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nsxtasy
May 27, 2011 01:38 PM
Another place that can be very romantic is Bistro 110, right on the Mag Mile. It's a French bistro, although many of the dishes could easily be considered mainstream American too. What makes it romantic is that it's arranged in a series of small rooms, so you can feel like you're dining in a townhouse in Paris, rather than a high-rise in Chicago. Seated in a small room with only a few other tables, you'll have that nice quiet conversation, enjoying your own small space. Oh, and like North Pond, they also serve Sunday brunch, so if you don't go there for dinner, you can also consider it for Sunday brunch while you're in town. www.bistro110restaurant.com
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Bistro 110
110 East Pearson Street, Chicago, IL 60611›7 Replies-
re: nsxtasy
I love the Naha rec.... The Lobby at the Peninsula and Boka are also good recs! NoMI needed to lower their prices but they may have to lower them a lot ot get within the budget. I've always enjoyed NoMI but some of the pricing was insane (esp. the wine though I believe they allow or allowed corkage).
The times I've been to North Pond I've been impressed but at times less than impressed, too. Some here like it a lot more than I do. MK is probably too loud though I've always enjoyed the food. Bistro 110 fits the requirements but we've always thought of that as a lunch place more than dinner. It can get awfully busy at times....though the mussels are very, very solid. My issue for dinner, if you are really into wine, is that their red wines are served, and probably stored, at way too high temps.
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Boka
1729 North Halsted, Chicago, IL 60614Bistro 110
110 East Pearson Street, Chicago, IL 60611North Pond
2610 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614Naha
500 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610-
re: HoosierFoodie
I had loved Bistro 110 many years ago when I was visiting Chicago - years before I lived here - but the last time I went, about a year ago, it was so very busy that I felt it lost it's charm.
Naha is a great option since the food is superb and the service always pleases - it's a lovely upscale room yet comfortable, not stuffy.
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Bistro 110
110 East Pearson Street, Chicago, IL 60611Naha
500 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610-
re: Siun
nsxtasy
Jun 1, 2011 04:40 PM
Well, we won't be able to kick Bistro 110 around after August 4.
"Bistro 110 closing, will become Tony Mantuano's neighborhood-Italian spot" - www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/...
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re: chicgail
nsxtasy
Jun 1, 2011 05:42 PM
I'm a little disappointed, partly because there are fewer and fewer French bistros around (particularly near the Mag Mile), and there are more and more Italian bistros around (ditto). I also like Bistro 110's atmosphere with its series of small rooms, rather than the stereotypical bistro atmosphere of one big room, brick walls, etc (as so many other French bistros have) - but if Chef Mantuano maintains the same layout for his new place, that would be nice.
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re: ms. mika
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re: ms. mika
huiray
May 30, 2011 08:17 AM
I've had ups and downs at Naha over the years. Sometimes great food, other times MUCH less great. Can be pricey (had a meal for one w/ wine here not long ago for >$200 after tax + tip) but ordering just an entree + a glass of wine will be fine for you price-wise. Service varies a bit with the server you get, but the busboys and runners are all very, very good. Modern/slightly stark decor. If you go, try to get a table by the windows. Those against the wall and the dividers are really close together.
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Naha
500 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610
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nsxtasy
May 26, 2011 06:57 PM
Given our two different interpretations, perhaps you should define whether "$50/plate" means (a) you are looking for restaurants with entrees under $50 (for example, with entrees in the thirties, it might come out to $100-125 per person after adding appetizer, dessert, alcohol, and tax/tip - and some places can end up considerably more than that), or whether you actually mean (b) $50/person including everything (including alcohol/tax/tip), and wouldn't consider places that are much more than that. There's a big difference between those two figures; the former would include everything but the handful of most expensive restaurants in the city, while the latter would exclude many of our nice restaurants (including ALL of those mentioned so far in this topic).
You might also want to let us know what you consider romantic - whether it's a place with a romantic setting/view AND great food (like Everest and North Pond), or whether it's a place with good food and exceptional service, or a place where everyone gets dressed up (i.e. jackets for gentlemen), or some other definition. Some people consider a place to be romantic if they can have a quiet conversation, others if it's loud and boisterous, etc.
›7 Replies-
re: nsxtasy
missa2152
May 27, 2011 06:43 AM
Thank you for helping me along here, I've never been on this site, much less thoroughly considered all the variables I'm working with here.
To be more clear; I am looking for the actual entrees to be around $50 a plate. We generally do not do appetizers, and never do dessert. I usually have a glass or two of wine. My fiancee doesn't indulge in anything other than a glass of ice water.
This will be our "mini-moon" as we will be arriving in mid June, and our actual honeymoon will not be until February, so as far as a romantic setting, I guess I am looking for somewhere where we can have a nice quiet conversation, feel like we are enjoying our own small space, and of course, dim lighting. My fiance would definitely prefer a place where it is not required to wear a jacket.
Bottom line is; we are from a smaller town in Wisconsin, we aren't able to enjoy such diverse options as we will be able to in a few weeks on a day to day basis, and I just feel lost as to where to even begin. We just would like to find a place to dine where we can enjoy some delicious food and conversation. It certainly doesn't have to be the most upscale experience possible, just somewhere with good service, food and atmosphere. Open to any and all suggestions.
Thank you so much for your help!
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re: missa2152
nsxtasy
May 27, 2011 07:12 AM
Thanks - that's VERY helpful!
The "no jacket" part eliminates only about ten restaurants in all of Chicagoland, but that includes the previously-mentioned Everest, TRU, and Avenues. So we'll just drop them.
It's also worth noting that, if you're only having an entree without appetizers or desserts, and a glass or two of wine, that changes any computation of a "bottom line" that might typically include three courses and more alcohol. So please ignore the typical totals I've quoted above.
I should mention, though, that there are varying menu structures at different places, and you may not be accustomed to some of them. Some places (such as the "jackets required" places and Bonsoiree) offer lengthy multi-course "tasting menus" with five or more courses, most with not-so-large portion sizes. Others (like Sable and the Girl and the Goat) have a "small plates" format, in which dishes are not labeled as appetizers or entrees, and are typically smaller than a standard entree size, but larger than a standard appetizer size. Those other formats can be exceedingly enjoyable, but it sounds like you might be more comfortable with a restaurant offering an a la carte menu with appetizers and desserts (which you would probably skip) and entrees, so let's stick with those for now.
I still think North Pond would be your best option. It's got everything you're looking for - not too noisy, with an exquisite setting and, in the front room, that great view. The contemporary American food is wonderful; for five straight years Chef Bruce Sherman has been a finalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef - Midwest, which is one of the top honors in the restaurant world. Also, his style of cooking would suit someone who is only ordering entrees. His typical entree consists of a main ingredient, and surrounding it on the plate are 3-5 other smaller items (creative vegetables and such - maybe a little mousse of this, etc), so you're getting quite a bit of variety on a single plate; in my dinners there I've found that there are always at least a few things on the plate that are exceedingly delicious. Entrees are in the mid to upper thirties, and typical attire is business casual (not blue jeans, but most gentlemen won't be wearing jackets, although a few will). So that would be my top pick. (And again, if you don't go there for dinner, I would consider it for Sunday brunch.) Oh, it's located in Lincoln Park (that's the name of the park) about two miles north of the north end of the "Magnificent Mile" of North Michigan Avenue where many of the hotels are located.
I'll give you another recommendation that I think fits what you're looking for: Cibo Matto. This is an Italian restaurant in the newly-constructed Wit Hotel in the Loop, Chicago's historical and commercial center of downtown, near the south end of the Mag Mile. Cibo Matto features a contemporary version of Italian cuisine, and the food is great. You can see the menu on their website at www.eatcibomatto.com The dining room is contemporary in style, and understatedly elegant; it is laid out very spaciously, with ample space between tables and with partitions between those that are side-by-side, so you have a nice sense of privacy. It's also not particularly loud. While we have some other Italian restaurants (including the previously-mentioned Cafe Spiaggia and Coco Pazzo, which are very good), I think Cibo Matto's layout and atmosphere offer more spaciousness and a greater sense of privacy than the others. Again, attire is business casual.
Those are the two places that come to mind off the top of my head, based on what you are looking for.
Wherever you go, I recommend making reservations as far in advance as possible, just so you don't get disappointed. You can make reservations at most of our nicer restaurants for free on the Opentable.com website, or you can phone each individual restaurant.
Oh, and try not to get too stressed about your decision. Chicago is a big city with many, many great restaurants, and you could go crazy trying to analyze all the choices. It's tough even for us longtime residents who have been to many of them. Just pick one that sounds good, based on their website menu as well as what you read about them from others, and then go and have a great time!
HTH
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re: missa2152
uhockey
May 27, 2011 07:46 AM
Cafe Spiaggia or Coco Pazzo would be my top suggestions for "any day," but if you happen to be in town for a Sunday I'd strongly suggest checking out what Bonsoiree has to offer - it is very creative, small and intimate, and you get 4 tastes for under $50 before tax and tip.
The food at North Pond is nothing special - nor is the room - just the location in the park makes it stand out.
If you wanted other creative food I'd suggest BOKA as an option, Rick Bayless's Topolobampo, and MK as each provide a rather unique style. Topo is a bit loud due to the music from Frontera Nextdoor, but it fits the bill for dimly lit, great ambiance, and better food.
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Bonsoiree
2728 W Armitage, Chicago, IL 60647Cafe Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611Topolobampo
445 N Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610Coco Pazzo Cafe
636 N St Clair, Chicago, IL 60611-
re: uhockey
nsxtasy
May 27, 2011 08:17 AM
>> The food at North Pond is nothing special - nor is the room - just the location in the park makes it stand out.
On this, I must strongly disagree with our friend from Ohio. The food at North Pond is superb, contemporary American cuisine from Chef Bruce Sherman. In all of my dinners there, I have always found myself wowed by at least some of the items on every plate. As I have mentioned, his culinary style is particularly suitable to those who are ordering only entrees, by providing more "tastes" on a dish than other chefs. uhockey frequently quotes the press and accolades from others, so he should be the first to acknowledge Chef Sherman's unusual accomplishment as a finalist for the Beard awards five consecutive years. Perhaps uhockey's single meal there was not sufficient to appreciate Chef Sherman's cuisine, and additional visits when he returns to Chicago would provide more insight. Also, both rooms at North Pond are uniquely romantic and special - the front room with its view of the pond and the city skyline, and the rear room with the excitement of the open kitchen along one wall, both with the unique personality of the renovated space (it was formerly the warming shelter for ice skaters on the pond, and certain architectural elements, such as the tiled pillars, speak to its unique history). North Pond is a very special place, and exceedingly romantic, inside and out.
As I mentioned, the longtime Italian places (Cafe Spiaggia, Coco Pazzo) serve excellent food but they don't have the unique spaciousness, privacy, and romance of Cibo Matto, which also serves excellent food. And it sounds like you're looking for that special kind of atmosphere, not just for good food.
I love the food at Topolobampo, but it's exactly the opposite of what you say you are looking for. As uhockey notes, it's very loud; it's also very cramped, with tables very close together. So there's no way you will be able to have that nice quiet conversation, or feel like you are enjoying your own small space. And it books up three months in advance, so there's no way you'd be able to get a reservation in June. MK, too, can be loud and cramped.
OTOH I like his suggestion of Boka. What I like about Boka is that the service is excellent - efficient and helpful, while also unobtrusive, so the staff will make you feel at home and you will be able to enjoy yourselves. It's the kind of place which does an exceedingly good job at serving you, so you don't even notice how everything there is done so smoothly. It's not quite as romantic as North Pond (it doesn't have that romantic setting or view or history) and it doesn't offer the sense of intimacy of Cibo Matto (it doesn't have the spaciousness or dividers and is more noisy) but they're very good at what they do.
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re: uhockey
"The food at North Pond is nothing special - nor is the room - just the location in the park makes it stand out. "
I totally agree with this statement. Plus, I'll add, that I have had some pretty awful service experiences there as well. It is not a restaurant that I have any interest in returning to and I live withing spitting distance.
I second the Boka recommendation. I hadn't been there in several years but went recently. We were put off a bit by the noise level and weren't enamored of the menu until the food arrived. It was very good and much better than the descriptions promised.
I thoroughly enjoyed a recent dinner at Avenues. A delightful experience and although it is a bit pricey we were served so many freebies including comped desserts it felt almost cheap. The tables are widely spaced, the setting lovely and the ambiance quiet and refined. This is a place well worth the"jacket" requirement!
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Boka
1729 North Halsted, Chicago, IL 60614North Pond
2610 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
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re: mountsac
nsxtasy
May 27, 2011 08:37 AM
>> I'd say il Mulino, MK or the Lobby at the Peninsula. I think NoMi has reopened, which would be a great option.
As noted above, I think MK can be a bit too loud and cramped.
OTOH I think the Lobby at the Peninsula is a great suggestion. It's a big room located near the registration area of the hotel. The ceilings are very very high, one wall is all glass looking out at other buildings, and the tables are spaced well apart from each other for a great sense of spaciousness. You can carry on a quiet conversation, while watching people walk by (including those going to and from Avenues, the high-end restaurant in the Peninsula). The cuisine is contemporary American and I've enjoyed the food there. After 8 on Fridays and Saturdays, they offer the Chocolate Bar, an all-you-can-eat buffet of small-sized chocolate desserts; since you're not interested in desserts, you might want to avoid those hours.
NoMI, in the Park Hyatt across the street from the Peninsula, is scheduled to reopen on June 3. The room is wonderful with the big picture window looking out on the park. I have heard that they are revamping not only the room, but also the menu and style, so that it is not quite as expensive as it had been. At this point it's a bit of an unknown.
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uhockey
May 26, 2011 06:43 PM
I tend to think a "romantic" spot is what you make of it - a place can be romantic without having good food.
With that said, assuming you mean $50 per person, not $50 per course most of the biggest names in town are out - especially since many/most are prix fixe or tasting only.
TRU is a romantic room with stellar food, but it is pricey. The lounge is nice and you can get some plates there (or dessert tasting) under $50/pp.
Cafe Spiaggia, imo, has a nice room and the seats near the windows are romantic enough and well spaced. Definitely fits the price range.
The location of North Pond is romantic but the room is dull and the food is average and pricey - so it fits criteria for the location aspect but perhaps not for others.
Bonsoiree has a lovely feel to it and while it is slightly over $50/pp the "No Menu Sunday" deal will get you four courses of creative and delicious food for $45.
Avenues could be another thought for the shorter menu and the setting is lovely in the Peninsula Hotel. WIll run you slightly more than the set price, but cheaper than Everest/Les Nomades/Trotter's/L2o.
Coco Pazzo also has a very lovely room and outstanding Italian food with nice service.
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Bonsoiree
2728 W Armitage, Chicago, IL 60647North Pond
2610 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614Cafe Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611Coco Pazzo Cafe
636 N St Clair, Chicago, IL 60611 -
nsxtasy
May 26, 2011 12:52 PM
My two choices for most romantic restaurant are North Pond and Everest.
I like North Pond, not only for Chef Bruce Sherman's contemporary American cuisine, but also for its exquisite, unique setting in the middle of the park. It faces its namesake pond with the city skyline looming over the opposite shore, and the renovated building was formerly a warming shelter for ice skaters on the pond. You can ask for seating in the room with the windows facing the pond, but even if you end up in the inner dining room, it's fun, with its view of the open kitchen along one wall. Entrees are in the thirties, and the total bill typically $80-120 including alcohol (the big variable) and tax/tip. And if you don't end up going there for dinner, it also makes a lovely place for Sunday brunch. www.northpondrestaurant.com
My other pick for a romantic dinner is Everest. It's one of the finest restaurants in the city (expensive, and formal - jackets required for gentlemen). The food is outstanding French-Alsatian cuisine, and they have an incredible wine list, with the best selection of Alsatian wines of any restaurant in the country. The view from the 40th floor of the Midwest Stock Exchange Building looking out over the city is thrilling (ask for a window table). The service is the very best I have ever experienced anywhere (even though another poster here had a less satisfactory service experience there but reported wonderful food). It may or may not be stretching your stated budget; they have a pre-theater menu, $50 for three courses for 5:00/5:30 seatings, but otherwise you're probably looking at $150-200/person total, although you could come in less than that if you don't drink much. www.everestrestaurant.com
Wherever you decide to go, I suggest making your reservations now, as some of these places do fill up in advance; you can always change or cancel any reservations if you need to do so.
