La Strada to Disappear?

I heard that the landlord of La Strada is considering squeezing a tiny high-rise on top of that plot of land next to the Doral Plaza (renamed Milenium Park Plaza).

La Strada is a landmark at the NE corner of Randolph and Michigan just across from Milenium Park.

More info and links to articles --
http://blog.new-eastside.com/new-high-rise-on-michigan-ave-and-randolph/

Eric

ericwfrost wrote:La Strada is a landmark at the NE corner of Randolph and Michigan just across from Milenium Park.

hmm, interesting... what does a landmark make these days. how does this place stay in business? is it even any good? I work in Prudential Plaza (directly across the street) and I've only heard of 1 person ever going there. pretty much everything i've ever heard about it says it's not very good ... will be interesting to see how they fit a high rise on to that plot (unless they're tearing down the former doral too?).

Speaking of that corner.... something I haven't seen mentioned...

Tavern on the Park (a la Tavern on the Green???) is slated to open in the Southwest corner of Prudential Plaza some time in the summer of '07. (June currently..?). They've been working on the space for a good 3 or 4 months now. The pictures posted outside the door show drawings of it, which will feature a very large outdoor balcony above the restaurant.

dddane wrote:

ericwfrost wrote:La Strada is a landmark at the NE corner of Randolph and Michigan just across from Milenium Park.

hmm, interesting... what does a landmark make these days. how does this place stay in business? is it even any good? I work in Prudential Plaza (directly across the street) and I've only heard of 1 person ever going there. pretty much everything i've ever heard about it says it's not very good ... will be interesting to see how they fit a high rise on to that plot (unless they're tearing down the former doral too?).

I went to LaStrada last spring and thought it was very nice to walk in Millennium Park after dinner. The food was okay. I had a simple soup, stracciatella, which was pretty good, but the large veal chop I had was somewhat ineptly prepared (like most folks, I prefer medium rare, but this was a really raw hunk). Overall, this is a C+ restaurant in an A location.

David Hammond wrote: Overall, this is a C+ restaurant in an A location.

We live in the neighborhood and, based on a couple of similar experiences, wonder how they've lasted this long. The forgettable food, plus rarely seeing anybody in the place leads me to imagine they might not actually need customers to stay in business, if you get my drift...

Paul SL wrote:

David Hammond wrote: Overall, this is a C+ restaurant in an A location.

We live in the neighborhood and, based on a couple of similar experiences, wonder how they've lasted this long. The forgettable food, plus rarely seeing anybody in the place leads me to imagine they might not actually need customers to stay in business, if you get my drift...

i think they must have some good rent deal going on w/ the (former) doral building.

also, i've eaten at the "J Randolphs" a few times. (which is OK bar food... located just around the corner in the same building, on michigan ave.. they seem to at least get a few visitors always). i think they're owned by the same people, as their credit card receipt always says "La Strada" on it


maybe the building is giving them a nearly free ride in order to boast they have more on site ammenities...

Paul SL wrote:

David Hammond wrote: Overall, this is a C+ restaurant in an A location.

We live in the neighborhood and, based on a couple of similar experiences, wonder how they've lasted this long. The forgettable food, plus rarely seeing anybody in the place leads me to imagine they might not actually need customers to stay in business, if you get my drift...

Exactly.
My wife and I actually considered having our wedding reception at space they have one of of the top floors, but other than some decent views, the place had nothing to offer.
They've done something right. You wonder what a place with good food would do at that location.

dddane wrote:Speaking of that corner.... something I haven't seen mentioned...

Tavern on the Park (a la Tavern on the Green???) is slated to open in the Southwest corner of Prudential Plaza some time in the summer of '07. (June currently..?). They've been working on the space for a good 3 or 4 months now. The pictures posted outside the door show drawings of it, which will feature a very large outdoor balcony above the restaurant.

I actually mentioned it a couple of months back in the Loop fast food thread of all places. I had heard threw the grapevine that it will be run by the owners of Keefer's.

A quick google turns up this:

Originally posted at above link
In particular, he said One Prudential will be home to Tavern on the Park, an 11,000-square-foot, three-level restaurant across the street from Millennium Park, featuring an outdoor patio on the third level. Scheduled to open early next year, the restaurant will be operated by the owners of Keefer's Restaurant, an upscale steakhouse at 20 W. Kinzie St.

Cobb said Market Creations, a 7,500-square-foot cafeteria-style restaurant, will open in the next month or two. And long term, "dramatic changes" are planned for the 40th and 41st floors of One Prudential to replace the members-only Plaza Club. "We want a class A, signature white-cloth restaurant there," he said.

That is the first time I've seen anything about the "signature white-cloth restaurant".

SSDD

headcase wrote:A quick google turns up this:

Originally posted at above link
In particular, he said One Prudential will be home to Tavern on the Park, an 11,000-square-foot, three-level restaurant across the street from Millennium Park, featuring an outdoor patio on the third level. Scheduled to open early next year, the restaurant will be operated by the owners of Keefer's Restaurant, an upscale steakhouse at 20 W. Kinzie St.

Cobb said Market Creations, a 7,500-square-foot cafeteria-style restaurant, will open in the next month or two. And long term, "dramatic changes" are planned for the 40th and 41st floors of One Prudential to replace the members-only Plaza Club. "We want a class A, signature white-cloth restaurant there," he said.

That is the first time I've seen anything about the "signature white-cloth restaurant".

SSDD

ahh, thanks for that

somewhat disappointing that it's keefers, after having just ranted about keefers on another forum today... (something dribbled out about dry age vs. their wet age). but i guess at least it'll be something different possibly, and anything is better than nothing in that space.

...In Pru Plaza Market Creations did open. it's the same space that the delmonico buffet was in, and it's their same fixtures and everything. they still have nearly an identical buffet to delmonico. i think it's the same people as delmonico but perhaps minus the corporate franchise and thus the other name...(?) ... who knows, but the buffet items are blatantly the same, which is saying a lot because delmonico has some oddball stuff asian-influenced stuff... the other parts are very similar as well (sandwiches and burgers made to order). they did take away the tenant discount and raised prices on the buffet, which seems somewhat strange considering delmonico went out of business and had nearly the same things for less $ (and they didn't go out of business because they charged too much!)

Can't speak to the downtown La Strada, but I very recently drove by a brand new La Strada out in South Barrington/Hoffman Estates, just up the street from the AMC:

2380 Lakewood Blvd at Barrington Road
Fountain Crossings Shopping Center
Hoffman Estates, IL

Unclear if it's open yet - there is no phone number listed on the La Strada website for this location.

the la strada in barrington opened I believe in november -- had a very disappointing lunch there with some collegues and a vendor. the place was not crowded in an area that doesn't have many decent lunch options unless you head over to schaumburg. I had ordered a salad with seared scallops and they were tasteless and oily. no one else was impressed either...

Any other experiences here? What are the private dining areas like?
Thank you.