Business Dinners Downtown

Hi all-
We're having some folks come in for business dinners in August. They'll be staying at hotels on Upper Wacker/Michigan and Adams/Clark. There are a ton of restaurants there and since I don't eat out downtown often, I want to make sure we get some that leave good impressions. The boss suggested Big Bowl but I don't want to subject them to that 4 times in a row. Idears?

We'll be going 6pm-ish. Most M–Th but there could be a Sunday in there.

Parameters:
$20/plate or thereabouts
Not noisy
Not booze-oriented
Not too wild in terms of menu choices

Boston Blackies (120 S. Riverside)? Maybe something in Greektown. Many places there are pretty loud but not so much if you go early. Seems like most of the places that meet your price requirement are on the louder side.

=R=

Thanks! (And thanks to your post, I thought to add the time, as well.) Greektown sounds delightful.

While none of these are "best" that Chicago has to offer, there are a few local type joints that might meet your criteria. Kind of depends on what type of business you're doing, but these are mostly informal.

I'd also add the pizza joints in River North (Uno, Malnati's, Gino's East). The lines can get brutal, but depending on the day, they fit most of your needs.

2 Other places near Wabash and Michigan

Bella Bacino's I haven't been here in a while, but the restaurant seemed to at least care about the food (versus slopping out food to tourists).
75 E Upper Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL 60601

Bongiorno's Pizza (located in condo building with McDonald's) Solid Italian Deli with decent pizza.
405 N Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

Miller's Pub is also a pretty solid option and not too far from Adams/Clark. I think they are also open late.
134 S. Wabash

I have not been to these places and can't recommend them, but there has been a a bunch of newish places around Wabash and Monroe/Adams

Vapiano
44 S. Wabash

Good Stuff Eatery
22 S. Wabash Ave

Is Manny's too far out of your travel zone? It might be a good "only in Chicago" experience. It shouldn't be too noisy (or crowded) around that time.

Sadly yes. Walking distance would be best.

What is considered walking distance? Boundaries would be helpful. (East of X, South of Y, etc.)

Boundaries are tough, what with Clark and Wacker going all slanty. Within 1 mile radius.

Do you consider wine booze? If not, Davanti Enoteca is tasty and not too loud.

I'd take them to Quartino. It's rather noisy, but the food is great and it fits your price limit (which rules a lot of places out, for dinner).

jacketpotato wrote:I have not been to these places and can't recommend them, but there has been a a bunch of newish places around Wabash and Monroe/Adams
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Good Stuff Eatery
22 S. Wabash Ave

I've been to Good Stuff Eatery. The burgers are decent, the rest of the food is meh, but the atmosphere is very fast food-ish, not a place to leave a strong impression on folks.

The price point you're looking for is hard to combine with quiet places - prices are generally pretty high downtown, and any place that is quiet is likely to be pricey (i.e. a steakhouse or higher end destination place like Les Nomades or Spiagia). You might want to consider cabbing it to the West Loop or other areas for more options.

These places are on the edge of the budget you discussed, and aren't super quiet, but they're generally mid-range prices for downtown places:

Eataly isn't necessarily a Chicago place, but there aren't many around, and it certainly is an experience with loads of options. Go midweek if you can. You can get food at a wide range of prices.

Weber Grill is pretty straightforward, and they do a decent job with everything they make.

Slurping Turtle could work, unless that's too wild of a menu for what you're looking for.

Bar Toma is also worth looking at, it's become a go to place for me when meeting older relatives who are staying downtown. Solid options that aren't too wild, and reasonably priced.

Purple Pig and The Gage are both good options that are just a bit above the price range you mentioned. I wouldn't describe them as quiet (especially Purple Pig), although the Gage has seating in the back that is somewhat quiet.

Hopefully that's helpful, but unfortunately I think you may need to have a bit of give on some of your requirements, or expand the areas you're looking at to find better options.

Santander wrote:Do you consider wine booze? If not, Davanti Enoteca is tasty and not too loud.

Booze is fine, I just didn't want to take them to a place that was booze first, food second, like a wine bar. Your suggestion looks spot-on.

Attrill wrote:Bar Toma is also worth looking at, it's become a go to place for me when meeting older relatives who are staying downtown. Solid options that aren't too wild, and reasonably priced.

Just so you know, Bar Toma is temporary closed for an exciting renovation, according to their website.

I haven't been to La Madia since they renovated/upgraded a bit, but pizzas are still in the $15-20 range and pastas the same, and it always was one of the quieter places in River North. Still one of the better values at lunch as well:
http://osterialamadia.com/

Not really formal but La Briola Cafe is very solid. Great burger, gelato, pizza. I love that place. Price is right but semi cafeteria style. Everyone will find something they like, even the salads are good.

Hi all! I could swear I posted on this before and can't find it.

We're bringing in a few people for interviews, taking them out to dinner the night before. I'm not in the area enough, or with this kind of dough, to know the scene.

Where do you recommend that's not too loud, not too fancy or too casual, appropriate for a business dinner? For instance, we've been to The Gage, Aconto, Francesca's...

As close to Clark & Adams as possible, and preferably with booze. Thanks!

The Dearborn, at Dearborn & Randolph, would fit the bill, I think. Owned by the sisters of Billy Lawless, of The Gage/Acanto/The Dawson fame. I've enjoyed my lunches and dinners there.

http://www.thedearborntavern.com/

ronnie_suburban wrote:Maybe something in Greektown.

jacketpotato wrote:Miller's Pub is also a pretty solid option and not too far from Adams/Clark. I think they are also open late.
134 S. Wabash

Millers is open until 4am

Based upon price & vanilla menu asks and having meals with clients, the above two options get my vote.

Pie Lady wrote:Where do you recommend that's not too loud, not too fancy or too casual, appropriate for a business dinner? ...
As close to Clark & Adams as possible, and preferably with booze. Thanks!

I've always found Italian Village & Vivere (upstairs menu, IIRC) to be of high quality and value. Ambience and full bar also fit your specs. I do admit that the cocktails at The Dearborn are very good if you go the 3 extra blocks and spend a little more money.

The Dearborn (Dearborn and Randolph)
http://www.thedearborntavern.com/

Trattoria No. 10 (Dearborn and Madison)
http://www.trattoriaten.com/

The Florentine (LaSalle and Adams)
http://www.trattoriaten.com/

Near Clark and Adams, the upscale Italian places - which include the previously-mentioned Vivere, the Florentine, and Trattoria 10, as well as the not-yet-mentioned Tesori - are all worth considering, with a very nice atmosphere and excellent food. (For whatever reason, I like all of these but was a bit less impressed with Acanto.)

For a non-Italian option, Atwood, in the Hotel Burnham, has contemporary cuisine.

Also, since you want a place that's not too loud, it's worth noting that all of these places do a big theater business, which means the noise level drops dramatically around 7:15-7:30 when most of the crowd leaves en masse. So get a seating around that time for a lower noise level.

bweiny wrote:I've always found Italian Village & Vivere (upstairs menu, IIRC) to be of high quality and value. Ambience and full bar also fit your specs.

I'm not sure what you mean by "upstairs menu". There are three restaurants in the Italian Village complex. Vivere is the upscale restaurant on the ground floor and seems spot on for this inquiry (just ignore the delightfully gawdy decor, LOL). The Village and The Cantina are upstairs and they might be a bit too casual for a business dinner.

nsxtasy wrote:I'm not sure what you mean by "upstairs menu". There are three restaurants in the Italian Village complex. Vivere is the upscale restaurant on the ground floor and seems spot on for this inquiry (just ignore the delightfully gawdy decor, LOL). The Village and The Cantina are upstairs and they might be a bit too casual for a business dinner.

You're right, I had Vivere & Italian Village flipped as to which is upstairs (menu=restaurant for decor ambivalent neanderthals like myself). I think Vivere has some elevated section within itself, that I sat in at least once.

To my knowledge, I never ate at La Cantina. Based on the website (http://italianvillage-chicago.com), it is in the lower-level, which along with a toned-down decor is what differentiates it from Italian Village upstairs.

bweiny wrote:To my knowledge, I never ate at La Cantina. Based on the website (http://italianvillage-chicago.com), it is in the lower-level, which along with a toned-down decor is what differentiates it from Italian Village upstairs.

Oops, yes, you're right about that. And I too have only eaten at the other two.