<p>Going to visit relatives in Chicago next month–memorial service for my mom’s youngest sister. I want to take my cousin and her husband out to dinner. Both took early retirements (she’s was a teacher/he’s was judge who now teaches part-time)–they travel often and like good food and great restaurants. Last time we visited Chicago, they took us to Charlie Trotter’s. We want to take them out as our guests on this trip–we’ll be there for a long weekend. My H is a foodie and has done some research. He thinks we should go to Alinea. Other options: L2, Ria, or Seasons. Anyone been to these? Other recommendations?</p>
<p>Anyone have information about the newly renovated Pump Room, in the Ambassador East Hotel now named Public Chicago ?
They are month away from opening - taking reservations now.</p>
<p>[The</a> Pump Room returns - Chicago Tribune](<a href=“Pump Room is primed & ready”>Pump Room is primed & ready)
Pump Room is primed & ready
Iconic spot reopens with contemporary look and organic focus
Under Ian Schrager, who has an impressive track record of turning real estate relics into successful boutique hotels, the Ambassador East has been reborn as Public Chicago, the first of what Schrager hopes will be a series of urban-contemporary hotels. The Pump Room, which opened in “preview” mode Monday (the grand opening is a month away), has been converted to a natural wood, seasonal and sustainable dining room modeled on Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s acclaimed ABC Kitchen in New York City (winner of the James Beard Foundation’s 2011 award for outstanding new restaurant).</p>
<p>But it still bears the Pump Room name.</p>
<p>I would do Alinea or Everest.</p>
<p>Ouhhhhhh if you go to Everest please report back. On my first trip to Chicago, sipping wine in the newly opened Palomar boutique hotel, a group of well traveled folks from Michigan, were giddy with delight that they were dining at Everest that night. (I had never heard of this VERY FAMOUS restaurant, on 40th floor of the Willis Tower, and considered one of the most memorable meals by many of these yelpers.</p>
<p>[Everest</a> - The Loop - Chicago, IL](<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/biz/everest-chicago]Everest”>http://www.yelp.com/biz/everest-chicago)</p>
<p>We’ve been to Trotter’s, Alinea, Everest, L2O, Moto, Spiaggia and Tru.</p>
<p>My favorite was Alinea. Or if you really want the hottest ticket in town try to get reservations at NEXT.</p>
<p>Agree re Next. I would love to hear back after you go to any of these.</p>
<p>I am going to dissent, a little, on Alinea. I have been there, and it was entertaining, but I don’t have much desire to go there again. I would say Alinea : Dinner :: Cirque du Soleil : Gymnastics. The food quality is great, but the point of the meal is a kind of dinner theater in which the food is merely one important character (or several important characters, but not all of them). In a world where going to a Broadway show costs $200/ticket, and dinner doesn’t come with that, it’s not totally crazy to spend that much (or more) on several hours of highly personal entertainment. But if what you wanted was really good food and a chance to visit in a lovely environment, Alinea is distracting and overpriced.</p>
<p>And I am getting tired of the pernicious influence it has on half the other restaurants in Chicago. Almost everywhere I’ve gone there in the past few years (fancy restaurant division) is trying to imitate Alinea in some way. (Graham Elliot, I’m looking at you.) I long to go someplace that does not serve (a) foam of any variety, or (b) any combination of anomalous things prepared to look and/or taste like something completely different.</p>
<p>I would also say that the wine pairings at Alinea were not anywhere near the quality of the cooking.</p>
<p>My favorite meal in Chicago in the past few years has been at Lula Cafe, which is out of the way, maybe not fancy enough for the OP, and significantly less expensive. Also much simpler, seasonal/regional-based dishes. Beautiful preparation and quality. Three- or four-course meals, not 10 with teeny plates. </p>
<p>I just looked at this year’s Michelin guide. It has two three-star restaurants in Chicago – Alinea and L20 – and two two-stars – Charlie Trotter’s and Ria.</p>
<p>If you go to Charlie Trotter’s, you cannot wear perfume or anything scented. This is due to a serious allergy and they are serious about it.</p>
<p>I have not been to Alinea, but I will dissent on Everest. Last time I was there, it was completely unremarkable. Completely.</p>
<p>Its funny, my DS has only one graduation wish, and that is a dinner at Alinea. That said, Topolobampo, Table 52 or Spiaggia are also well-known Chicago restaurants, thanks to Top Chef Masters, Oprah and Obama.</p>
<p>Would agree with JHS on Lula Cafe, or its sister restaurant, Nightwood in Pilsen. The only recent experience we’ve had with “foodie” Chicago was a trip to MK for my daughter’s birthday. It was lovely for a special occasion, especially the tables up in the loft. Not the same as Everest, Alinea or Charlie Trotter, on any of the culinary, expense or entertainment scales, it was nonetheless a wonderful dining experience - great, interesting food, wonderful wine list and welcoming environment.</p>
<p>If you want terrific food, good service, and a lovely ambiance without the theater, Topolobampo is my choice. It also has the distinction that there really isn’t anything like it elsewhere…if you ask me, the foam folks (I appreciate the Cirque du Soleil comparison) all have the same gimmicks.</p>
<p>I have also loved onesixty blue for the same reason, though I haven’t been there in a couple of years.</p>
<p>Everest is near, but not in, the “Willis” tower.</p>
<p>Alinea is the best restaurant in Chicago, in my opinion in the entire country.</p>
<p>I enjoy food as theater once every couple of years, so I’d be off to Alinea, if I hadn’t just gone to a similar restaurant in NYC, so my quota is over for a while! I think of it as post-modern food, or mannerist food. It’s a bit of an intellectual experience. Everything’s been done so now we are doing things that are interesting, and really make you think about food, but don’t necessarily actually taste quite as good as a classic meal, or at least not every bit of it will, but all of it (ideally) will make you think about food.</p>
<p>everest is over-rated. Alinea is great, especially if you love food gymnastics, which I do.</p>
<p>A Girl and a Goat, Either of Bayless’s places, if you can get in… just because the techincal cooking is masterful and the flavors are perfect.</p>
<p>Also, Next, but good luck getting in. </p>
<p>I remain a fan of Tru, Gand’s deserts are unsurpassed, imho.</p>
<p>It sounds like you want to do something comparable to Charlie Trotters, where they took you. While you will never get a consensus on what people like, the following are the restuarants that are comparable:
Aliniea
Tru
Everest
Spiaggia
L20
I would say that Topolobompo is very close to that category. </p>
<p>Can’t tell you whether you’ll like any of those, but you’ll be providing a comparably upscale experience. There are many great restaurants that are a bit less upscale. If you want recommendations on that, just ask.</p>
<p>I don’t put Spiagga in that category. Just to nitpic.</p>
<p>I think there’s one more that should be on Mythreesons’ list: Avenues (at the Peninsula Hotel). I missed that on the Michelin list, but it’s the third 2-star restaurant, with Charlie Trotter’s and Ria. The food is Alinea-ish (elbullimic?), but without the jokes – nothing tastes like bubblegum or A-1 sauce – and with slightly more focus on the actual ingredients. The atmosphere is sumptuous and grown-up, non-hip, beautiful. Tons of space between the tables; you are not aware of what your neighbors are eating. Ridiculously expensive, like all these other places, but if memory serves a shade less ridiculously expensive than Alinea.</p>
<p>Avenues was in that category, but it is currently shut down and undergoing renovations (the chef left).</p>
<p>Definitely Alinea.</p>
<p>I’ve been to Spiaggia, Tru and Topolobampo. I loved the food at Spiaggia but thought the prices were over the top for what it was; I thought Tru was over the top in terms of staging (removing the lids off dishes with great fanfare, giving me a list of what I had ordered as I left - I thought the restaurant was almost silly which was too bad because the food was excellent); Topolobampo was the most fun and the food really different. We’re going to Girl & the Goat in a few weeks and I’m looking forward to that.</p>