Restaurant for midweek dinner w/tasting menu preferred

I'm trying to help a friend from out of town take an in-town friend for an awesome birthday dinner. It will be on a Thursday evening right before Memorial day weekend, so I know that some of the latest and greatest will not have openings. He's based in Uptown.

What he would like:
- Chef's tasting menu with pairings available -- not totally mandatory but preferred.
- "Moderately" priced -- we tossed out L2O for the cost, so nothing in that sort of range (so no Trotters, Alinea, even if they could get in at this late date). I think something in the realm of $300-$400 for two (with liquor) would be acceptable though.

Places I know he's been that otherwise would be suggestions:
Bonsoiree
iNG
Blackbird
Oceanique

Places off the list that were options:
Goosefoot (no openings)
El Ideas (no openings)
North Pond (going to dinner there saturday)

I planned to suggest Quince (at the homestead), but am totally flailing at what else to suggest.

Help me LTH, you're my only hope!

Try Naha. Chef Carrie is great. My wife and I did a tasting menu there twice and it was FANTASTIC. THe last time we did it was for a table of four and each of us was given something different for each course, we had 7 courses. That was 28 different things and they were not small portions either.

I would definitely recommend it. I think it was about $125/person and well worth it.

KevinT

If the South Loop would work, recent reports of Acadia are very, very positive: viewtopic.php?p=414384#p414384

danimalarkey wrote:If the South Loop would work, recent reports of Acadia are very, very positive: viewtopic.php?p=414384#p414384

You know, I looked at that this morning, but out-of-town person wants it to be a surprise, and I already discussed Acadia with in-town person before I was asked to be hush hush. So it's on the back burner.

Naha is a great suggestion, I don't think he's been, thanks!

KevinT wrote:Try Naha. Chef Carrie is great. My wife and I did a tasting menu there twice and it was FANTASTIC. THe last time we did it was for a table of four and each of us was given something different for each course, we had 7 courses. That was 28 different things and they were not small portions either.

I would definitely recommend it. I think it was about $125/person and well worth it.

KevinT

They don't have a tasting menu listed on their website -- was it a special request?

ETA: Nevermind. I see "Tasting Menu Upon Request" is listed. Thanks!

A lot of restaurants will put together tasting menus with wine pairings - we go to dinner once or twice a year with a group of friends and we always request tasting menus. We ask that the chef create a menu-sometimes I look at their regular menu and pick a variety of options or sometimes I leave it up to the chef. We haven't had a restaurant or chef say no yet....and we always talk to either the manager or chef a few weeks before the reservation. Recent restaurants we have done this at are Coco Pazzo, La Sardine (fabulous souffles for dessert!), the Pump Room and LM. It makes the evening so nice - the food and pairings just keep coming, no one has to make decisions that night and it keeps the conversation flowing!

I've had the tasting at Acadia and definitely recommend it.

Here is an option that is close to your friend's location:

Premise
5420 NORTH CLARK STREET
CHICAGO, IL 60640
http://www.premisechicago.com/
773-334-9463

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=34855&p=415479&hilit=premise#p415479

If you would consider a long ride, by car or Metra, you can put yourself in Chef Des Rosiers's hands at Inovasi in Lake Bluff. It's exactly what it sounds like you're looking for. The price may come in a bit below your target price range, which is hopefully a good thing.

They decided on Quince. I hope it doesn't disappoint!