Fun restaurants for dinners with coworkers

You'll have to forgive the incredibly boring title of this thread. Anyway...

I've been put in charge of compiling a list of good, fun upper-middle level restaurants for a group of work colleagues this summer. The constraints are as follows:

-Relatively close to Clark/LaSalle/State and the river (like Lake, Wacker, and Hubbard area)
-Not over $75/person with tax, tip, and moderate drinking
-Not crappy
-Relatively unique

Here are some ideas I've been toying with that need further clarification/refinement/support:
-Korean (Chicago Kalbi and/or...)
-Highish-end Indian (I'm clueless here)
-Topolobampo (Anywhere else come to mind?)
-Gibson's (Anything slightly cheaper but still good; that Hugo's Frog Bar next door?)
-Highish-end Italian (Spiaggia, Cafe Spiaggia, Osteria Via Strato?)
-Vermillion (The Indian-Latino thing sounds interesting but could also be not so good)

I've already got high-end spots picked out for special occasions and the like but am looking to flesh out the list with moderate options that are unique and well-suited for lively conversation. Not sceney but festive, so classical fine-dining is out.


What do you guys have for me?

Thanks so much.

That area (Hubbard and State) is ground-zero for Lettuce Entertain You restaurants -- you have Osteria Via Stato, but left out Ben Pao, Shaw's, Joe's Stone Crab, Vong's Thai Kitchen, and probably some more. I don't know if LEYE is not "unique enough" for you, but I think that they do respectably well in their class, even if they somtimes end up smoothing the edges off of their genre inspirations. I'd say they "aren't crappy," at least FWIW, LEYE has some kind of frequent diner program, so if you're going to be hitting them up regularly, you could capitalize on that.

I'd also suggest Quartino, across the street from OVS. It's definitely festive.

India House on Grand is not really "highish-end", although it is dressed up a bit to fit into its neighborhood, and I've consistently had good food there. It's not a dive, that's for sure.

Gene and Georgetti might be pushing the price point, but it's a classic. It's also a little further from the center of the area you suggested.

germuska wrote:India House on Grand is not really "highish-end", although it is dressed up a bit to fit into its neighborhood, and I've consistently had good food there. It's not a dive, that's for sure.

Is India House still open? The last time I drove by there, it looked closed.

I work at Clark/Wacker, so in that area, I would suggest the Keefer's or Morton's on State for steak, Brasserie Jo, Frontera Grill (although probably not do-able given the waiting). A good friend took her summer associates to Vermilion for lunch last year, and they were so understaffed and/or prepared to handle a group for lunch that it was disastrous. I heard that the food was good, though, so maybe I'd stick to them for dinner service.

What about Naha? I have had absolutely excellent experiences there for both lunch and dinner.

I would strongly second Cafe Spiaggia for Italian.

A couple of those will seriously push the $75 limit - especially Spiaggia, Topolobampo, and Gibsons. If you back out taxes (9%) and tip (18%) from $75 you get $58 per person. Take out two drinks for $20 (half a $40 bottle of wine) and you're at $38. $25 entree, $8 appetizer, $5 dessert.

India House is one of the Better Indian restaurants in the area.

A little to the west, but Carnivale is always good for causal business - good food, fun atmosphere. They're good with groups. Kind of a pan-latin fusion.

Also in that general area is Greek Town which could fit the bill if its not too far west.

Never been to Osteria Via Stato so can't comment on it otherwise.

The food at Cafe Spiaggia is much better than Quartino, and it should fall within the high end of your price range.

Frontera Grill would be a good alternative to Topolobampo.

for mid-week dining, Le Lan, higher end French-Vietnamese, used to offer a $35 Tuesday night special - any appetizer, entree, dessert for $35 (no tax/tip). A great deal if they still offer it.

I think Wildfire is a good mid-range steak house - just west of Lasalle on Erie.

Going with Gemurska's LEYE suggestion, I always find the oyster bar side of Shaw's to be a festive afterwork spot. Like a lot of LEYE restaurants, the 1940s retro themed decor is a little "stagey", but it is done well enough that after a few pints, it feels like the real deal. The oyster and fish selection is usually pretty good. However, they only have two non-fish offerings (chicken or steak).

How many coworkers will be attending? Many establishments offer pre-selected (and pre-priced) menus if your group hits 15 or more. In fact, some establishments require that you have set menu for a larger group.

I planned a group dinner for 24 at Opera this past winter and it turned out fantastic. The pre-selected menu kept prices down and payment organized, allowed me to accomodate for our few vegetarians and allowed me to put cap on the price of bottled wines. Oh, and the food and service was great too!

I probaby should've been somewhat more clear. The "group" of coworkers probably will not be more than six, so private rooms and events aren't so much what I'm looking for. I mentioned that it's work related because I don't really want date places or holes-in-the-wall.

Thanks for the suggestions so far though.

How about Mambo Grill? Certainly not spectacular food, but good enough, and would probably fit the bill for a fun work dinner. I've been known to sit outside there and drink a few mojitos during the summer.

Mambo Grill
http://mambogrill.com
412 N Clark St
(312) 467-9797

aschie30 wrote: (snip) Frontera Grill (although probably not do-able given the waiting).

They do take reservations for groups of (I think) 6 or 7 or so. I think it's more than 5 and fewer than 8....

aschie30 wrote:

germuska wrote:India House on Grand is not really "highish-end", although it is dressed up a bit to fit into its neighborhood, and I've consistently had good food there. It's not a dive, that's for sure.

Is India House still open? The last time I drove by there, it looked closed.

To answer my own inquiry, India House is open. They had taken down their old signage and replaced it with new, so that's why I was confused.

For Indian cuisine in River North, I have had some lovely dinners at Klay Oven. It's very understated, and they do the Gulab Jaman flambe tableside.

http://www.klayovenrestaurant.com/
414 N Orleans
(312) 527-3999

I know it's probably pushing the geographical limits, but after following Ronnie Suburban's recent advice and having a good meal there, I would recommend Green Zebra.

For a little more classic (but if one is willing to do Gibson's or the like), I have always liked RL.

Avec would be fun for an after work crowd, but I don't think they take reservations -- which might be difficult for a group of six.