Help finding a restaurant, Loop to Gold Coast, great service

Hi, I've been lurking for a while, just soaking all your knowledge in. But now I could really use some help.

My husband's boss and wife will be in town this week and want to have dinner Thursday night. They are big into great service and a good wine list. Last time they were here, they went to Tru (babysitter bailed, I couldn't go <sob>).

Blackbird has no tables available. Looking for something along those lines, at a price point just below Tru/Everest.

Anywhere Loop/West Loop north to Gold Coast would work.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

PS I also posted this at Chowhound, but I know some of "those in the know" only read here.

Caveat: The following is based on what people have been saying, not recent personal experience, which is lagging these days.

Have never heard a bad word about North Pond in any category. But the price point may be pushing where you want to be.

Some very nice things said about Les Nomades; a bit of a sleeper in the sense of quietly excellent vs. cutting edge or glamorous.

More cutting edge, and perhaps pushing the pricing again is Caliterra. Very nice reports over time.

Spiaggia is probably over the top, but perhaps Cafe Spiaggia might work.

Same note for Mon Ami Gabi vs. Ambria. The latter will be way over the price point, but the wine list is shared w/ Mon Ami, which people speak well of repeatedly.

Kiki's Bistro in River North. Very complimentary recent posts.

I have eaten at several of these places very happily, but not recently enough to recommend personally.

I'm sure there are a great many other excellent possibilities. Those are the ones that come to mind at the moment.

Gee, if Blackbird is the price point I don't really think anything Mr. Barolo suggests is out of bounds except maybe Les Nomades and Spiaggia. I really liked North Pond too; and after not being that crazy about Brasserie Jo I had a really good meal there recently which turned around my thinking on it. There's also Follia, see my recent rave.

However, here's my main tip: go to Opentable.com and look at who has times and tables that work for you. That's the easiest way to find something when you know when but not where.

I used the Open Table tip and just sent off a list to my husband. I'll let you know where we end up!

Thanks again.

Maybe a little out of the ordinary but certainly entertaining and with great service is Fogo De Chao at 661 N. La Salle, they bring you as much or as little food as you want. You decide what you want. It is truly unique and has a good wine list.