Looking around, I did notice many others did order the salad/walleye/carrot cake so I have to assume they were all there for restaurant week as well and did not wish to stray from the expected $32 budget. Could be wrong, maybe last night's menu was more appealing to others, but I simply did not think it was a good representation of what Aria truly has to offer.

fleurdesel wrote:Long shot, but if anyone has Naha dinner reservations for 2 or 4 that they are unable to use, I would be delighted to use them.

If so, please send me a PM.
Thank you.

I had no problem making a lunch reservation there for today, yesterday, using Open Table (is that a sentance to make an English teacher cringe or what).

As to the meal, a week or so ago, Ronnie Suburban was commenting on how one of the things he liked about Vie was that the meal improved from appetizer through entree; contrasting to places where the chef seemed to shoot her load in the appetizers. Well, Naha was even more so, so to speak. We did not think much of the appetizers, 3 oysters (poorly shucked) and the soup, but we loved-loved, the entrees of whitefish/bacon and duck confit. The desserts were likewise stellar, and the two subsequent offerings more than made up for the mediocre first. Worth a visit for sure.

Vital Information wrote:

fleurdesel wrote:Long shot, but if anyone has Naha dinner reservations for 2 or 4 that they are unable to use, I would be delighted to use them.

If so, please send me a PM.
Thank you.

I had no problem making a lunch reservation there for today, yesterday, using Open Table (is that a sentance to make an English teacher cringe or what).

As to the meal, a week or so ago, Ronnie Suburban was commenting on how one of the things he liked about Vie was that the meal improved from appetizer through entree; contrasting to places where the chef seemed to shoot her load in the appetizers. Well, Naha was even more so, so to speak. We did not think much of the appetizers, 3 oysters (poorly shucked) and the soup, but we loved-loved, the entrees of whitefish/bacon and duck confit. The desserts were likewise stellar, and the two subsequent offerings more than made up for the mediocre first. Worth a visit for sure.

Call me crazy, but that's not really the way I want to picture my appetizers. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Long shot, but if anyone has Naha dinner reservations for 2 or 4 that they are unable to use, I would be delighted to use them.

I had no problem making a lunch reservation there for today, yesterday, using Open Table

Unfortunately, one of my dining companions can't get away for lunch.

Thanks anyway.

I suppose it's time to resurrect this thread. I received an email from American express informing me that amex cardholders can make early reservations. If I’m not mistaken, I believe you just have to call the restaurant and identify yourself as a card user.

Here is the link to the lineup for this year. http://www.choosechicago.com/eatitup/Pa ... ault2.aspx

laikom wrote: amex cardholders can make early reservations.

I wonder what this means. I'm fairly certain that as a non Amex cardholder, I could call any of those restaurants and make a reservation for a month out.

Yeah, after I posted that I noticed that on the restaurant's websites most say reservations are open. Plus I doubt a restaurant would turn away a customer to maintain loyalty to amex. haha

Anyone notice some new restaurants on the list worth checking out?

laikom wrote:I suppose it's time to resurrect this thread. I received an email from American express informing me that amex cardholders can make early reservations. If I’m not mistaken, I believe you just have to call the restaurant and identify yourself as a card user.

Here is the link to the lineup for this year. http://www.choosechicago.com/eatitup/Pa ... ault2.aspx

My rant on web sites:

What's the point of having an option that gives you nothing. I clicked on the NW Suburban pulldown, and got no results. Same for ALL of the other suburban options. Makes it pretty clear that who ever is running this doesn't want MY business.

Hear hear. Nothing for "O'Hare Area" either.

While some of the restaurants have their 'restaurant week' menus posted online, you definitely want to check to see what your choices will be in terms of creating your prix fixe meal. I tried Aria last year during restaurant week, assuming there would be a couple of selections at least to choose from for the entree, only to find out there was only one item available which I would never had ordered. I ended up ordering off the regular menu, left unhappy, spending much more than I expected to and feeling like I fell for the ole' bait and switch.

There are definitely some good deals to be had, but lesson learned, confirm with the restaurant what will be included in the deal before you go.

I just made reservations for Prime House - the Restaurant Week menu is posted here [.pdf]

Looking forward to it - seems to have a pretty good amount of choice to it. Here's to hoping they follow through.

Please let us know how it goes at prime house . The menu looks great, with many very nice options

Pie Lady wrote:Hear hear. Nothing for "O'Hare Area" either.

There are two restaurants near O'Hare - try the site again.

foodbeast wrote:Please let us know how it goes at prime house . The menu looks great, with many very nice options

We took advantage of Restaurant Week to try Primehouse for the first time. The menu we were given was slightly different than the one posted on their website. I don't remember all the differences, but Wagyu skirt skeak and Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail were not available as options.

The oysters and crab cake were solid, but not extraordinary. For entrees, the delmonico was much better than the sirloin (although we are not steak experts by any stretch of the imagination). Four sides were served family-style (no choice): asparagus, creamed spinach, mushrooms, and mashed potatoes. All were greatly improved by a sprinkle of the salt that was served with the popover (which was definitely overdone). Both the apple cheddar pie and slice of prime were quite good.

The dining room was pretty full on Sunday night, and they were turning tables quite quickly.
I'd definitely like to try the reserve cuts to see if they're worth the premium, but I'm not sure if I'm willing to pay to find out.

We are going to David Burke's Primehouse tonight, just wanted to see if anyone else has been and has any tips!

Just got back from Ruth Chris for lunch and it was impeccable. The online "Restaurant week" menu is presented to everyone who is lucky enough to visit RC till 2morrow.

[*]cup of Louisiana Gumbo (nice nontraditional example w/o okra or seafood, but with chunks of tender steak)
[*]12oz ribeye (wonderful fatty piece of meat in RC's trademark butter)
[*]side of creamed spinach (perfectly seasoned exceptional creamy texture)
[*]chocolate mousse cheese cake (meh, not so special, but good enough for me to finish. would have been better if I got a cup of coffee)
[*]glass of B/V wine ($18, the name escapes me, but it is the wine suggesed by the bartender. Big wine w/ a subtle spice that cut the fat of the ribeye wonderfully as described by the bartender, Cherish.)

$40 before tax/tip (normally this would be a $65 lunch before tax/tip)

Thinking about going back tomorrow for lunch.

I have rezzo's @ Mirai 2morrow. Anyone know what their Restaurant week deal is? I get the below crytic message and it is none too reassuring

NOTES ABOUT THIS RESERVATION: To take advantage of the Chicago Restaurant Week fixed-price offering, be sure to request the special menu when you arrive. **To confirm that this restaurant will offer the Chicago Restaurant Week menu on the day of your reservation, please note any restrictions listed here: http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?pid ... 3&ref=2987

I'm trying onesixtyblue for restaurant week tonight. They didn't have any resos available on Opentable.com, but when I called they said no problem. The menu on line looks very tasty, we shall see. While I appreciate the three course deal, I am not a sweets eater, so sometimes, I just go to the restaurant, and end up ordering off the menu.

Went to Seasons for the prix-fixe dinner tonight. Overall a good dining experience. The aged risotto brought out as a first course was tasty, but me and my friends had to sit and let it cool after burning our mouths trying to take the first bite, which was crazy hot. The braised short rib with parsnip gnocchi was up next, and the dish delivered the extremely tender meat one would expect from a long braise. The gnocchi were alright, not over heavy and kept a nice lightness to them, but I don't know about how well the parsnip flavor got into them. My friend's king fish looked anemic at best, but I can't vouch for it's taste. Highlight were the desserts, mine being the pistachio and grapefruit tart with earl grey ice cream. Loved the creativity of the dish, and that tea flavor from the ice cream was awesome. However, I thought the tart's sourness dominated the palette unless it was combined with the ice cream. Friends had a dessert take on a rum and coke and they seemed to like it. Overall service was great and attentive, however at one point a friend's napkin went mysteriously missing and had to be asked for. The Chef even stopped by our table to see how everything was.

Went to one sixtyblue and had the three course for $32. I see now where I could have gotten the two course for $28, and I should have gone with this option.
I had the leek gnocchi as a starter. They were absolutely horrible. I have never had mushy gluey tasteless pasta and sauce such as this before (hungrychicago, better never have these). Jman had the bibb lettuce salad, and he loved it, it looked fantastic with two slices of bacon and a ton of blue cheese and red and yellow beets.
Second course for both of us was very good. I had the chicken and biscuits, and Jman had the hangar steak. Mine was very tasty in a foie sauce over the mini biscuits and piece of white meat chicken that had been baked, served over collard greens. Next to the chicken were two chicken nugget looking things that were actually the wing meat and thigh meat confit. It was good, if a bit dry. Jman said his hangar steak was delicious, but a little under done. Made it a bit tough. I wish I would have skipped the dessert course, I had a very uninspiring sorbet trio on shortbread cookies. The cookies were good on their own. Jman had the chocolate panna cotta, and it was good, but not really what I would call a panna cotta. It had a side of fudge that was really good rich and creamy. I would have been happy with that. We each had a martini and a bottle of Dona Paula Malbec (on sale for $25). Total bill $115.
Can't argue with the value. I just wish the food was a bit better. The restuarant was packed. We probably had the worst table for two in the place. Smack dab in the middle of a four top and two couples next to us on the other side. Service was excellent. Our server told us it was crazy busy for restuarant week, it hasn't been that busy in a long time.

jeanpoutine wrote:We are going to David Burke's Primehouse tonight, just wanted to see if anyone else has been and has any tips!

Ah, I'm sorry I just saw this. I was about to say I went to David Burke's Primehouse on Saturday for restaurant week (for lunch though).

They had a ton of awesome appetizer choices, it was so hard to decide. I went with the lobster bisque and my boyfriend had the kobe beef sashimi (highly recommended, it's served on a plate of Himalayan rock salt!) Others we dined with tried the surf and turf dumpligns and the crab cake. The crab cake was tiny and supposedly just ok. The dumplings were very interesting!

For the second course, I went with my predictable filet mignon and my boyfriend tried the DelMonico (aged and salted). Both were outstanding though I had a bit of fat on my filet that I didn't enjoy. The Delmonico was super tasty - we both highly recommend it. The other consideration we had was the sirloin.

As for dessert, go with the Apple Cheddar Pie or the Slice of Prime. If you're a chocolate lover, the slice of prime is to die for! But if you want something different and interesting, the pie is the way to go.

Let me know if the dinner prix fixe was much different!

So it seems that Restaurant Week was such a success for most venues that it is being extended for 1 more week.

Heard about the extension from my brother - a server at Ajasteak, which apparently was very pleased with the increase in business this week. He didn't think that all venues from this week were necessarily extending for the additional week, so check with individual restaurants first if a definitive list of those doing so doesn't show up at some point.

ucjames wrote:So it seems that Restaurant Week was such a success for most venues that it is being extended for 1 more week.

Heard about the extension from my brother - a server at Ajasteak, which apparently was very pleased with the increase in business this week. He didn't think that all venues from this week were necessarily extending for the additional week, so check with individual restaurants first if a definitive list of those doing so doesn't show up at some point.

I don't know if it was anywhere in your article but David Burke's Primehouse is extending restaurant week LUNCH ONLY until Friday March 6, 2009.

I did Primehouse last year (with a very similar menu, it appears) and I left rather disappointed. The steak was alright but not mind blowing, the bisque I did like, the chocolate dessert tasted like hershey's syrup. Waitstaff was overbearing and ultimately we both wished we stayed home instead.

So how was mirai? I'm planning on going and would appreciate a preview. thanks!

Along with David Burke's Primehouse is Cafe Spiaggia extending restaurant week an additional week. I like Chicago's version of the stimulus plan.

I would also appreciate a preview of what Mirai is offering for Restaurant Week; I'm due there in five hours.

Regardless, I'm expecting to venture outside the R.W. menu for a few extras, as my dinners there are very few and have been very far-between.

Hi, went to mirai for restaurant week.

As always the food was amazing. The basic deal for mirai's restaurant week menu is that you select 2 courses plus your choice of a drink (up to $11) or dessert. The courses are basically choices from a selection of menu items. It is a wide selection, perhaps even the entire menu. I got a Bin Cho (one of my fav. Things here) and the Ika Uni Ae. I picked a glass of wine that was about $11. I think overall we saved aprox. $4 per person vs. paying full menu price. Not an amazing discount, but a good excuse to go to mirai!

The only disappointment for me was that there was no option to pick some nigiri for the restaurant week. Of course you can order whatever extra you want. My wife and I ended up spending about $100 before tax and tip after all was said and done, which is our usual mirai spending limit, and I do have to limit myself or I’d keep eating forever!

My husband and I went to Primehouse for Restaurant Week dinner and found the food to be just fair (the apple pie was the only thing we thought was really good)...but what was most frustrating was that at the end of the meal the waiter told us we could get the EXACT SAME menu, any day at lunch, for $12 less than we had just paid! I couldn't believe that they would say that to you right as you were paying the bill. And it wasn't that portion sizes were different as he kept trying to upcharge us by telling us the steaks on the RW menu were lunch size portions. So, we left there feeling really scammed and will never go back.

This event will once again be held on February 19-28, 2010. This is the big one, with over 150 restaurants participating. 3-course prix fixe meals are $22 lunch, $32 dinner. This year's participating restaurants are listed here, on the Chicago Convention and Visitors Bureau's website.

This event is not to be confused with the smaller but similar January 18-31 Restaurant Week held by the 15 restaurants in the Chicago Originals group. For details on that one, click here.

I got my reservations for Naha and David Burke's. Naha blew us away during Restaurant Week last year, and I can't believe we haven't been to David Burke's yet.