Quiet Restaurant using good, local sources?

Hello everyone! This is my first post--as usual, I've been here a long time. I've met some of you, and I think the community
here is a wonderful resource. Right now, I need your help...

I'm to go out to dinner with my family. I have a set of criteria that seems to be in opposition:
First, most importantly, I need a space that is as quiet as possible. My father is very hard of hearing, and I want for
him to be able to feel he is a part of the group.
Second, I'd like local ingredients. I work in the industry, and the restaurant I work at sources very well. It's spoiled
me and that commitment to source has become a very important aspect of how I dine. Places like Vie or Nightwood, which
buy from farms in the midwest and are very artful in their execution, tend to be my style.
Third, the space needs to be vegetarian friendly, in the way that, for example, Nightwood can turn out a very compelling
vegetarian dish, or Green Zebra can convince the avowed carnivores there's more to the world than lardons and liver.
Forth (the one that twists things, for me...) my father would like a good steak and potatoes. He's traditional in all the
ways I'm not.
Lastly, there may be about seven or eight of us.

So, a quiet spot that cooks with well sourced ingredients and can satisfy a patriarch who just wants a good steak and a
vegetarian who is quite savvy, dinning together in a somewhat large group? If anyone can help, it's all of you.

Thanks,

Andrew (messaged edited to fix the, ahem, "typo" riddlemay pointed out, which one of the mods caught in the subject line)

My own family's go-to spots for similar needs is Prairie Grass Cafe. The tables are spaced very far apart which means it's not noisy at all. The food isn't as exciting as Nightwood or well-executed as Vie, but they use good ingredients. I don't think my family would tolerate the prices at Vie and I can't imagine them sitting through a tasting menu. Nightwood is too loud/hipster for them. Too bad Big Jones and Carriage House so loud or I would take them there (we are Southerners so I think they'd like the food).

I'll definitely watch this thread because I don't know of many places in the city proper I'd be able to take them too without something going wrong. I might try taking them to Uncommon Ground some time.

http://www.perennialchicago.com/menus.php

Uncommon Ground is a good suggestion. Maybe Nana in Bridgeport. Two has the most interesting menu of these three options and has a smaller front room with a few large tables so an early reservation might mean that room doesn't become too loud. Quiet dining area can be difficult to find. Farmhouse would be too loud unless there's an upstairs that doesn't play music.

As you mentioned, you have some potentially competing criteria. Perhaps the best way to handle it is to try and go on a less busy day/time...that would help satisfy the noise issue. Anyway, here are some that came to the top of my mind...I realize that these may not be perfect...

Bistro Campagne
North Pond
Naha
Boka

A couple hotel options that currently are executing much better than one would expect from a hotel:
The Lobby
Cafe Des Architectes

Lastly...you mentioned Vie, but didn't say why it wasn't your choice...I was there on Friday and they had a steak on the menu (albeit $49 though)...

Thanks to whoever changed "Quite" to "Quiet" in the thread title.

My own family's go-to spots for similar needs is Prairie Grass Cafe. The tables are spaced very far apart which means it's not noisy at all.

Maybe this is true when the restaurant is fairly empty, but I've found exactly the opposite. I was there for lunch when the restaurant was full and it was impossible to hear people across the table from you. I've found it very noisy.

OP--it might be helpful to give some geographic prefs if you have them.

I would suggest checking with Vera--they have a gorgeous Florentine steak for 2 that they do on request and the rest of your group should have plenty of options from the menu. I've never found it to be overly loud there.

I also had a very nice meal at Boarding House which, while not setting the world on fire culinarily, should satisfy all the criteria--they have terrific booths for larger parties that would work well--and they had a steak and potato dish on special last night (check out their twitter feed for the details) that if its not on the menu, they'd probably be happy to prepare for a birthday celebration.

Hope you'll report back on what you choose!!

Lovely suggestions so far; I can't thank all of you enough. I really want to have a nice dinner with my father!

Regarding geographical concerns (a good point, and the one which rules out Vie): my parents are coming in to the city from
out of town, and would be taking a cab to and from a hotel (as yet unchosen, but likely one in, or close to, the Loop).
The spot doesn't have to be downtown or near it, necessarily, but within city limits would be best. As the subject line suggests,
a quite quiet spot is the biggest concern.

Thanks,

Andrew

milz50 wrote:Naha

It's been a few years since I've been, but the last time I was at Naha the noise was overwhelming. It's one of the reasons I haven't been back. I loved the food, but for someone sensitive to sound, I wouldn't recommend it.

-Dan

are you opposed to eating outside, in general i find outdoor seating much better for conversation (of course there are some minuses to it... like being outside)

Have you considered the private room downstairs at Nightwood? With 7 people, they might be willing to seat you there (as long as it's not rented out for the evening). It can't hurt to ask.

I have the exact same criteria as the original poster. The last time I needed to satisfy these criteria, I took them to A Tavola and everyone was happy. Does anyone have any new suggestions?

If quiet is paramount (along with good food, of course), going somewhere they can give you a private dining room is the best way to achieve that. Many restaurants, particularly larger ones, have small dining rooms that can seat parties of 2-12, and they're usually pretty easy to reserve, especially if it's for a weeknight.

I recently had a group of seven for dinner, and found exactly what we needed at Parker's, the outstanding seafood-centric restaurant in west suburban Downers Grove. We actually had the same need for the opposite reason; our group can get a bit loud and the main dining room of this particular restaurant is fairly subdued. So we reserved a small private room there and it was perfect for our group. Similarly, you can reserve a small private room at a restaurant, even one whose main dining room is noisy, and it should meet your group's need for a quieter space.

I would suggest Arbor for these requirements. They take their ingredients very seriously, including growing many of them. The room itself is very simple and extremely quiet, the kitchen operates very quietly, and there is only light music along with the staff explaining various dishes.

They normally do not have a set menu, which allows for flexibility in ensuring vegetarians get what they want (absolutely not a problem here) and probably even ensuring folks of an older generation get fairly meat-and-potatoes type dishes. They won't have steak and mashed potatoes, I can also guarantee that...and the dishes will still be fairly complex but they bend over backwards to meet each diner's preferences. And it is still one of the best prix fixe values in Chicago (you select the number of courses, 3-5-7-9).

Arbor
2545 W Diversey 2nd floor