Sixteen at Trump?

Anyone checked it out yet for breakfast yet?

Sixteen
Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, 16th Floor
401 N. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
312-588-8030

Dish has a pretty miserable review of it the other day. Though it WAS its first day of the operation.

MJN has a podcast interview with chef Brunacci entitled "Your Hired!" that offers some insight into what they're after at this place.

Am I the only one expecting to be disappointed in anything involving The Donald. While his building is turning out to be better than most of his crap--thanks to Daley and SOM--it still pales in comparison to numerous other skyscrapers going up in the city.

I'll probably go up for a drink and to see if the decor is as gauche and tasteless as Trump's NY apartment--famously parodied on SNL as, "modeled upon the finest palaces of Uday and Qusay Hussein."

Is it just me or does anyone else expect The Donald's signature restaurant to serve outdated 80's food under gold leaf domes with stiff tuxedo clad waiters and vapid ex-models at the hostess stand. We'll see how it turns out. Expectations are low.

leave your expectations as low as you want, but some of the restaurants that key staff members have been involved with include Charlie Trotters and MK, and by all accounts Brunacci's no slouch, either.

Jean-Georges and Nougatine in Trump Tower are pretty extraordinary.

Sam Harmon wrote:Is it just me or does anyone else expect The Donald's signature restaurant to serve outdated 80's food under gold leaf domes with stiff tuxedo clad waiters and vapid ex-models at the hostess stand. We'll see how it turns out. Expectations are low.

I dunno. I'd say The Donald pretty much hit a home run with Jean Georges. I'll take that in a heartbeat..

Edit: Man, I'm slow on the draw this week...

At the risk of sounding petty, I think this great City would have survived if the Donald along with Macy's would have stayed in New York. However $ are $, both Gand and Bayless supported Macy's.

I dunno. I'd say The Donald pretty much hit a home run with Jean Georges. I'll take that in a heartbeat..

Yes, because Chef Vongerichten hit such a out-of-the-park home run here withVong/VTK, as Mr. Nagrant asserts in the thread on the Other-Culinary-Chat page. Oh....um, wait.....

Anyway, We've had some pretty crappy restos here in the Windy City run by people with sizable CVs (Brasserie Ruhlmann, I'm looking at you, for the most recent example). Let's give this place the usual shakedown time, but let's also not go overboard because Trump stumbled into a winner in NYC.

This is a big time wait and see situation. Trump has a lot of successes but also A LOT of failures.

Let me clarify that the wonders that are Jean-Georges and Nougatine have nothing to do with Donald Trump, or Trump Tower for that matter, except that it is a quintessential location. It's just incredibly parochial to dismiss any restaurant because of the owner of its building - and just as meaningless to praise it.

sundevilpeg wrote:

I dunno. I'd say The Donald pretty much hit a home run with Jean Georges. I'll take that in a heartbeat..

Yes, because Chef Vongerichten hit such a out-of-the-park home run here withVong/VTK, as Mr. Nagrant asserts in the thread on the Other-Culinary-Chat page. Oh....um, wait.....

So have you actually eaten at Jean Georges, or is the joy of slamming a place you've never been, you know, more important than having any idea what you're talking about?

(For the record, I hated Vong. Jean Georges, on the other hand, I've visited eight times and consider one of the best restaurants I've ever tried. And if you don't believe me, Louisa kinda knows what she's talking about.)

Point is, he's courted and landed a future world-class chef for one of his hotels before. He may or may not do the same here (probably not, just playing the odds), but that's still a mighty big feather in your cap and pretty starkly refutes the lousy '80s food and outdated ostentatious decor assumption. The latter may very well come to pass, but how about having a look before piling on?

I'm sorry, sundevilpeg... I misread your post. I see that isn't what you were suggesting at all.

But then, correct me if I'm wrong, it seems like what you're suggesting is:

1) Jean-Georges' midrange Chicago restaurant managed by LEYE sucks.
2) Trump brought Jean-Georges in to open a great flagship restaurant in the Trump Tower in NYC.
3) Trump brought Frank Brunacci in to open his flagship restaurant in the Trump Tower in Chicago.

ergo...

4) There's reason to suspect that Sixteen is going to suck.

How does that make any damn sense? Number four may or may not be reasonable, but what does number one have to do with that at all?

I never said that Sixteen was probably going to be good or that I expected great things because of Jean Georges. I just refuted Sam's suggestion that anything Trump touches is going to be as cheesy as his hairpiece, and said that if he can replicate the restaurant success he had at the Trump Tower in NYC, I'd happily take that.

Dmnkly wrote:anything Trump touches is going to be as cheesy as his hairpiece

Completely off-topic, and not to defend The Donald, but hasn't that whole hairpiece thing been credibly refuted?

While his building is turning out to be better than most of his crap

Off the topic of restaurants, but while we're there. . . Do you really think so? Have you noticed how its hulky dominance of the North Bank of the river practically obliterates one of the best urban sights that ever existed anywhere? Look west when you're crossing south on the Michigan Avenue bridge and try to remember what it once was like . . .

I know this thread is supposed to be about Sixteen, but it has wandered of course so I just wanted to say that I've been lucky enough to eat at Jean Georges and Vong in NYC, and both were amazing experiences (especially Jean Georges.) I've also eaten at Vong-Chicago (when it opened originally as a more high-end place) and its later incarnation as VTK. And, while I agree that they were/are nothing like the restaurants in NYC, I kind of like VTK for what it is. It is not perfect but I don't think it sucks. I've had some good meals there, but I doubt Chef Vongerichten has much to do with it anymore.

Off the topic of restaurants, but while we're there. . . Do you really think so? Have you noticed how its hulky dominance of the North Bank of the river practically obliterates one of the best urban sights that ever existed anywhere? Look west when you're crossing south on the Michigan Avenue bridge and try to remember what it once was like . . .

I know that the denizens of the erstwhile IBM Building aren't happy about losing their view, but the old Sun-Times building was one of the ugliest buildings in Chicago, and a blot on the riverside. Just awful. Looked like a warehouse in Tulsa. Good riddance, I say.

My understanding of the difference between Jean-Georges and Sixteen is that Jean-Georges is a truly independent restaurant--nothing more than a tenant in a Trump building--i.e. The Donald couldn't interfere if wanted to.

My understanding of Sixteen is that the Trump organization does possess some degree of ownership and operating control--hence my low expectations. This is what I've been told. If I'm wrong, please let me know, as I will certainly reassess the situation.

Sam Harmon wrote:My understanding of the difference between Jean-Georges and Sixteen is that Jean-Georges is a truly independent restaurant--nothing more than a tenant in a Trump building--i.e. The Donald couldn't interfere if wanted to.

Indeed - Jean Georges had been around a long time before the Trump building was. Trump may have faults, but I think he knows well enough to leave one of NYC's standard-bearers for the past 15 years well enough alone.

"Tim" wrote:

Sam Harmon wrote:My understanding of the difference between Jean-Georges and Sixteen is that Jean-Georges is a truly independent restaurant--nothing more than a tenant in a Trump building--i.e. The Donald couldn't interfere if wanted to.

Indeed - Jean Georges had been around a long time before the Trump building was. Trump may have faults, but I think he knows well enough to leave one of NYC's standard-bearers for the past 15 years well enough alone.

Not true.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n16_v31/ai_19350213

Though this would seem to confirm that Jean Georges is not to Trump's taste when it comes to decor

This also seems to confirm that Trump was an investor, at least to some degree. He isn't listed as an owner anywhere, but this article mentions him putting money into the space. It's worth noting that Jean Georges also handles room service (as well as in-room cooking with a personal chef) for the hotel. I think it's safe to say the business relationship is a little more involved than a simple landlord/tenant arrangement. I remember reading an article at some point where Vongerichten was very thankful to Trump for helping get the restaurant off the ground. Wish I could find it.

Dmnkly wrote:

"Tim" wrote:

Sam Harmon wrote:My understanding of the difference between Jean-Georges and Sixteen is that Jean-Georges is a truly independent restaurant--nothing more than a tenant in a Trump building--i.e. The Donald couldn't interfere if wanted to.

Indeed - Jean Georges had been around a long time before the Trump building was. Trump may have faults, but I think he knows well enough to leave one of NYC's standard-bearers for the past 15 years well enough alone.

Not true.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n16_v31/ai_19350213

Though this would seem to confirm that Jean Georges is not to Trump's taste when it comes to decor

This also seems to confirm that Trump was an investor, at least to some degree. It's worth noting that Jean Georges also handles room service (as well as in-room cooking with a personal chef) for the hotel. They're not just leasing space. They're very much partners in the endeavor (or at least they were). I remember reading an article at some point where Vongerichten was very thankful to Trump for helping get the restaurant off the ground. Wish I could find it.

Finding articles can be a pain, though if you've a NYTimes.com subscription (free) you can search the archives.

Searching a bit, it looks like I may have been thinking of Jo Jo. I don't know if http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9505E0D81039F931A25757C0A960958260&scp=6&sq=%22jean+georges%22&st=nyt will work for you, but I seem to remember somewhere in the back of my head the restaraunt Jean Georges opening up sometime in the '90s & being hearlded as the new vanguard of 4 star restaraunts. Though, searching for this is turning out to be quite a pain in da tuckus - the aforementioned posts Jo Jo as three stars. Maybe sometime this weekend I'll find the article I remember reading so many moons ago...

But it is sad to see Mr. Trump mucking with things.

I believe Jean Georges opened in 1997. Trump was renovating the tower in 1995. I can't speak to the exact timing, but they definitely opened together. There are some other articles out there that I'm sure you'll find.

"Tim" wrote:I seem to remember somewhere in the back of my head the restaraunt Jean Georges opening up sometime in the '90s & being hearlded as the new vanguard of 4 star restaraunts.

Except for the time frame, that's an accurate reference to his previous restaurant, named Lafayette, located in the Drake Swissotel. A review by Bryan Miller in the New York Times, on 8/15/1986, started,

"NY Times" wrote:ANDRE SOLTNER of Lutece was wowed by the cooking; so, too, was Jean Louis Palladin of the Watergate in Washington, which has prompted a flock of nervous chefs to scurry over to the new restaurant in the Drake Hotel on Park Avenue at 52d Street. The restaurant, called Lafayette, is the creation of Louis Outhier of the famed three-star (Michelin) l'Oasis at La Napoule on the French Riviera. Mr. Outhier is the consultant to seven such restaurants around the world, including two in this country, one in Boston and now one in New York.

The plush new dining room, which seats 85, faces a sparkling kitchen behind a glass wall. Mr. Outhier's disciple, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, the chef de cuisine, turns out a highly refined and sunny Mediterranean-style menu that, based on a recent lunch, promises to be one of this fall's most provocative dining experiences.

Vongerichten grew up in Strasbourg, and early stops in his career included L'Auberge de L'Ill in Alsace, L'Oasis in La Napoule (see above) in 1976, Paul Bocuse in Lyons, and top restaurants in Munich. In 1980, he was hired as the chef at Normandie, in the Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, where Louis Outhier, the owner of L'Oasis, was a consultant, which led to assignments in Singapore and Hong Kong before opening Lafayette in 1986.

I have eaten at Jean-Georges as well as Lafayette before that. Both are/were wonderful, equivalent to the top tables here in Chicago (Trotter's, etc).

i went to Sixteen on Friday... here's what i had to say..

Breakfast was suprisingly good, relaxed, and accessible.

This place will probably top the new list of places to dine out with fantastic views.... dining and looking out right at the top of the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower is quite amazing...

I was taken here by suprise and when we pulled up I was worried that my casual Friday jeans look would be inadequate ...but as it turns out it wasn't, and everyone in was dressed upscale casual. I think they're still in the point where they're just happy to see people come in though perhaps too. The breakfast dining area seems to only have 6-8 tables, and maybe half were full.

The breakfast menu was no more expensive than any hotel room service menu I've ever seen. Most entrees were $11-14ish, of course you could get a steak and pay twice that though too.

I had the croque madame... which had an annoying note explaining it was ham and cheese but the "french version"? (I uploaded a picture of this too) ... they deconstructed it a bit, by putting the egg (a fried egg at that...) on one side and the ham on another. The ham side was outrageously great. The fried egg was a little less exciting but I ate every ounce of it...

The service was good... they promptly refilled everything. They brought us all juice shooters to start. Our meals were accompanied by a large basket of assorted toast. I'm not sure if it was free refills, but they refilled my orange juice twice and didn't seem like they were keeping track. I left well hydrated. (The juice itself was very freshly squeezed, yummy)

When we were done we asked if we could get a tour.. they said "of course" without hesitation and she'd get someone... then she came back asking if we wanted the restaurant tour or the entire building.... the entire building tour would take a few minutes to organize, but the restaurant tour was done by the restaurant manager. Personally I'd *love* the entire building tour... but we decided we'd be happy with a restaurant tour. It wasn't much of a tour, they just walked us through the three dining rooms explaining what each was, showed us the dinner menus, explained the grand chandelier... but the views were great. No kitchen, but nobody asked.

They have an amazing wine cellar that you see when you get off the elevator. The decor in the entire place is very clean, elegant, and modern... and even though it's Trump, there was no over the top tackyness to be found anywhere.

The patio they have is outrageously magnificant. But it's not open yet. When it does, though, it will be THE place to dine outside. 16 stories up, winds blowing (protected by glass walls slightly), overlooking the Wrigley building... oh yes.

If you're worried about being priced out of their $110/person blind chef's tasting--$180/person with wine pairings (or rather, if you're worried about dropping $180/person into something Trump owns..), I'd highly recommend going here for breakfast or brunch instead. They also have a cheaper 4 course dinner, or a la carte. I imagine it's actually prettier at night than breakfast, though, and the morning sunshine makes it harder to take great pictures!

... i took a few pictures from my blackberry. the bright sun made it hard to take good pictures...



http://flickr.com/photos/danebrian/2332604513/ .. .(go backwards in the pictures, if you see the haagen daaz toasted coconut sesame brittle picture you're going the wrong way)

This is a 2 month old review - use with a grain of salt.

I thought the post for Sixteen could use a little more illustration. A cousin from out of town was staying upstairs in the Trump, so we went to 16. Our first impression was the forced wait in the lounge for our table that was clearly ready at the time of our reservation, this sort of tactic is ridiculous. My next impression was that for someone staying at the hotel, they really should have given us a better view. The tables also should be repositioned so a table of four's view isn't completely blocked by a supporting column. Way too many of the tables are too far away from the windows to enjoy the view, which if that's the reason you're going, can ruin an expensive evening.

That said, when the building is finished, and the outside terrace is opened, this place will have the best views of any summer table in the city. Also go on a summer Wed, Sat, or other holiday night when Navy Pier fireworks or planned.

As for the food, I had a Beef Shank Tortellini and Duck Sous Vide. Well prepared and tasty, but nothing to talk about. The Banana Pave with Tequilla Ice Cream was pretty damn good. Service was just plain strange - it was like we never saw the same server twice. Almost every dish and drink was placed at the wrong setting. A small thing, but at the price range, it bothers me to have to play plate roulette.


Beef Shank Tortellini


Pave with Tequilla Ice Cream

Any recent intel on Sixteen?

I'm going Saturday night but was hoping someone had recent reviews.

DMChicago wrote:Any recent intel on Sixteen?

I'm going Saturday night but was hoping someone had recent reviews.

DMChicago, how was your dinner? I'm headed to Sixteen tonight and would be interested in what you had and how you liked it.

David,

I had read very mixed reviews and was a bit apprehensive going in. My final assessment: THE BEST dining experience I’ve had in Chicago or anywhere else in quite some time.

From the moment we exited the cab at 7 PM until they hailed us a cab at 11, a wonderful, memorable evening.

We started with cocktails in “Rebar”. Located on the mezzanine level, over looking the Chicago River and out to the Michigan Avenue Bridge, this is a comfortably hip lounge.

We were shown a table right up against the glass so our view was great. A glass of pinot noir for my lovely wife and a Bombay Sapphire martini for me and we were on our way.

We went upstairs at 8 for our reservation but were told our table was not quite ready. I almost got a bit frustrated but held back, hoping the reason for the delay was that my request was going to be honored. Sure enough, they came for us around 8:30 and led us to a table right against the 30’ wall of windows with the Wrigley Building and the Tribune Tower looming over top of us. Spectacular!


We decided on the tasting menu with the wine parings. Everything was excellently prepared with wonderful flavors and excellent presentations. I wish I possessed the gift many of you have for recounting your meals, but I just don't. Sorry. The wine matches were also very good.

Service was top notch. After a few courses, we asked for the pace to be slowed down just a tad so we could avoid being too stuffed, too soon. No problems and they kept checking with us to ask if we were ready to continue.

When the dessert course came, I joked that I was really craving chocolate. In a matter of moments, a plate of mini chocolate brownies appeared and the waiter asked if I like port. Of, course, I replied. He then asked if he could buy me one. Excellent. He returned with a bottle of Dow’s Vintage Port 1977 and poured a glass. Heaven.

Overall, this is an incredible location with the food to match. A great experience from beginning to end.

Here's the tasting menu with wine parings and pricing we enjoyed:

aussie tasting menu


hot jelly, australian winter truffle, corn bisque, rock lobster



ocean trout tartar, yarra valley feta, panzanella salad
sauvignon blanc/sémillon, cullen vineyard “ephraim-clarke” margaret river 2006



barramundi, lemon myrtle, crab fettucini, potato salad
chardonnay, innocent bystander, yarra valley 2006



soy seared kangaroo loin, hibiscus / witlof salad, arugula mayo
grenache/shiraz/mourvèdre, d’arenberg “cadenza” mclaren vale 2006



wattleseed crusted lamb loin, red pepper mousse, dan daragan olive oil mash potatoes
shiraz, john duval “entity” barossa valley 2006



king island dairy, roaring forties, macadamia nut panna cotta
muscat, chambers rosewood winery, victoria nv



australian lamington



kiwi pavlova, pepperberry / james boaggs ice cream



coffee or tea & petit fours

in celebration of australia day, sixteen’s aussie native chef frank brunacci is offering
a special tasting menu, featuring original creations using ingredients indigenous to the region

tasting menu - one hundred five
tasting menu with wine pairing - one hundred sixty

executive chef frank brunacci
january 21st – january 28th, 2009

DMChicago wrote: I had read very mixed reviews and was a bit apprehensive going in. My final assessment: THE BEST dining experience I’ve had in Chicago or anywhere else in quite some time.

Wow, that's saying a lot. I'll report back on my visit. Not sure I will be able to take pix, but if I can, I will post. Thanks for posting -- now, I'm excited about tonight.

David Hammond wrote:

DMChicago wrote: I had read very mixed reviews and was a bit apprehensive going in. My final assessment: THE BEST dining experience I’ve had in Chicago or anywhere else in quite some time.

Wow, that's saying a lot. I'll report back on my visit. Not sure I will be able to take pix, but if I can, I will post. Thanks for posting -- now, I'm excited about tonight.

Seriously, it straight-up blows Wildfire outa the water.