Restaurant & People Watching with good bar

[vtmark]

Going to be in Chicago for one night and looking for a restaurant with good food and some decent activity/people watching. Not looking for just some staid reserved neo modern sterile room but a place with some activity, a good bar but also decent food.

I know these may be mututally exclusive but any ideas...?

Thanks

[vtmark]

Thanks for the info, we will be staying right downtown, and not tied to any particular locale (we will cab anywhere) and not tied to a particular genre of food...

Just looking for a scene that has good food....

[chicgail]

All the options that have been given here so far fit that criteria.

I mentionned the age and make up of the patrons at Japonais, Carmine's, Gibson's and Nationale 27 because while they can all be called a "scene," they will be different.

[vrollings]

Japonais is a great suggestion from chicgail. I would add Publican and The Gage to the list, as well as Mercat a la Planxa. Enjoy!

[chicgail]

You don't say where you will be in Chicago, what kind of food you like or how you will be getting around, but the first place that came to mind was Japonais. Sushi and cooked food, it has a great swingin' lounge. Youngish (not fraternity) crowd.

I suppose there are also places on Rush St. like Gibsons (steak house) or Carmine's (Italian) that have a slightly older, more touristy crowd. Also Nationale 27 is young, swinging and has good Latin food.

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Japonais Restaurant
600 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60610

Carmine's
1043 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611

Gibson's Bar and Steakhouse
1028 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611