Parental 80th Birthday recs: many restrictions/preferences.

Thought I'd start collecting ideas early given the various parameters.

Mom, Dad, bro, and partner are assembling in Chicago end of August for Dad's 80th.
A preference has been expressed for either brunch or lunch, as they both lose energy by end of day.
When dad wants a treat he goes for good meat, which he doesn't get too much of the rest of the time.
Meanwhile:
* They will be in a downtown hotel. Both (especially mom) are quite frail and cannot walk much. Need cab door to door without much in the way of steps to navigate.
* Mom eats tiny portions of mostly bland food. No fish or red meat. A bit of chicken. Maybe shellfish.
* Dad is very hard of hearing.
* Need solicitous service, a quiet room, menu accommodations for mom's stomach.
* And yet, some elegance and special occasion atmosphere.
* Nothing very fusion-y or molecular.

We have done churrascaria before and it worked well. Could do again, but would like to consider something new.
Can go $$$, but $$$$ would be pushing it.
Pure Chicago steak house, even done very well, might be a bit too limited in scope and daunting in portion size.

Aaaannd...GO.
(And thanks for all tips/ideas.)

David Burke's?

http://www.davidburkesprimehouse.com/me ... ONCEPT.pdf

Assuming you would be dining on a weekend, a early dinner at Kinzie Chophouse could be an interesting idea. They open at 4 pm, nice setting and service, have always found the food better than average, especially the mushroom risotto.

Another idea, although not as high on the food, would be Park Grill.

A late lunch or early dinner at joes crab steak and seafood

Balsan might be a good choice, the food is fantastic, their staff is incredibly accommodating, and the menu is flexible. I like how you can share among your group or go solo, very nice when you have varying appetites at the table.


http://balsanrestaurant.com/menus.php

I do not have any real ideas but I will say pay attention to three things. Noise level in a place, whether there are any stairs to navigate, and whether the place has good chairs to sit in. My mom is 85 and she has to go to places that are not too noisy, do not have stairs, have handicapped parking or door to door service or valet, and have good chairs with arms.

Atwood Cafe.

I would second Balsan. Beautiful room with good acoustics. And if I recall, they have an area on the side that is a bit more secluded. Food is excellent and simply prepared--definitely not fussy or stuffy.

Well, if you wanted to venture out to the edge of town, I would recommend L.Woods Restaurant just over the city limits in Lincolnwood. It's been one of the biggest Chicago dining hits with my 70-year old, unadventurous father, and my healthy eating mom also enjoyed it. My dad is very uncomfortable with any restaurant that feels the littlest bit trendy or fancy, and the lodge feel of L.Woods was comfortable to him.

It's not clear to me which day this would be on. If it's a weekday I'd say Keefer's - enough variety on the menu for everyone plus the red meat for Dad, very nice atmosphere with great service, cab a few steps from the door. But - they only do lunch on weekdays (open at 11:30).