Casual Fine Dining

[pamiam]

I grew up in Chicago, and am just returning to the city after 2 years in DC and 3 years in Boston. People in Boston often asked me to compare the city to Chicago, and I staunchly maintained the position that Chicago was superior in all ways. However, there seemed to be far more "casual fine dining" restaurants in Boston (well, in Cambridge, actually) than in Chicago. I did some searches and found the discussion where an SF hound contended that the same was true of San Francisco, and having spent a summer there, I tend to agree.

While I know "casual fine dining" means different things to different people, here's what I'm looking for: a restaurant with excellent food with entrees in the $20s (if one steak/lobster/other luxury entree is in the $30s, that's fine). It can be any cuisine; however, I'm not looking for recommendations for Khan BBQ, Spoon Thai, Xni-Pec, or other inexpensive holes-in-the-wall. While I love those places (I made a point to keep up with the cuisine here on my visits home!), they don't have the atmosphere that one is sometimes looking for when it's not really a special occasion, but you want to dress up a bit and have a "date night."

If any hounds are familiar with Boston, something like EVOO would be perfect; Rendezvous, Blue Room, Green Street, and (sort of) West Side Lounge would also fit the bill. It really does seem that most of the Chicago restaurants mentioned when people make requests like this have entrees in the $30s. Thus far, according to online menus, Sweets & Savories, May Street Market, and Lula Cafe fit the bill. Any other thoughts?

[mitch cumstein]

I like:

West Town Tavern
1329 West Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL
tel [phone]

Chalkboard
4343 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, Il
773.477.7144

Bonsoiree Cafe
2728 W. Armitage Ave. at N. Fairfield Ave. Just east of N. California Ave
773.486.7511

Anteprima
5316 N. Clark St.
Chicago IL 60640
p. 773.506.9990

May Street Cafe
1146 w. cermak
312.421.4442

Vermilion(on the more expensive side of things)
10 W. Hubbard
312.527.4060

Sepia
123 N Jefferson
312.441.1920

I will think of more, but that should be a good start for you!

[CookieEater]

Are any of these open for lunch? For example, West Town Tavern is near where I'm staying but they only do dinner.

[leek]

Cafe Matou, esp. if you do their daily bistro special - 3 courses for $22 or $25 or so,,,

[jbw]

Consider Terragusto for an Italian version. Their special chef's dinners are $35-$45, and it is BYOB:

http://terragustocafe.com/indexie.html

[wak]

Avec
Brasserie Jo
Coco Pazzo
Spiaggia Cafe
Le Colonial
Salpicon
Sola

Sweet and Savories and May Street Market as you mentioned are quite good.