Anybody have any feelings/experiences with mk or 160blue? Those were just a couple i had looked at so far online.

Also does anyone have any suggestions in a somewhat lower price range in case i want to go that route? Im thinking 50-80 per person

mueltrain54 wrote:Anybody have any feelings/experiences with mk or 160blue? Those were just a couple i had looked at so far online.

It's been a while but I liked MK the last time I went there. However, it was somewhat noisy and I wouldn't consider it particularly romantic. And there's no way it will meet your revised price target; with entrees in the thirties and forties, it's at least as expensive as North Pond, IOW figure the same $85-120/pp inclusive.

I've been to one sixtyblue about a year ago, and I wasn't all that impressed with the food; it was okay but not special. OTOH I've always liked the room, as it's generally spacious, providing a sense of privacy, and the open kitchen is fun to watch. It's in the West Loop, a 10-15 minute cab ride from the Mag Mile. Mondays through Thursdays they have a limited three-course menu for $32, but other nights, it will probably exceed your stated $50-80 target.

mueltrain54 wrote:Also does anyone have any suggestions in a somewhat lower price range in case i want to go that route? Im thinking 50-80 per person

There are indeed some places where you can find less expensive meals.

My favorite in the Mag Mile area is Cafe des Architectes, in the curved-glass facade of the Sofitel. The food, from Chef Martial Noguier (formerly of one sixtyblue - if you are reading 160B reviews more than a year and a half old, they're of his food), is fabulous, contemporary American cuisine with a French accent. The room is lovely, with the high ceiling and huge window glass giving it a sense of spaciousness, and it's not particularly noisy. As for affordability, in addition to their a la carte menu, they serve a three-course prix fixe menu for $45 every night, and also a three-course "neighborhood friends menu" for $32 Sundays through Tuesdays. So depending on alcohol, you will probably be able to meet your price target if you stick to the prix fixe offerings.

Another option for a moderately-priced romantic dinner would be to go to one of our French bistros, which will put you in that price range. I've always found Bistro 110 to be romantic; even though it's in a Mag Mile high-rise facing the Water Tower, it's arranged in a series of small rooms so you feel like you're in a private mansion that's been converted into a restaurant. The food is very good. Kiki's Bistro is also very good, although not quite as romantic as Bistro 110, and it's a bit of a walk from the Mag Mile. My favorite French bistro downtown is La Sardine, but it's in the West Loop, a 10-minute cab ride away; it also has a sister restaurant in Bucktown a similar distance, called Le Bouchon. All of the French bistros are moderately priced; if this is on a Tuesday, the prices at La Sardine and Le Bouchon are even lower, with any three courses for $25.

One more option is Italian. Spiaggia has a moderately-priced sister restaurant next door called Cafe Spiaggia, which should meet your price target. It's nice, and casual, although not nearly as romantic as "big" Spiaggia. They share the same website; click on "Cafe" for menus and information about Cafe Spiaggia. Coco Pazzo Cafe is another moderately-priced Italian bistro off the Mag Mile (not to be confused with ITS slightly more expensive sister restaurant, Coco Pazzo, which is further west near the Merchandise Mart).

Unfortunately, Chef Noguier left CdA. I wonder why and where he's headed next.

teatpuller wrote:Unfortunately, Chef Noguier left CdA. I wonder why and where he's headed next.

You beat me to it. I knew I had read something in the fall about him leaving. This link alludes to him striking out on his own.

Well, that's too bad. I had brunch there this past Sunday and it was still very good.

Depending on where you are coming from, you may not necessarily have great steak where you are? We have wonderful steak houses, which I kind of think is romantic One of my favorites is David Burke's Primehouse in the James Hotel.

David Burke's Primehouse
616 North Rush Street
(corner of Rush and Ontario)
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 660-6000
http://www.davidburkesprimehouse.com/

And don't think "hotel restaurant = crap" here in Chicago. Unlike other cities, some of our best restaurants are in hotels.

leek wrote:And don't think "hotel restaurant = crap" here in Chicago. Unlike other cities, some of our best restaurants are in hotels.

I'd amend that to say "a couple of our best restaurants are in hotels, but in most cases hotel restaurant = crap".

Probably not an argument worth re-hashing, but I think Chicago hotel restaurants are certainly at a level above many (or even most) other US cities.

L2O, Primehouse, Cibo Matto, Mercat a la Planxa, C-House, Avenues, Balsan, Ria are all hotel restaurants (and I know I'm leaving out a bunch). That's a pretty respectable lineup.

jesteinf wrote:Probably not an argument worth re-hashing, but I think Chicago hotel restaurants are certainly at a level above many (or even most) other US cities.

L2O, Primehouse, Cibo Matto, Mercat a la Planxa, C-House, Avenues, Balsan, Ria are all hotel restaurants (and I know I'm leaving out a bunch). That's a pretty respectable lineup.

OK. I'll amend my comment to say a few of our best restaurants are hotel restaurants (that's more than a couple), and it's getting better all the time, but most of the rest are a waste of good eating opportunities. I spend a lot of time in hotels for work and I'm dissapointed much more often than not.

leek wrote:Depending on where you are coming from, you may not necessarily have great steak where you are? We have wonderful steak houses, which I kind of think is romantic One of my favorites is David Burke's Primehouse in the James Hotel.

I was debating whether to suggest Burke's, and I think it's a great recommendation. With its atmosphere - an upscale contemporary type restaurant, rather than the "men's club" atmosphere of traditional steakhouses (e.g. Gibson's) - it can be romantic. My only hesitation was in its pricing, because Burke's has quite a variation in prices, with non-steak entrees in the twenties and thirties, and steaks starting in the forties and going up from there. They also have a three-course $40 "baby Burke menu" Sundays through Wednesdays for seatings before 7:00.

leek wrote:And don't think "hotel restaurant = crap" here in Chicago. Unlike other cities, some of our best restaurants are in hotels.

Indeed. The fact is, many hotel restaurants have come a long way in recent years from the former business model of a captive audience not requiring high quality. Many hotel managers have come to realize that good restaurants can draw on local residents for business and can be profitable doing so. This phenomenon is not limited to Chicago or similar big cities either; many smaller cities have terrific hotel restaurants (e.g. six one six in the JWMarriott and The 1913 Room in the Amway Grand Plaza, both in Grand Rapids).

Granted, many hotel restaurants are not good, but many others are very good indeed, and they are not all that rare and not limited to Chicago. You may have to do some research to find out which ones are good - just like with non-hotel restaurants - but they're definitely out there.

After talking to my girlfriend she seems to think she would rather spend less on dinner, and more on shopping (go figure).

I think a couple of our front runners are cafe spiaggia and Burke's or Morton's. Anyone have any thoughts to help us decide? Or any more suggestions?

mueltrain54 wrote:I think a couple of our front runners are cafe spiaggia and Burke's or Morton's. Anyone have any thoughts to help us decide?

Show her the menus from the websites for each of the three, and let her decide.

I just read this thread well after the fact like it was a story... I was so rooting for him to pick North Pond! Darn it.

My sweetheart and I can't get reservations for our anniversary next friday at either North Pond or Topolobampo, so I'm looking at Spiaggia and Everest of the available openings. I've been to the first two but never to either Spiaggia or Everest. Thanks all who contributed here for the great ideas!

(I de-lurked for the [first edit: second, haha] time ever for this. Thanks, LTH peeps, for all your great info.)

Ahh north pond is very tempting too. Im terrible at making decisions. Ill let you know if and when I make up my mind!

Thanks for all the input

I mentioned a lot of places above, but if I had to recommend just one, my top pick would be North Pond, too.

I believe North Pond books up a few weeks in advance, especially for weekend dinners, so you may want to book sooner rather than later. If you change your mind, you can always cancel. They accept reservations on Opentable.com as well as over the phone.

Thanks for the advice. I now have reservations at north pond, and the flexibility to change my mind! lol

teatpuller wrote:Unfortunately, Chef Noguier left CdA. I wonder why and where he's headed next.

He will be the chef at Bistronomic, the new restaurant planned for the space where Eve was. More info here.

Should it be pretty easy to find a cab after we leave north pond if we walk back to a main road? Were leaving from the hotel to dinner so it should be no problem at all then, but I dont want to get stranded leaving...

mueltrain54 wrote:Should it be pretty easy to find a cab after we leave north pond if we walk back to a main road? Were leaving from the hotel to dinner so it should be no problem at all then, but I dont want to get stranded leaving...

It should be easy, but you can always ask the restaurant to call you a cab.

The GP wrote:It should be easy, but you can always ask the restaurant to call you a cab.

They can also hail one for you at the valet parking stand at Lakeview and Deming. Yes, it's easy, not to worry.

We did indeed go to north pond like i said we were. In fact in between writing my original post and going to chicago I decided to propose, and did so at north pond. They were very helpful in planning the proposal, and the entire staff treated us as if we owned the place. Aside from one of the bus boys (if you still call them that at such an establishment) spilling a drink on my fiance before the proposal everything was absolutely perfect, and even that only added to the occasion. I thoroughly enjoyed going with the tasting menu and forcing myself to be adventurous as most of the food was very good even if it didnt fit my usual palate!

Thanks for the excellent recommendations.

mueltrain54 wrote:We did indeed go to north pond like i said we were. In fact in between writing my original post and going to chicago I decided to propose, and did so at north pond. They were very helpful in planning the proposal, and the entire staff treated us as if we owned the place. Aside from one of the bus boys (if you still call them that at such an establishment) spilling a drink on my fiance before the proposal everything was absolutely perfect, and even that only added to the occasion. I thoroughly enjoyed going with the tasting menu and forcing myself to be adventurous as most of the food was very good even if it didnt fit my usual palate!

Thanks for the excellent recommendations.

Congratulations!!