Birthday Dinner

Hello Hello, it's my very first LTH post (so please be gentle )

I value this board and its opinions over any other food blog out there... Just ask my boyfiend, I have him checking it out every time we go out to dinner (to get "your" opinions)

Birthday is coming up later this month, want something nice and foodie related. Boyfriend and I are always up for anything however, my sister will be in town and is a bit picky. We went to Moto a few weeks back and LOVED it, as I was describing it to the sister, I could tell she was not digging it.

Problem is that it will be a Sunday night. First choice was May Street Market, second Topolobampo, both not open on Sundays... We are going to Sweets and Savories this Sunday for an anniversary dinner.

So, I was hoping for some help... Thinking Spring, Custom House, David Burke Prime House....

Please help! Thank you!!!!

Hmm, sounds like the big problem here is what Sis will dig. Any more clues? There's a million good answers but it's hard to know what will exactly do it for her.

Sunday night is not that tough to get around, places near the Loop are mostly closed, places out in the neighborhoods are mostly not.

She's pretty much open to steak, seafood, Mexican, Asian... It's just that if it's "too different" then she'll complain... Moto would have been too different for her... I think any multi-course tastings a la Alinea, Moto, etc would be too much for her. And we want to stay a bit more affordable as well.

I just had a meat and potatoes out of towner visiting on Sunday, and took him to MK for what turned out to be a delicious meal friendly to foodies and non-foodies alike. Since I have already spent lots of time researching which nice, somewhat high end restaurants are open Sunday, perhaps I can save you some time by also suggesting Spiaggia, Boka, and Sola.

Based on personal experience within the last year, a very very far from exhaustive list of places that impress like a big city place, but shouldn't scare anybody:

Timo
Hot Chocolate
Follia

Of course if you really wanted Topolobampo, read up on Fonda del Mar
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=6603
or Sol de Mexico.
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=9568

All of the above open Sunday per Metromix.

I you wanted to stay in the downtown area, I would suggest NoMi. Interesting food for you and your boyfriend, with plenty of safe choices for the less adventurous eater.

A little farther north is Scylla, great food in a more casual atmosphere than NoMi, again with some safe choices.

Still heading north, there is North Pond Cafe, beautful setting, great food.

Magnolia Cafe, contemporary American food, very well prepared, and with very fair pricing on both food and wine.

NoMi
800 N. Michigan Ave.
312.239.4030

Scylla
1952 N. Damen Ave.
773.227.2995

North Pond Cafe
2610 N. Cannon Dr.
773.477.5845

Magnolia Cafe
1224 W. Wilson Ave.
773.728.8785

I think Custom House would be a good choice. The menu is reasonably creative (given the genre most people put it in), but certainly accessible for picky diners. I was just there about a month ago and had a very good dinner (which included a spectacular rabbit main course that I can't recommend highly enough). It's also a really nice place for celebrations (I've been to quite a few birthday dinners there in the last year or so and they always do a great job).

Avec would be fun-but only if you like to get close to strangers. Spiaggia, mentioned above, is great, but doesn't fit "more affordable" in any way, shape or form.