Need tips for quiet restaurant for meeting of parents

[jasonkc99]

My parents and the parents of my significant other are going to be meeting for the first time, and I am looking for recommendations for restaurants. Here are the complicating facts:

1) My father is hard of hearing, so it is important that the restaurant not be too noisy.

2) Some of the parents are picky. It can't be a hole-in-the-wall, and ethnic food probably is a bad idea.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[vrollings]

Another good choice might be onesixtyblue. Short cab ride and I've always found it easy to have a conversation there.

[jasonkc99]

Thanks for the great suggestions. I have lots of excellent choices here!

[StreetFed]

Northpond is lovely, and it's perfect! It's located along the lakefront in Lincoln Park, which is a short cab ride from River North/Gold Coast.

Northpond Restaurant
2610 N. Cannon Drive
Chicago, IL

www.northpondrestaurant.com

[ms. mika]

I'd suggest Naha- it has a very nice quiet atmosphere and consistently great food and is located in River North.

-----
Naha
500 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610

[mountsac]

I second The Lobby at Peninsula.
Other considerations: il Mulino (not sure if Italian is considered ethnic), Province

[nsxtasy]

What city neighborhood or suburban town will they be coming from? You'll want to make it reasonably convenient for them!

[jasonkc99]

Sorry, good point. They are coming in from out of town and staying in River North/Gold Coast. We live in Wicker Park. I think anything within 20-30 minutes of downtown is good.

[nsxtasy]

I'd suggest making it someplace close to where they're staying.

Cafe des Architectes, at the entrance to the Sofitel, would be one possibility. The food is contemporary American, and the atmosphere is contemporary elegant. It's not overly noisy, thanks to the super-high ceilings.

Another possibility is the Lobby, the contemporary American restaurant in the Peninsula. The decor is more traditional but also elegant. It too is not overly noisy, for the same reason (super-high ceilings) as well as tables that are spaced rather far apart.

David Burke's Primehouse would be another good choice. The steaks are great, and unlike most other steakhouses, the atmosphere there is not overly noisy.

[nsxtasy]

One other place right around all the Mag Mile hotels is Bistro 110, the French bistro. It's arranged as a series of small rooms so the noise level is pretty subdued.

[jbontario]

Praire Fire in West Loop would be great for this. Nice and quite, good food and some nice round tables for a group. That and parking is really easy.

Another one that NSXTASY and I totally agree on is Sable. While the food is a bit more "funky" it's based in old school favorites. The bison short rib sliders, beef jerky, and along with an Aviation cocktail are three of my favorite things around these days. The nice thing here is you can try tons of different things and order in waves.

[nsxtasy]

I do indeed love Sable, but it is really NOISY. I wouldn't recommend it for this particular situation.

Oh, and Prairie Fire isn't walking distance from the hotels in River North/Gold Coast, so you won't have the convenience factor of something close to where they're staying.