4-5 Star + Fireworks?

Hi everyone, I'm looking for a restaurant that would be a four or five-star caliber restaurant where there are views of the fireworks that will be going off for Venetian Night. Any there any around? Thanks!

Sixteen.

David Hammond wrote:Sixteen.

Thank you for the suggestion. Sorry, I should've mentioned anything but Sixteen . I've been there a few times, including once with my girlfriend and I would like to try something different. I also looked into Everest but it appears the views are to the west. Also looked at Spiaggia, however, it is too far north. Also probably a no to NoMI as I have been there before as well.

How about - http://www.citechicago.com/home.htm

NoMI.

Dave148 wrote:How about - http://www.citechicago.com/home.htm

Have you eaten there? I've seen it before and wondered how the food was.

Townshend wrote:

Dave148 wrote:How about - http://www.citechicago.com/home.htm

Have you eaten there? I've seen it before and wondered how the food was.

No I haven't. It hasn't got much coverage in this forum. There's a so-so review in the Reader.

How about Riva - viewtopic.php?f=14&t=22436&hilit=riva

Dave148 wrote:

Townshend wrote:

Dave148 wrote:How about - http://www.citechicago.com/home.htm

Have you eaten there? I've seen it before and wondered how the food was.

No I haven't. It hasn't got much coverage in this forum. There's a so-so review in the Reader.

How about Riva - viewtopic.php?f=14&t=22436&hilit=riva

I checked out the Cite's website and they are having a 6 course meal for $125pp, not sure if that's worth it? Riva looks pretty good..

Townshend wrote:I also looked into Everest but it appears the views are to the west.

The main dining room at Everest faces south, not west (but south won't help you either).

grahamhh wrote:NoMI.

NoMI is only a few floors up, and the view is of the park facing the Water Tower and the high rises behind it. You won't see fireworks from there, either.

I seem to recall that the main dining room at the Signature Room at the 95th wraps around and faces more than one direction, but I forget whether east is one of them...

I forget which direction the Signature Room at the 95th faces...

The Signature Room is a great view if I remember correctly (it's been close to 15 years since I watched fireworks up there once). I remember it being interesting because you're at eye level with the fireworks. I haven't eaten there in years so I can't comment on the food currently though I'm pretty sure the view would be more then sufficient.

pizano345 wrote:

I forget which direction the Signature Room at the 95th faces...

The Signature Room is a great view if I remember correctly (it's been close to 15 years since I watched fireworks up there once). I remember it being interesting because you're at eye level with the fireworks. I haven't eaten there in years so I can't comment on the food currently though I'm pretty sure the view would be more then sufficient.

I was at the Signature Room last month. The main dining room does wrap around, so you just have to make sure you're seated on the correct side. The food was a lot better than I expected, especially if you order off their local, seasonal menu which is a single page at the back of the main menu.

I've never been to the Signature Room as I've avoided it feeling it would be too cliche and the food wouldn't be up to par. Has anyone gone to both Cite and the Signature Room? If so how do they compare?

Thanks!

I've been to signature room a handful of times, and the food there can be hit or miss. I've also had good luck ordering the specials off the seasonal menu as previously mentioned.

I've been to Cite only once, and that was 3-4 years ago. It is a better view there for the fireworks as the restaurant is closer to the lake, but again, you have to be sure to be sitting on the right side. I remember when I was there, fireworks were going off, and many people went to stand up to watch by the windows anyways. As far as food, I remember the Risotto being quite good, but everything else was unremarkable.

Thank you everyone for the input. I've decided that the Signature Room isn't worth it, no reviews have been stellar and I've always thought it to be a sort of cliche place. As far as Cite, I'd do it except for that night it's $125pp for their 6-course menu. To me, I'd rather spend that money at a solid restaurant instead of at Cite. I ended up making a reservation at Spiaggia and figure we can walk down to the park to catch the fireworks. I've heard a lot of positive reviews and have been wanting to try it out. Has anyone been recently? We would be doing their tasting menu.

Spiaggia Main Dining Room

happy_stomach wrote:The food was a lot better than I expected, especially if you order off their local, seasonal menu which is a single page at the back of the main menu.

H_S,

It's been ages since I've been to the Signature Room, but I've had the pleasure of executive chef Patrick Sheerin food as a judge at Cochon 555 and the man is an impressive chef. Not sure about their day to day please the tourist fare, but I'd be keen to try the local, seasonal menu.

Enjoy,
Gary

We avoid downtown altogether and go to the fireworks on the fourth itself provided by the Saddle and Cycle Club on Foster just west of Lakeshore Drive. Many options in Andersonville (Hopleaf, Anteprima, Tokyo Marina, Great lakes, etc.) and then a short ten minute walk to the park for a truly worthy fireworks display.

G Wiv wrote:

happy_stomach wrote:The food was a lot better than I expected, especially if you order off their local, seasonal menu which is a single page at the back of the main menu.

H_S,

It's been ages since I've been to the Signature Room, but I've had the pleasure of executive chef Patrick Sheerin food as a judge at Cochon 555 and the man is an impressive chef. Not sure about their day to day please the tourist fare, but I'd be keen to try the local, seasonal menu.

Enjoy,
Gary

There's also a pretty interesting piece from Sheerin himself in The Local Beet, which may challenge the notion of the Signature Room as simply a tourist trap:

http://www.thelocalbeet.com/2009/05/23/ ... roduction/

Hi everyone, I am looking to find a restaurant that may have a good viewing of the fireworks show that gets put on for the Magnificent Mile festivities on Nov. 21. My initial thought is Sixteen, however, that may be too close that you are too low to view them? Any input would be helpful! Thank you.

See this topic.

nsxtasy wrote:See this topic.

Funny enough, one that I started

However, my understanding is that the fireworks are shot off at a different location than they were for Venetian Night, which may change the answers.