Any Suggestions? Looking for Dinner w/o too many ingredients

My wife's sister and her girlfriend are coming to town this weekend to visit us and we have a sitter saturday night. I asked my Sister in law what she wanted for dinner, as for her taste she is adventurous... she usually likes a trip down Devon ave or Chinatown when she comes to visit. She informed me that her friend "doesn't like food with too many ingredients(insert laughter here)" and that ethnic food (Indian, Chinese, Thai, etc) is definitely not ok...she suggested an Italian place or Contemporary American.

After I reread the email several times and after I stopped laughing(crying) I started thinking about what exactly might fit the bill. I am at a loss, I checked the GNR thread and there isnt that much that fits into friend's tight gastro-parameters. Sweets & Savories maybe? Considering Boinsoiree but am concerned about the too many ingredients thing and am worried a prix fixe situation my not be the right one for the friend. Blackbird or Avec maybe but maybe not as my wife eats at these two frequently with clients. BTW these two are hipsters/scenesters and wouldnt appreciate the retro-cool of a Sabatinos or the like.

Anyway I am looking for a destination that is interesting enough to merit a night out with the out of town family but simple enough not to confuse and/or upset the friend. Your thoughts might make my life simpler and for that I thank you in advance.

Sepia.

Also discussed here:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.ph ... ight=sepia

iblock9 wrote:"doesn't like food with too many ingredients(insert laughter here)"

I don't even know what that means!

If someone isn't adventurous in eating, I wouldn't take them to Sweets and Savories.

Have you considered a steakhouse or a seafood restaurant?

Another option, though more swank than "hip:"

Custom House
500 S. Dearborn
Chicago
http://www.customhouse.cc/

For Italian how about Anteprima in Andersonville.
Italian that's also kind of hip
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=13337

Or Timo
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=104484

Or Mia Francescas in Little Italy

On the contemporary american front, you might want to consider:
Chalkboard
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.ph ... f58c119db8

Jane's
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.ph ... ight=janes

HotChocolate
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.ph ... +chocolate

All are in fun neighborhoods, are good for a night on the town, but won't upset a timid eater

I haven't been myself (not hip enough...) but Follia is regularly recommended as a place where good food (Milanese) intersects with a hip scene.

I'd say for those with simpler (I think I just made up a word!) tastes, Sabatino's might be a good choice. Its very approchable. Chalkboard may also be good since there's always the freid chicken for the less adventurous to fall back upon.

[quote="nsxtasy]
If someone isn't adventurous in eating, I wouldn't take them to Sweets and Savories.[/quote]

I am trying to balance the "friends" requirements with my own.

Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to think about this and I will let you all know where we decide to eat. Thanks again

iblock9 wrote:I am trying to balance the "friends" requirements with my own.

You could always just pick a non-ethnic place of your own preference, and cross your fingers hoping that your friend will like it. Heck, if you go to a place that would impress most food lovers (e.g. contemporary American like one sixtyblue or Blackbird, Italian like Cafe Spiaggia or Coco Pazzo), I can't imagine anyone actually hating it, or hating you for taking them there. That's what I would do...