Cocktail, lunch, and brunch suggestions

[Lindsay214]

Hi! My husband and I are planning a trip to Chicago mid-December for one night before all of the holiday madness begins! We get in Saturday morning and will be staying around the magnificent mile. We plan on shopping and getting lunch, but I am having trouble finding a trendy lunch spot open for Saturday. Do you have any suggestions for a trendy lunch place around the shopping of Michigan Ave/Magnificent Mile that serves good cocktails or beers? Price range doesn't matter. We have two dinner reservations (still deciding between Boka and Blackbird) and we want to drop a few drinks pre-dinner. I would love to go to The Violet Hour, but I don't think it's going to fit into this trip. Do you have a good trendy spot to grab a couple drinks and an appetizer? I would love somewhere that took reservations. Is the Drumbar fun in the winter? Lastly, I am looking for a good brunch spot (that takes reservations) on Sunday as well...leaning towards The Publican based off other posts. Any thoughts?
In sum, I am looking for trendy lunch place near Michigan Ave; a trendy pre-dinner cocktail / appetizer spot, and a trendy brunch spot for Sunday...preferably all that take reservations! Thanks!

[Gonzo70]

Purple Pig (on Michigan Ave) serves great food and drinks and is very trendy; they are open for lunch but do not take reservations.

If you end up at Boka (great choice) they actually IMHO have the best cocktails in the city; they have a top knotch mixologist - Ben Schiller - and cool bar area. You could do drinks at the bar before dinner and munch on sides such as truffle Mac n cheese. A short walk away is sister restaurant Balena that is very trendy and has an excellent cocktail program; you could do predinner cocktails there and order a charcuterie plate or one of their excellent gourmet pizzas.

[lbs]

Sunda http://www.sundachicago.com/

[nsxtasy]

>> Do you have any suggestions for a trendy lunch place around the shopping of Michigan Ave/Magnificent Mile that serves good cocktails or beers?

Sable - www.sablechicago.com
GT Oyster & Fish - www.gtoyster.com

>> I am looking for a good brunch spot (that takes reservations) on Sunday as well...

Shaw's Crab House - www.shawscrabhouse.com
Cafe des Architectes - www.cafedesarchitectes.com

As well as the two lunch suggestions above, which are both open for Sunday brunch.

[Lindsay214]

Sorry, I should have quantified this. We will be there on a Saturday and looking for a good, trendy, Saturday lunch which puts Sable and GT Oyster & Fish out. Any recs around Michigan Ave or Lincoln Park (we will be shopping on Halstead too)?

Any recs for a pre-dinner cocktail and appertizer place? Thanks!

[nsxtasy]

>> We will be there on a Saturday and looking for a good, trendy, Saturday lunch which puts Sable and GT Oyster & Fish out.

Why? Both are open for lunch on Saturdays. Both are good and trendy. And both have great craft cocktails.

[ferret]

GT is also starting brunch service (not sure if it augments or replaces the lunch menu) on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning November 17th.

[uhockey]

Does CdA list their breakfast/lunch/brunch menu anymore?
We need one lunch type place in the area and after the disaster that was GT F&O when they weren't lising the lunch menu I'm hesitant to go somewhere blind in the 'touristy' area.

http://endoedibles.com

[ferret]

My experiences at GT were more positive than yours and while I find single-visit reviews reviews to be informative, they're not definitive.

[uhockey]

As a native perhaps "Second chances" are worthwhile - as a visitor, I'd never go back - too many other places to check out.

http://endoedibles.com

[deesher]

If you will be lunching on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday (the only days that they are open for lunch), you may wish to consider Au Cheval. The hamburgers are highly addictive and the salads are excellent. Others have raved about the fried bologna sandwich, which was named the second best sandwich in Chicago this month according to Chicago Magazine. Here's a link to a recent post from the Bon Appetit blog.

http://www.bonappetit.com/blogsandforums/blogs/badaily/2012/09/the-burger-at-chicagos-au-chev.html

I have been guilty of going there for a burger "after dinner" twice myself.

Here's the Chicago Magazine list:

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Mag...

Au Cheval
800 W. Randolph
Chicago, IL
312-929-4580

[uhockey]

Already on the list.
Can't tell how the brunch looks compared to the lunch/dinner, though. I've heard rumor the brunch menu is quite truncated.

http://endoedibles.com

[nsxtasy]

They showed their lunch and brunch menus on their website until very recently. Lunch and brunch menus are still available at menupages; that site is not always completely current - http://chicago.menupages.com/restaura...

If you really want a place that serves lunch and not brunch, look for one that doesn't open until 11:30 or later. Cafe Spiaggia is one example near there.

[uhockey]

Been there. Enjoyed it. Hated the mothership.

http://endoedibles.com