Where to bring my wife for her birthday / our anniversary?

My wife's 30th birthday and our anniversary fall on the same day, and we will be staying at a hotel downtown and going out for dinner to celebrate. She is also a brand new mom (and I am a brand new dad), so this will also be our first time out with a babysitter at home. I have been pondering the restaurant selection for too long. My wife likes "fancy" decor and service, but not necessarily "fancy" or gourmet food. Examples of restaurants she considers her favorites are Wildfire, Maggiano's, Gibsons, and J. Alexanders. She really enjoys Lettuce Entertain You restaurants, so I tried to get a reservation for Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab a couple weekends from now and they had no reasonable times available. There used to be a restaurant in Geneva I took her to a couple times called 302 West and she LOVED that place (just as a point of reference for anyone kind enough to make a recommendation). I'm looking for something upscale but not over the top with good food for someone who can be considered picky. She won't eat duck, quail, rabbit, or any non-steak or chicken dishes really. Here are some of the restaurants I have been considering, and my current thoughts on those restaurants. I could use some advice from the experienced members of this board:

- Alinea -
Seems to fit the "over the top" category. While I would enjoy the experience, I fear that I could spend $1,050 and she may not enjoy the experience. $1k is a lot to spend when you have your first baby at home also.

- Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab -
This was my first choice. But I can't get a decent reservation to save my life! Does anyone have any tricks for getting in here?

- Nacional 27 -
I've secured a reservation here. From what I have read, this restaurant seems upscale and fun. She might really enjoy it. Any thoughts?

- David Burke's Primehouse -
I've also secured a reservation here. Seems like a good non-chain steakhouse that isn't the Wildfire, Gibson's, and Gene and Georgetti's we've been to 100s of times.

- Everest -
Originally had a reservation here but recently cancelled it for fear of being too pretentious and not necessarily having food that my wife would enjoy.

- Tru -
I think my wife has a good chance of appreciating Tru, but 9pm was the only available reservation so I didn't want to risk trashing the night with a less that pleasing dinner to her at an awkward time.

So any help would be appreciated. I'm hoping to score big points with a unique, delicious, and fun restaurant selection.

Those restaurants are great but very expensive. Try Sweets and Savories. It is the same level of food, except for that at Alinea, with out the high prices. I got an email that Sweets is now open on Tuesday nights with a 50% off their dinner menu through November.

David Burke'sis a favorite of many on the board; it sounds like your wife might enjoy a steakhouse, and this might offer something slightly different from the big chains - but it is a steakhouse.

There are a couple of threads on Tru, here's one with pictures of a meal.

L.20 is a mostly-seafood LEYE restaurant that's very upscale and expensive...again, you can see terrific pictures of the food and interior on the linked thread.

A lot of people recommend North Pond for a romantic evening.

peaches wrote:Those restaurants are great but very expensive. Try Sweets and Savories. It is the same level of food, except for that at Alinea, with out the high prices. I got an email that Sweets is now open on Tuesday nights with a 50% off their dinner menu through November.

While i love Sweets and Savories, the quality of their food and service doesn't even approach most of these.

Since you will be staying at a hotel, do they have a concierge service? They usually can help w/the reservations.

I'll second North Pond. The food is excellent, plenty of choices for the non-adventurous, and with views that can't be beat.

Erie Cafe is my go-to steak joint. Great beef, nice wine list, good service, at a touch lower price point than the other steakhouses in town. It is an offshoot of Gene and Georgetti's, with a "hidden gem" feel. When I splurge I prefer the dry-aged meat at David Burke's, but that is a little less relaxed of a place, a little more stylish, a little more new-school.

If Steak is your goal, check out Panther in the Den's Steakhouse List a few posts into the thread.

Another option may be Gioco. In the south loop, not far from downtown. It is an upscale Italian which should not scare the non-adventurous, while still upping the points for style.

Gioco
1312 South Wabash
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 939-3870
Monday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to midnight; Sunday 5p.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Erie Cafe
536 W. Erie Street
Chicago, Illinois
Reservations 312-266-2300

I just recommended Sweets and Savories to my friends for their 9th anniversary. They are pretty food-knowledgeable and they loved it. She felt it was a good place for their anniversary. She did mention that the service seemed a bit, hmm, uptight, maybe, at first, but that improved from their first impression. We also got her a same day reservation on Open Table for the time she wanted - granted it was 6:30 on a weeknight - so I don't think you'll have a problem booking a few weeks ahead.

I have been to Nacional 27 a couple of times, and it is a fun place to be and a LEYE restaurant as well which apparently fits the bill. However, I think that you need to be there a little later in the evening when things seem to become more lively. Good cocktails and good food, they used to have a three potato hash that I still think about, which was a side to one of the steak dishes.

I would go with either North Pond or David Burke's.

Although the food at North Pond may be a bit on the contemporary side for your wife, she will appreciate the exquisite, romantic setting in the park, and that will make up for it. See if they will reserve you a table in the room facing the pond (although even the other dining room, with the open kitchen along one side, is very pleasant).

David Burke's is more like a truly classy restaurant, and less like a men's club, than the typical steakhouse. The menu is more along the lines of a steakhouse but one that is less formulaic; their dry-aged steaks are the best in town, and if you want something other than steak, the choices are more creative (but still mainstream Americana, per your wife's preference). Check out the photos and menu on their website (here).

I wouldn't recommend Sweets and Savories. It sounds like your wife might not enjoy the contemporary cuisine, plus the setting won't mitigate that like it would at North Pond (it's a nice restaurant, but the storefront setting is nondescript). And Nacional 27 sounds too ethnic for your wife's tastes, based on what you have stated.

Alinea is too "out there" for your wife - but you should at least know for future reference that it isn't likely to cost $1K. $300/person is typical, with the quality/quantity of alcohol the big variable in going over or under that amount.

A few choices here

West Town Tavern- Susan does a nice job there. The pot roast is great and potato chips are fun the eat. My wife does eat chips, except there.
Natalinos - nice Italian place. Romantic room
Sepia- Ask for Lisa as the server and tell her it is a special night and she will totally take care of you. The pork chop, flat breads and the new pastry chef is doing great things.
Kinzie Chop House- Ask for my booth #11 and spend the night people watching as you rekindle some romance. I have had most things on the menu and they do a good job. This like a craftsman kind of place versus the artistry of Alinea. It is consistent.


I was just at Sweets and Savories and I cannot recommend it. The food was average and needs more seasoning balance. You get these salt spikes of taste and then bland. Nothing stood out as exceptional, just good food. The lamb shank was fall off the bone but very small. Nice dark room but New York style seating with tables on top of each other. It 50% off on Tuesday's in November. So I guess I cannot complain too much for the price.

Tru I would stick to the ala carte menu. Kind of sterile room with black and white decor. I have only been there once and was disappointed. The chef menu's can get expensive and move into the things she might not like. More bang for your buck out there at other places.

North Pond is good.