavette's?

There's no way you're going to snag a reservation at Bavette's only a week ahead of time. Not at a desirable time, anyway.

I think Bavette's is a great option - I'd call and explain to them what you're doing and see if they in some way can accommodate you. North Pond also sounds like a great option.

I went to Everest last weekend and had a great meal but the portions were kind of small and the bill was outrageous for the sizes. For sure a great room, though.

nsxtasy wrote:I'll second (or third) the idea of North Pond. The absolutely perfect location (and the food was terrific when I ate there earlier this year - don't miss the desserts). When making your reservation, make sure you request seating in the front room, with the big windows facing the pond.

I don't think North Pond will promise you that front room location--until they treat you differently than they treat me.

The last times I've been there, I requested that room when I made my reservation, and was greeted with the chilly response, "I'll make a note of your request, but I can't promise it." And, in fact, the request wasn't honored.

That touches on what would be my big reservation (no pun intended) about choosing North Pond for a dinner that followed a marriage proposal. Namely, the overall, well let's just say, lack of warmth with which one is treated by staff when there. I don't need to sit in the front room, and I don't need a waiter to fawn or be over-familiar, but I do appreciate feeling welcomed and valued wherever in the restaurant I'm sitting, and that's where North Pond--for all its considerable virtues--falls down for me with surprising consistency. I'll go there again because every now and then the occasion is right for it, but for an evening that also includes a marriage proposal? I'd want a place where the memory of the experience contributed to the memories of the evening.

What about Sixteen - I've only had lunch and business breakfasts there but the view is so stunning and the service was stellar.

For a more casual option, I bet the folks at Kitchen would make you feel special - not quite the same atmosphere as all options above but we had a lovely meal and there's something really charming about the room - sorta casual with chandeliers look.

Otherwise, I'd never turn down Naha or Brindille as an option - superb food and super service.

riddlemay wrote:I don't think North Pond will promise you that front room location--until they treat you differently than they treat me.

They won't promise it, but if you request it, they try to honor the request, in my experience. Prior to my dinner earlier this year, I entered the request in the comments section on Opentable, and they honored it. (I am not a FOTH or known to anyone there, although this was not my first time dining there.)

I've found consistently good service there, too. Not the upscale kind of service where there's a veritable army of staff surrounding you like at those expensive temples of haute cuisine, but friendly and knowledgeable.

Siun wrote:Otherwise, I'd never turn down Naha or Brindille as an option - superb food and super service.

I agree (which is why I mentioned Brindille above ). I think both of Carrie Nahabedian's restaurants are often overlooked and underrated. Both offer terrific food and pampering service, comparable to the best places in the city. And while not inexpensive, the cost is significantly less than the most expensive places in town. For those not familiar, the cuisine at Naha is contemporary American with subtle Mediterranean influences, while Brindille serves upscale French cuisine with contemporary and global influences.

Siun wrote:What about Sixteen - I've only had lunch and business breakfasts there but the view is so stunning and the service was stellar.

Sixteen was one of my first thoughts, but it appears to have gone tasting-menu only since I last ate there (in 2013). I had done the tasting menu there before and there were definitely some big misses, though overall I enjoyed it. Beautiful dining room too. If we could order a la carte or a shorter degustation, Sixteen would be at or near the top of my list.