Fancy Italian in Chicago

[ilovebeans]

Hello....I need to find a nice Italian restaurant in Chicago (it's gotta be in the city proper) that would impress a bunch of suit types, but also an Italian. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks.

[dhukill]

Depending on how important the "formal" is. You can't beat the Rosebud... I think we went to the LaSalle location. Historical and very very good.

[profjmm]

How about Cafe Spiaggia? Impressive, but without the mortgage payment price tag. Also Riccardo Trattoria.

[ilovebeans]

thanks for the suggestions! they choose spiaggia after all.

[ChefJune]

Spiaggia is a wonderful experience from start to finish!

[jbw]

A couple of others that can come under the heading of both "upscale" and "authentic":

Merlo (Bolognese): http://www.merlochicago.com/

Gioco (Tuscan--a little more raucous than the others mentioned here, but the Bistecca alla Fiorentina is impressive): http://www.gioco-chicago.com/sitenavV...

[gonefishin]

I recently went to Merlo on Maple for the first time about a month ago. The food and service were both great. After talking with our server and telling him what we liked we decided to trust him on both some of the food and wine pairings as well. He was spot on with everything.

dan

[masha]

May be a little too "hip" for "suit types," but for authentic Italian food, not as expensive as Spiaggia, try Follia:
http://www.folliachicago.com/

[jbontario]

I like Follia, but it is not as good as Spiaggia.
Then again you can make a mortgage payment for what my last dinner there cost.

[lbs]

5 star Italian

Spiaggia

http://www.levyrestaurants.com/Levy/D...

[wak]

FYI, Spiaggia is very formal - several hundred $$ jacket required dining experience (maybe on target for "suit types".) It that's appropriate, you've found your place.

If you need something less formal, I also recommend Coco Pazzo. Never been to Follia so I can't comment on it.