Suggestions for Last Day Work Lunch in Loop?

My last day at my current job is this August. It's tradition for 10-15 of the folks in my group to take a departing employee out to lunch. The departing employee gets to pick the place, so the pressure is on me. Does anyone have suggestions? Here are the parameters:

1. Must be able to accomodate a table of 10-15 (no jewelery store falafel)
2. Reservations would be helpful
3. Walking distance from the center of the loop (probably no more than an 8 block walk from Madison/State)
4. Rough price range of $10-15 per person.
5. I can't go to: the Gage, any sushi place, or Quartino. These have all been done in the recent past by departing employees.

Any cuisine would work, but given the heat I am thinking it would be a good idea to avoid pizza and other similarly heavy fare. I like to avoid the over-priced and not-very-good loop lunch spots (Rosebud, whatever occupies the Shikago space currently). Is that possible?

How about Prairie Fire? It might be slightly farther than 8 blocks from State/Madison, but the food is great and they are very accommodating of groups.

Prairie Fire
215 North Clinton Street
Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 382-8300

I'd suggest Rhapsody, Rivers, or Catch 35. All take reservations, and are within your parameters of geography. I've had business lunches at all three over the years, and have never been disappointed.


Rhapsody
65 E. Adams Street
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 786-9911

Rivers
30 S. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 559-1515

Catch 35
35 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago IL 60601
(312) 346-3500

stevez wrote:How about Prairie Fire? It might be slightly farther than 8 blocks from State/Madison, but the food is great and they are very accommodating of groups.

Prairie Fire
215 North Clinton Street
Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 382-8300

This was going to be my suggestion.

Mercat? They do have lunch specials ($15-$20) in the upper regions of your pricing preferences, but the other suggestions so far seem to be verging on that limit as well:

http://www.mercatchicago.com/

It's a long walk, but way back when I was a loop employee, we'd all walk to Gordon for these events.

Of course, now it is Naha, but it's a nice walk. If folks need to get back, you can find cabs on Clark, and the food is tremendous.

Given the price parameters, Sweetwater, Miller's, Italian Village, Peterino's, Tavern on the Park, Heaven on Seven.

How About...
Boni Vino's Restaurant www.bonivinos.com/
111 West Van Buren Street
(312) 427-0231

I'm sure the menu has something for everyone.

Thanks to everyone for the recs. I went with Prairie Fire. Lunch is this Thursday - looking forward to it and my last day.