specific short-notice request

So a couple designers I want to work with are coming to town tonight, and I just managed to force them to let me take them out to dinner tomorrow (Saturday). They are staying in wicker park, and aren't super, um, presentable, but we need to be able to talk turkey over dinner, and I'd like to impress them a little bit.

So, basically what I need is someplace nice-ish, quiet, "hip" and that I can get a table at tomorrow night. Price is not too much of an issue, but I guess it could be a deciding factor.

The only place I can think of right now is Thyme.

Thanks for your help!

Honey 1 BBQ.

No I'm not being snarky. It really does fit your requirments, although not in the ways you thought!

mersmann wrote:to be fair, the view/reply ratio is around 1% - but that's ok by me. The information provided and searched for is somewhat niche, so it is not unsurprising that you would have such a ratio.

Is this a test?

Are you requesting suggestions in Wicker Park? I'm unsure of your location parameters.

If you are willing to go outside of Wicker Park, I'd suggest Bistro Campagne.

haha, no, not a test. I have to keep refreshing though to keep the proper ratio! It is hard!

Wicker park would be easiest, but I'm sure we could go anywhere reasonably close.

So no Katy's Dumplings or Old Fashioned Donuts.

I'd love to take them to Honey-1, but I'm not sure that eating ribs+taking notes would really work out so well. Maybe I will bring some by for tonight's pre-meeting.

mersmann wrote:I'd love to take them to Honey-1, but I'm not sure that eating ribs+taking notes would really work out so well. Maybe I will bring some by for tonight's pre-meeting.

Skip the ribs and get the tips. One hand eats tips, the other hand takes notes.

What about Cafe Absinthe? It's been written up here a couple of times with pretty positive reviews. Count me in the camp of those who are fans.

By not presentable, do you mean that your friends are likely to dress in a way that will offend diners at more upscale restaurants (too casual/unkempt/etc.)?

Cafe Matou, Le Bouchon, and Scylla would probably all be too noisy.

Spring might be a bit too expensive, although it's worth considering.

My suggestion would be Bin Wine Cafe, which (at least when I was there) is quiet and comfortable.

Although the food doesn't particularly wow me, although they do skirt steak well, Feast might also be suitable.

Ms.Paris wrote:By not presentable, do you mean that your friends are likely to dress in a way that will offend diners at more upscale restaurants (too casual/unkempt/etc.)?

Yes, they could be called "unkempt" I suppose.

definitely Cafe' Absinthe: I highly doubt they'll feel out of place, though the general vibe is kinda/sorta upscale(for WP). Also, it's dark.

Is it too dark/noisy for a couple-hour-long business dinner (over which we will presumably be discussing business)? That was the concern my partner had, though I've never been.

It might be a bit noisy on a Friday evening.

Absinthe sounds like a good choice. Another good idea might be Souk.

Honey 1 might be too unhip . . . and the lights might be way too bright . . . for your unpresentable friends. But oh that BBQ is good!

I feel like I have tarnished the good reputations of my associates. It's not that they are filthy mongrels, just that I'm not going to take them to places you might normally have a business dinner - with white tablecloths and what have you.

That's my dilemma, I need a place capable of conducting business quiet, reasonably well lit), but not too formal. Also, since they are artist types, I'd like to go to some place hip but not impossibly loud on a saturday night.

I am stuck between two atmospheric Scylla and Charybdis.

Speaking of, what about Scylla?

I'm going to back up other responses with Scylla and Cafe' Absinthe.

I have two suggestions, although I'm not sure they'd entirely fit the bill if you're really trying to "impress" -

Lula Cafe in Logan Square, just up the road from you; the food is good and creative and the crowd is hipster; it's a little small and crowded, though, and I'm not sure what the noise level is like on a Saturday night.

In the other direction, the Flying Saucer on California just south of Divison has (in my opinion) amazing food, same hipster crowd, more room and slightly better decor than Lula. It's also likely to be quieter on a Saturday night, especially the later you go. The neighborhood is not exactly a hot spot for nightlife, but there's the California Clipper just down the block.

or there's the Cuban place (name escapes me, but someone will surely know it) on Armitage just west of Damen . . . loud but fun with nice service and decent drinks . . .

hope this helps; if not, please disregard!