/Lunch in downtown chicago

[lestererik]

i want to know if there is any great lunch spots in chicago. were going to alinea for dinner but would like a great lunch spot as well. i would rather not have anything real heavy but i would like great quality.

[nsxtasy]

Unlike some other cities, most of the truly top tables in Chicago are not open for lunch. The one exception among our very best restaurants is:

NoMI ( www.nomirestaurant.com ), in the Park Hyatt, in the "Magnificent Mile" stretch of North Michigan Avenue

Some of our more casual fine dining restaurants are open for lunch, particularly ones downtown. The best of these IMHO are contemporary American places:

Aigre Doux ( www.aigredouxchicago.com ), across the street from the Merchandise Mart just north of the Loop
Naha ( www.naha-chicago.com ), in River North, north of the Loop
Blackbird ( www.blackbirdrestaurant.com ), just west of the Loop
Custom House ( www.customhouse.cc ), just south of the Loop
Atwood Cafe ( www.atwoodcafe.com ), in the Loop

Also open for lunch are many of our best Italian places, including:

Vivere ( www.vivere-chicago.com ) in the Loop
Coco Pazzo ( www.cocopazzochicago.com ) in River North, just north of the Loop
Cafe Spiaggia ( www.levyrestaurants.com ) on the Mag Mile

and our best seafood places:

Shaw's Crab House ( www.shawscrabhouse.com ) just north of the Loop
Fulton's on the River ( www.levyrestaurants.com ) just north of the Loop
Catch 35 ( www.catch35.com ) just north of the Loop
Hugo's ( www.hugosfrogbar.com ) in the Gold Coast

and several French bistros:

Kiki's ( www.kikisbistro.com ) in River North
Bistro 110 ( www.levyrestaurants.com ) off the Mag Mile

Most of the best steakhouses in the greater downtown area are also open for lunch; for recommendations see www.chowhound.com/topics/359377

All of the above places are very very good, in my experience (although I've been to some only for dinner rather than lunch).

One nice place, open for lunch, that I haven't mentioned (because I haven't been there yet) is Sixteen, in the new Trump hotel just north of the Loop ( www.trumpchicagohotel.com/Food_Wine/s... )