Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
VERY EXPENSIVE
Everest
ALSATIAN/FRENCH Towering high above the Chicago Stock
Exchange, Everest is an oasis of four-star fine-dining civility, a place where you can
taste the creations of one of Chicago's top chefs while enjoying one of the city's top
views. The space itself is nothing dramatic (it looks like a high-end corporate din-
ing room), because diners are meant to focus on the food—and the sparkling lights
of surrounding skyscrapers. Chef Jean Joho, who draws inspiration from the earthy
cuisine of his native Alsace, enjoys mixing what he calls “noble” and “simple” ingre-
dients (caviar or foie gras with potatoes or turnips) for unique flavor combinations.
While the menu changes frequently, the salmon soufflé or cream-of-Alsace-cabbage
soup with smoked sturgeon and caviar are popular choices as appetizers; signature
entrees include roasted Maine lobster in Alsace Gewürztraminer butter and ginger,
and poached tenderloin of beef cooked
pot-au-feu
style and served with horseradish
cream. Desserts are suitably sumptuous. This is the sort of restaurant where the
clairvoyant service team seamlessly anticipates your every need, and the wine list
offers some wonderful American and Alsatian selections.
440 S. LaSalle St., 40th Floor (at Congress Pkwy.).
&
312/663-8920.
www.leye.com. Reservations required.
Main courses $27-$46; menu degustation $89; 3-course pretheater dinner $49. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V.
Tues-Thurs 5:30-9:30pm; Fri-Sat 5:30-10pm. Complimentary valet parking. Subway/El: Brown Line to
LaSalle/Van Buren or Red Line to Adams.
Nick's Fishmarket
SEAFOOD Taking the elevator down below street
level to Nick's feels a little like plunging underwater in a submarine. Once sub-
merged, you'll find yourself in one of the best seafood restaurants in the city.
This is definitely special-occasion dining which attracts an older, power-elite
crowd, as well as business travelers with generous expense accounts.
The dining room is a spacious, open affair overlooking an outdoor plaza with
an illuminated fountain and Chagall mosaic. Plush booths and loveseats (with
individual light dimmers, no less) attract cuddly couples, while the generous
space between tables allows for quiet conversation. Fresh seafood is the focus of
the menu, which highlights specials flown in daily. Most of the preparations are
straightforward, although some dishes include French or Asian accents (such as
the seared ahi tuna served with a wasabi soy sauce). The menu also offers a fair
selection for nonseafood lovers, including steak, veal chop with Barolo
wine-truffle sauce, and lamb chops with mint sauce.
The street level Nick's Grill serves more casual fare, including sandwiches and
flatbread pizzas. It's an appealing option for a late-afternoon light meal or for
theater patrons in a hurry to catch a show.
Bank One Plaza at Monroe and Clark sts.
&
312/621-0200.
Reservations recommended. Main courses
$25-$47; fixed-price lunch $21. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11:30am-2pm and 5:30-10pm; Fri
11:30am-2pm and 5:30pm-midnight; Sat 5:30pm-midnight. Subway/El: Blue or Red line to Monroe.
EXPENSIVE
Atwood Café
AMERICAN If you're tired of the exotic menus at
trendy restaurants, Atwood Café will come as a welcome relief. Located in the
historic Hotel Burnham, this place combines a gracious, 1900-era feel with a
fresh take on American comfort food. The dining room—one of my favorites in
the city—mixes elegance and humor with soaring ceilings, lush velvet curtains,
and whimsical, colorful china and silverware.
Executive chef Heather Terhune plays around with global influences (most
notably Asian and Southwestern). Appetizers include smoked salmon piled on
sweet-corn cakes in a spicy chipotle-chile dressing, chunky clam chowder, and
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