Fun & trendy lunch spot, still a bit casual

[hazel3000]

I'm looking for some fun, trendy-yet-casual lunch options downtown, preferably serving alcohol. No stuffy french bistros or the like, as we'll be coming straight from the airport and ready to relax.

Thanks!

[hazel3000]

Thanks- this looks good. I think Mercat a la Planxa is exactly what we're looking for.

[nsxtasy]

Where, downtown? "Downtown" covers quite a wide area, from the Gold Coast and Mag Mile down to the South Loop.

Depending on which downtown neighborhood you'll be heading to, I recommend the following places for a fun, trendy, casual lunch...

Magnificent Mile:
Cafe Spiaggia (Italian) - www.cafespiaggia.com
Cafe des Architectes (contemporary American) - www.cafedesarchitectes.com

River North:
Frontera Grill/Topolobampo (Mexican) - www.rickbayless.com/restaurants
Nacional 27 (Latin fusion) - www.nacional27.net
Cafe Iberico (tapas) - www.cafeiberico.com
Quartino (Italian "small plates") - www.quartinochicago.com
Bin 36 (wine bar) - www.bin36.com

Loop:
Park Grill (American) - www.parkgrillchicago.com
The Gage (gastropub) - www.thegagechicago.com

South Loop:
Custom House (contemporary American) - www.customhouse.cc
Mercat a la Planxa (tapas) - www.mercatchicago.com

West Loop:
Blackbird (contemporary American) - www.blackbirdrestaurant.com
Red Light (pan-Asian) - www.redlight-chicago.com
Carnivale (Latin fusion) - www.carnivalechicago.com

Incidentally, French bistros are not at all stuffy - quite the contrary! The whole idea behind French bistros (and any other kind of bistros), as opposed to fancier, more formal restaurants, is that they are supposed to be casual, moderately-priced, friendly neighborhood-type places. Just to cite one of our best as an example, I've never heard anyone refer to La Sardine ( www.lasardine.com ), in the West Loop, as "stuffy", LOL!