Dad is visiting Chicago, help college son choose restaurant

My Dad will be coming to Chicago in a few weeks for a business convention, and he has tasked me with choosing a really great dining experience for the two of us on Saturday, May 19th. Since I'm fairly new to the Chicago dining scene, I figured it would be wise to consult the expertise of LTH in choosing a place that will really knock his socks off. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Location: He will be driving down from central Wisconsin and picking me up in Evanston to go to dinner. A restaurant near Evanston is not mandatory, but I would like to choose a place within a reasonable driving distance (45 minutes or so), since he will have driven a lot already that day.

Cuisine: The nature of my dad's job is such that he has travelled all over the world for 30-some years. As such, he has had the privilege of many unique and outstanding dining experiences. I would say he is primarily a meat-eater, but also greatly enjoys fish, chicken and lots of other options. As for me, I'm a 21 year old guy so I'll eat anything and love it. Neither of us has any dietary restrictions or allergies.

Drink: My dad is a wine fanatic (particularly reds), with an extensive wine collection at home. I think it would be nice to try a place that does wine-pairings, but a voluminous wine list would also suffice.

Time restrictions: He explicitly said, "All I have to do Saturday is take you out some place nice to eat." We would like a place to have a very leisurely dinner (maybe in the 3 hour range), to catch up and really enjoy each others company. However, I would like a place that takes reservations so we don't have to wait long to sit down.

Ambience: My dad has a bit of trouble hearing, so a place without a lot of ambient noise would be nice so we would be able to have conversation without straining our ears or shouting. We don't mind dressing up to dine, but a fancy-schmancy place is also not required.

Price: He takes great joy in his generosity toward my sister and me, so this isn't a primary concern. However, I would feel a little bad if I chose a place that cost him the sticker price of a new car.

If there's anything else I can say to help clarify, please let me know. I know this evening would really mean a lot to my Dad! Thanks in advance for helping me choose a memorable experience!

Although it means he'll have to drive back in the direction he came, newly minted GNR Inovasi might be a good fit.

Inovasi
28 Center Avenue
Lake Bluff, IL 60044
847-295-1000

I'd think about Oceanique on Main in Evanston, unless you don't want seafood. The food is terrific, the ambiance is special and upscale but not snooty, no long drive is required, and I would assume the wine list is good (but have no expertise, so others should say if I'm wrong).

Given the wine focus, sounds like you may want to eschew the various wonderful Asian possibilities and stick with N. American/European focus. Spiaggia is awfully good and very consistent; really worth considering, I think. Haven't been to the Ritz dining room since Sarah Stegner was there, but she made one of my best meals ever there. Worth checking into what people are saying these days.
Les Nomades and Restaurant Michael also very worth looking into I'd say.

Given what you've laid out here, I'd recommend Quince (at The Homestead) in Evanston.

=R=

Quince (at the Homestead)
1625 Hinman Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 570-8400

Based on what you wrote, I'd say that food is #3 on his list, with you being #1 and the wine being #2. I know it's a foreign concept to many here, but wine geeks (and I'm in that category) tend to look at the wine list first for great bottles and/or great deals, choose a wine (or wines), and then select our meal based on the wine(s) chosen. Meals with wine pairings tend to be much less interesting because, typically, the wines just aren't that good. However, our first choice will always be to bring a bottle from our own cellar. Why? Because many/most restaurants are, um, lacking when to comes to storage and/or serving temperature of wines, and they seldom offer older bottles -- and when they do, oftentimes the bottles weren't stored well. (I will note here that some enlightened restaurants understand these limitations, and they offer BYO with minimal corkage fees if the wine is more than 10 years old.)

I'd suggest calling your dad, and asking him whether he would like to bring a great bottle of wine from his cellar to share with you at dinner. If he agrees (and I suspect he will), ask him the type of wine he plans to bring so you can let the restaurant know -- and I suspect he will tell you this without your asking. Then you can choose a nice restaurant that is receptive to BYO. Make sure to let the restaurant know something about the bottle (you can even ask if they would be willing to prepare a meal around the wine), and...enjoy the evening with your dad.

Judy H wrote:I'd think about Oceanique on Main in Evanston, unless you don't want seafood. The food is terrific, the ambiance is special and upscale but not snooty, no long drive is required, and I would assume the wine list is good (but have no expertise, so others should say if I'm wrong).

That was my first thought as well. They are a winner of Wine Spectator magazine's "Best of Award of Excellence" so the wine list is highly regarded. Also, it's not overly loud, and it's also the kind of place where you can have a relaxed three-hour dinner and no one will be standing around glowering at you while waiting for a table. Also, although they specialize in seafood, they also do a fine job with the usual meats, as well as soups, sauces, and desserts, all of which are outstanding.

Oceanique
505 Main St.
Evanston, IL, 60202
(847) 864-3435
http://www.oceanique.com

stevez wrote:Although it means he'll have to drive back in the direction he came, newly minted GNR Inovasi might be a good fit.

Inovasi
28 Center Avenue
Lake Bluff, IL 60044
847-295-1000

I just checked the website for Inovasi and I have to say that the food looks spectacular and I was honestly amazed that nothing on the menu is over $22.
You've convinced me at least.

To spare him having to drive all the way to Evanston and then back up to Lake Bluff and back to Evanston again, you could take the train up to Lake Bluff and meet him at Inovasi.

zoid wrote:I just checked the website for Inovasi and I have to say that the food looks spectacular and I was honestly amazed that nothing on the menu is over $22.
You've convinced me at least.

You need to understand Inovasi's menu. All the items about two thirds the size of entrees at most traditional places. So you're not exactly getting a regular entree for $22. Still, you can have a fine meal by ordering 3-4 items per person, and it will be surprisingly reasonable in price, significantly less than Oceanique.

It's also worth noting that Inovasi is doing a big business these days. They are very professional and accommodating, so I don't think they would kick you out if you lounged around after eating. But if you're serious about occupying your table for three hours on a Saturday night, that might be a bit unfair to the restaurant and to other patrons. Don't get me wrong; Inovasi is a terrific place, and the food is as great as it sounds. But they are busy (they are generally full even on most weeknights) so it might not be the best place for hanging around after your meal. I also don't think the wine list is world-class the way Oceanique's is.

If you decide to go to Inovasi, rather than have your dad pick you up in Evanston and backtrack with more driving, you might consider meeting him there instead. You can take the Metra (commuter train), which makes three stops in Evanston and then stops a block from the restaurant in Lake Bluff. (EDIT: I see Katie was typing the same thing at the same time - great minds thinking alike, simultaneously! )

Thanks everyone for all of the helpful suggestions! I'll be sure to check out the options already mentioned and all others that are suggested.

nsxtasy wrote: If you decide to go to Inovasi, rather than have your dad pick you up in Evanston and backtrack with more driving, you might consider meeting him there instead. You can take the Metra (commuter train), which makes three stops in Evanston and then stops a block from the restaurant in Lake Bluff. (EDIT: I see Katie was typing the same thing at the same time - great minds thinking alike, simultaneously! )

This is a good idea in principle, but he'll be staying in the area for 3 or 4 days for business and I think his hotel is near O'Hare. I am pretty sure that he will want to check in and drop off his things at the hotel prior to picking me up. I'm not sure if this would change anyone's recommendations, but I'm interested in hearing some ideas.

wjb302 wrote:This is a good idea in principle, but he'll be staying in the area for 3 or 4 days for business and I think his hotel is near O'Hare. I am pretty sure that he will want to check in and drop off his things at the hotel prior to picking me up. I'm not sure if this would change anyone's recommendations, but I'm interested in hearing some ideas.

It doesn't really change the recommendations; it just means that meeting him there wouldn't save him the drive to the hotel. (Although if he didn't need to pick you up, taking the train would still save him about half an hour of driving by going from the O'Hare area directly to Lake Bluff, vs stopping in Evanston on the way.) However, given the desire to avoid excessive driving and the desire to possibly extend your dinner, I'm thinking that Inovasi might not be the best choice for this particular meal.

Oceanique would still work on all counts, would minimize driving from Evanston, and has the best wine list of the places mentioned. Another good option would be Michael, in Winnetka, 12-15 minutes north of Evanston - amazingly delicious food, very good wine list, atmosphere is not overly loud and very relaxed, priced more than Inovasi but less than Oceanique.

I think the recommendation for Oceanique is spot on. Another possibility is Avli in Winnetka. That would give Dad the opportunity to have some first class Greek wines as well as excellent Greek food. An easy drive from NU.

nsxtasy wrote:They are a winner of Wine Spectator magazine's "Best of Award of Excellence" so the wine list is highly regarded.

Is it? Can't personally say one way or the other, but I've never put much stock in that award.

[quote]I'd suggest calling your dad, and asking him whether he would like to bring a great bottle of wine from his cellar to share with you at dinner. If he agrees (and I suspect he will), ask him the type of wine he plans to bring so you can let the restaurant know -- and I suspect he will tell you this without your asking. Then you can choose a nice restaurant that is receptive to BYO. Make sure to let the restaurant know something about the bottle (you can even ask if they would be willing to prepare a meal around the wine), and...enjoy the evening with your dad.[/quote]

Really great suggestion! I think my dad would love this idea. He had a special wine that he really wanted us to share at a restaurant for my 21st birthday dinner a few months back and was really perturbed when the restaurant insisted their wine list was good enough and wouldn't let him bring his own. I'll broach the idea with him and see what he thinks!

Goosefoot (Lawrence b/w Rockwell and California) is a 25 or so minute drive from O'Hare, is fantastic and is byo, making it a great place to haul the wine collection. Also, it's about 20 or so minutes from NU. Now I realize picking you up and going to Goosefoot might be somewhat less convenient, but throwing it out there.

If staying in the Evanston area, I also cast a vote for Oceanique. The owner has an extensive wine cellar (900+ bottles), with many bottles not on the list. One thing that I had noticed (although truthfully, I have not eaten there for several years) was that the owner would price the wine based on the original cost, and although many of the bottles had appreciated with age, he did not adjust the retail price proportionately, resulting in many great bargains, especially on the older, more expensive bottles. The food was also very good in a French neo-classical way. Not spectacularily inventive, but well prepared with fresh ingredients and attractively presented. Also, despite the name, the menu was not strictly fish oriented (though it did lean in a coastal direction). Oceanique has several fixed price tasting menu options available (including one designed to stay within the NU staff per diem), but to be honest, lately I have had better luck making random selections from the menus of restaurants with a heavy concentration on appetizers (not neccessarily at Oceanique, but just in general). I think that trying to be everything to everybody, limits a kitchen's creative potential, and that they tend to be most creative in the appetizer arena, possibly because patrons are less likely to complain about an appetizer they mis-ordered than a $35 entree. Listen to me, now I sound like the economic imperialist, I was slagging so hard the other day . As mentioned above, the decor was pleasant without being overly ostentatious.

Quince, although I have never eaten there, is high on my list of must trys in E-town. I think I have been reluctant to try it because I am afraid it won't live up to the former occupant of the space, the much lamented ,Trio. Campagnola is also a pleasant reliable choice, but it is small and may not pass the volume test. If tempted, I would, however, pass on Chef's Station, especially the wine pairings which seem to come from Walgreen's cellar.

You know, if you don't mind travelling a way, The Tavern in Libertyville always seemed like a good Father-Son beef and wine oriented experience, though it is part way back towards home for him (about a 25 minute drive north). It is much more unique (and less 3-piece wool business oriented) than some of the Downtown steak houses (The Uruguayan Organic Strip Steak sounds interesting). The Firkin next door is one of my favorite places, and an after dinner beer or cocktail (made from their amazingly extensive spirits selection) along with a desert or a cheese plate would be a great capper for the evening. If you don't mind taking the slower scenic route there, the drive up Sheridan Rd. along the lake lets you glimpse at how the 1% (like Michael Jordan) lives, in some seriously stunning mansions.

http://tavernlibertyville.com/index.php/tavern-dining
http://firkinoflibertyville.com/

kl1191 wrote:

nsxtasy wrote:They are a winner of Wine Spectator magazine's "Best of Award of Excellence" so the wine list is highly regarded.

Is it? Can't personally say one way or the other, but I've never put much stock in that award.

The Wine Spectator seems to be generous with their one-glass "Award of Excellence" questioned in your link, designating 67 restaurants in Illinois with it. However, they are far more stingy with their higher-level designations, granting the two-glass "Best of Award of Excellence" to only 17 restaurants in Illinois (including Oceanique and the Tavern), and the three-glass "Grand Cru" to only two (Trotter's and TRU).

Considering Dad's an oenophile, I'm surprised no one has yet suggested The Stained Glass - excellent contemporary food, and a very wine-focused place.

The Stained Glass
1735 Benson
Evanston

nr706 wrote:Considering Dad's an oenophile, I'm surprised no one has yet suggested The Stained Glass - excellent contemporary food, and a very wine-focused place.

I immediately thought of the Stained Glass when wine was mentioned, but immediately rejected it for failing two criteria in the OP's stated needs. One, I have been there on a Saturday night, and it is EXTREMELY LOUD. Two, it is packed including people waiting for tables (at least on weekends), and a leisurely three-hour dinner would not be appropriate there.

d4v3 wrote:Quince, although I have never eaten there, is high on my list of must trys in E-town. I think I have been reluctant to try it because I am afraid it won't live up to the former occupant of the space, the much lamented ,Trio.

I ate at Quince a couple of months ago. OT1H I don't think it's fair to compare it to Trio, just because it occupies the same space; after all, it is no exaggeration to note that some of the very best chefs anywhere (Achatz, Tramonto, Gand) were working there. (You could say the same thing about Cafe Provencal under the late, sorely missed Leslee Reis, which preceded Trio in that location.) OTOH Quince is a solid restaurant serving creative cuisine from a talented chef, Andy Motto. Their wine program is quite good, too, and on their website it also notes that they offer a reasonable corkage fee of $10 per bottle for those bringing their own wines.

d4v3 wrote:Campagnola is also a pleasant reliable choice, but it is small and may not pass the volume test.

Campagnola might be worth considering, if you're looking for alternatives. I've eaten there three times in the past few months, and it was consistently excellent. As for the volume, it was not particularly loud, even when full. However, their wine list is decent but by no means comparable with Oceanique's. Like Oceanique, it's friendly, casual, and neighborhood-ey, and a good place for a leisurely meal. It's also significantly less expensive than Oceanique and Quince.

Based on the stated needs, I'd say Oceanique comes closest, with Michael and Quince as other good alternatives. If price is a concern, consider Campagnola.

nsxtasy wrote:

d4v3 wrote:Quince, although I have never eaten there, is high on my list of must trys in E-town. I think I have been reluctant to try it because I am afraid it won't live up to the former occupant of the space, the much lamented ,Trio.

I ate at Quince a couple of months ago. OT1H I don't think it's fair to compare it to Trio, just because it occupies the same space; after all, it is no exaggeration to note that some of the very best chefs anywhere (Achatz, Tramonto, Gand) were working there. (You could say the same thing about Cafe Provencal under the late, sorely missed Leslee Reis, which preceded Trio in that location.) OTOH Quince is a solid restaurant serving creative cuisine from a talented chef, Andy Motto. Their wine program is quite good, too, and on their website it also notes that they offer a reasonable corkage fee of $10 per bottle for those bringing their own wines.

I was not really comparing the two restaurants based on a shared location. I know that would be silly. I was just being sentimental about an old favorite. When I go to Quince (which I do plan to do), it will be hard not to think about, and miss Trio, the restaurant that introduced me to fine dining, and innovative gastronomy. Totally OT, but has anybody been to Henry's glorified hot dog stand in Hawaii?

nr706 wrote:Considering Dad's an oenophile, I'm surprised no one has yet suggested The Stained Glass - excellent contemporary food, and a very wine-focused place.

The Stained Glass
1735 Benson
Evanston

I find Stained Glass a bit boring...quite, well, suburban. (I reviewed it on Check Please! and commented that to my right was an orthodontist and to my left was an orthopedic surgeon lol). The food is inoffensive but certainly not a culinary destination.

DutchMuse wrote:I find Stained Glass a bit boring...quite, well, suburban. (I reviewed it on Check Please! and commented that to my right was an orthodontist and to my left was an orthopedic surgeon lol). The food is inoffensive but certainly not a culinary destination.

I don't find it boring (or "suburban", whatever that's supposed to mean, other than an insult to non-city residents ) at all, with unique (and delicious) creations like the "Foie Gras BLT" and the sweetbreads with savory brioche bread pudding, both of which I had on my last visit and loved. And it's a great place for wine-lovers, with 32 wines available by the glass and many more on their very good list. I just don't think it fits well with the OP's stated requirements regarding the noise level or his desire for a leisurely three-hour meal.

Bonsoiree? BYOB and a really good tasting menu... just sayin

Oceanique is a good suggestion.

I'm going to take a differnet direction - I have been eating really good business meals all over the world for 25 years, and the thing that I always take people for in Chicago is steak. there is great ethnic in Chicago, and great food of all types, but red meat is where we excel, in comparison to most places.

I'd say David Burke's - good steakhouse with good non-steak options, aged beef, a good wine list (with some very good reasonably priced wines, and here's my take on it, if I were taking my son out for a bottle of good wine, I would be looking for a great 100-150 dollar bottle of wine, not an amazing 1000 dollar bottle of wine. I live around the corner from Oceanique, and I can be at the Valet parking of DB's in half on hour or so.

both are great options. have fun with your dad.


about 10 years ago, I was in a resteraunt in Paris with a guy having dinner with his son, who was about 21 or 22. they had a great meal, and then a cigar (not possible in today's world). my son had just been born, I was filled with a great envy, and have been waiting patiently ever since for that opportunity. what ever you chose, I am sure it's going to be a great evening for you and your dad.

Bspar wrote:Bonsoiree? BYOB and a really good tasting menu... just sayin

And if he's staying out by O'Hare it's pretty easy to get to off the Kennedy.

I commented earlier that Oceanique would be a good spot to go. After reading Globetrotter's comments, I would follow his advice.

Remember, some of these choices are going to involve significant additional driving if your dad is picking you up first; it will take him about half an hour to get to Evanston from his hotel near O'Hare, and then figure another half an hour from Evanston if you're going to David Burke's or Bonsoiree, about 15 minutes for Goosefoot. So that's an extra 30-60 minutes of driving (round trip) that isn't necessary if you choose one of the places right in Evanston.

globetrotter wrote:what ever you chose, I am sure it's going to be a great evening for you and your dad.

Yup. As usual, the conundrum in Chicago is the luxury having to choose from a lot of possibilities, many of which will fit your needs pretty well. Don't over-analyze or over-agonize. You've got a bunch of good choices; just pick one and enjoy it!

I agree with Ronnie. We have been to Quince several times and have always had a great meal. We were just there a week ago and the food was fabulous.

A beautiful and very warm room that blends old world with modern. Excellent and friendly service. And most important, excellent food.

I also have a large cellar and like the opportunity to bring nice bottles there. I love sharing my wine with friends and family, and especially with my now 21 year old daughter. My guess is your Dad would love this idea.

Best,
Al

Thanks again everyone for all of the thoughtful responses! I called home last night to hear my Dad's thoughts on whether he would prefer to order wine at the restaurant or bring his own. Wouldn't you know it, he's out of the country for the next few days on business.