Best Restaurant to Splurge on Dinner in Chicago

I will be in Chicago the 1st weekend of May. Whenever my boyfriend and I travel, we always go to one really great restaurant where we don't pay attention to prices (well, within reason - up to $200 for dinner for 2) and have a truly memorable experience. We don't want a chain restaurant that we can find elsewhere. I'm looking for suggestions for our one big night out.. something with a unique menu, maybe American, Contemporary, Steak, Asian - something with excellent ambiance/service. One consideration - we have tickets for Romeo and Juliet at the Shakespeare Theatre/Navy Pier at 8pm so it needs to be within a reasonable walking or cab distance.

I was considering Kevin, or possibly Wave, or Chicago Chop House - any thoughts on those?!? There are just too many good restaurants in Chicago.

Why, here's a thread: "If you had 200 bucks and need to celebrate an occassion for two, where in the city would you go?"

Link

For real fun, go to Charlie Trotter's and ask for the flight of foie gras. (It may not be on the menu, but ask.)

Seriously, a real high end splurge will cost you more than $200 and take more time than you have if you plan to go to a play the same night. So linking to posts about Avenues or Moto is just tormenting you. I would think about Riva, which is actually within Navy Pier; or the romantic and reasonably priced Cafe Spiaggia (attached to the much more expensive Spiaggia), on Michigan Avenue. Beyond that, almost any place in that area, like Kevin for one, has a pre-theater menu or is used to dealing with that kind of situation, so it really depends on what you want. Chicago Chop House has mostly received bad reviews over the years, I should add.

A little further down on Hubbard is Brasserie Jo (59 East) which does a pretty good job on pre-theatre meals.

http://www.leye.com/restaurants/rest_home.jsp?id=4

Riva's by the way is very convenient and has an extremely pleasant ambience, but their food, altho competent is hardly memorable.

Wildfire
159 W. Erie St.
312-787-9000

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/sear ... 4016.venue

I agree that the really high end places will set you back more than $200. It is near $100 each for most degustations around town and then you add in drinks and wine...I think we spent just over 300 at Spiaggia recently with wine and multiple courses. After all, you are going there to try the food, it is hard to limit yourself to a few tastes.

For the money though, I wouldn't go back to Spiaggia. It was good but it didn't bowl me over.

You mentioned Kevin; that is a good idea and not too far.

Across the street, you'll be under budget at VTK (Vong's Thai Kitchen) and still have a good meal with asian flavors. Great appetizers.

You can spend $200 at Shaw's Crab House pretty easily, also not far from there.

For 200 bucks a month, Blackbird on Randolph, no question. Paul Kahan is one of the best chefs in the city.

For 200 you would get apps, entree, bottle of wine, dessert, after dinner drinks easy.

Thanks for all the suggestions. More than $200 is just a little out of reach for us, so I realize that does eliminate the best of the best. We've just started to be able to afford finer dining experiences, so it is a "treat" for us to spend that much on a dinner out. Luckily, it seems like we still have a lot of options in Chicago!

IMO, Topolobampo is the best restaurant in Chicago. It's food is unique(except for it's knockoff competitor with the unpronouncable names) and you can have their fixed priced menu and drinks(topolo margaritas of course) for under $200. Where else can you get a meal for that price by a James Beard best chef winner?

I feel very well taken care of at Joe's Prime Steak and Seafood, also a Lettuce operation.

The service is impeccable without being haughty and atmosphere is semi-upscale, but what many would call "business" casual.

A splurge for me, would be a trip to Fogo de Chao. I just can't say enough about that salad bar(to call it that is really an abomination). I'm in heaven being offered all you can eat filet mignon. It's fun.

Chilpangingo might meet your $200 limit for a splurge & its a prety unique Chicago spot. Its a 10 minutes cab ride from there to Navy Pier (basically straight down Ohio to the lake).

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1291

has recent raves.

I second the vote for Blackbird. I just ate dinner there on Monday with a supplier and if you take out the pricey Vosne-Romanee that he ordered on his expense account, you can easily have a fabulous meal there for $200. Don't forget to order the Pork Belly entree. It was one of the most luscious things I have eaten in a long time.

winebabe wrote:I second the vote for Blackbird.

Buhockey,

I third the vote for Blackbird, no question.

With a reasonable wine choice you should not have a problem staying under $200 for 2-people.

Enjoy,
Gary