Great restaurant with a view!

I was planning to take my father to Alinea for his 60th birthday, but we'll be a group of 9 and they wouldn't take a reservation. So I've decided to go for a restaurant with a great view instead. Which view/food pairing would you choose for a special occasion? The usual suspects seem to be tru, NoMi, Everest and Spiaggia.

By "view," I take you to mean majestic vista of some sort. Of the places you mention, Everest is probably the place with the most panoramic perspective.

Alinea wouldn't take a reservation?

You can't go wrong with any of them. The only thing I'll add is that I believe Chef David (NoMi) is so underrated. And with foie gras back in the picture, that would probably be my selection (beg them for the foie gras creme brulee in advance).

turkob wrote:The usual suspects seem to be tru, NoMi, Everest and Spiaggia.

All three have teriffic views.

Everest Room offers an incredible 40th floor cityscape, Spiaggia a panorama of Lake Michigan and Oak Street Beach, NoMi the castle like original Chicago Water Tower. All three are stellar, I've been most recently to NoMi, but would happily go to any of the three.

BR wrote:(beg them for the foie gras creme brulee in advance).

Agreed, foie gras creme brulee at NoMi is stellar.

NoMi - Foie Gras Creme Brulee w/Macadamia nuts

David Hammond wrote:Alinea wouldn't take a reservation?

Not for 9 people. They said 6 max.

G Wiv wrote:

turkob wrote:The usual suspects seem to be tru, NoMi, Everest and Spiaggia.

All three have teriffic views. [quote]


What's the view from tru? How good is the Lake Michigan view at night. Can you actually see it well?

Not much of a view from Tru. Especially right now (or as of Saturday) - there's construction - a pedestrian bridge over St. Clair connecting the building Tru is in to the hospital building across the street. Not sure if the street in front of Tru has re-opened or not.

turkob wrote:

G Wiv wrote:

turkob wrote:The usual suspects seem to be tru, NoMi, Everest and Spiaggia.

All three have teriffic views.

What's the view from tru? How good is the Lake Michigan view at night. Can you actually see it well?

There is no view from tru. What windows there are are at street level and covered.

What about North Pond. Different view, but a good one nonetheless.

The Alinea space is beautiful but there's not really a view there, anyway, so it probably wouldn't have been the right choice for what you are seeking in this instance.

Happy birthday, to your dad!

=R=

The Donalds new restaurant is "only" 16 floors above Earth level-
but, I hear the interior is "Muy" Suave"- and the views of Wrigley/Tribune Towers, etc. are superb.

Also- I agree that The North Pond Cafe offers excellent regional cuisine- along with a splendid
Pond-like view of Linclon Park

Trump International
330 N Wabash Ave # 2000
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 822-0690‎
trumpchicagohotel.com

Spiaggia or Cafe Spiaggia both have a great view of the city. It's located off of Michigan Avenue and is on the 3rd or 4th floor of the building. If you do a search, you'll see that the food is also really good, they make their pasta from scratch and the wine selection is nice.

http://www.levyrestaurants.com/Levy/DiningExperiences/Restaurants/Group2/Spiaggia.htm

Spiaggia
980 N. Michigan Avenue

I went for Everest. The 40th floor view was too much to pass up.

Thanks

I hear that the new restaurant in the Trump tower, Sixteen, has the finest views in the city. I have not been there myself yet, but know folks that have and it's the first thing they mention when you ask them about their experience.

If you want to do a casual cocktail type pre-dinner or post-dinner stop with a view, I love the roof garden at NoMi.

Even though it's very "touristy" the views from the cocktail lounge at the top of the Hancock are stellar. Take the elevators to the Signature Room, head to the NW side of the building and you're all set. I take out of town clients there and they are always floored- make sure it's not cloudy outside.

turkob wrote:I went for Everest. The 40th floor view was too much to pass up.

That doesn't bode well for the food. How was it?

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

turkob wrote:I went for Everest. The 40th floor view was too much to pass up.

That doesn't bode well for the food. How was it?

=R=

Ha, the reservation is for September. I'm looking forward to it.