Great chicago restaurants ~$80/person?

[ld111134]

More good suggestions from Ron.

Here's a few more:

Quartino is similar in quality to its next-door neighbor Osteria Via Stato (Quartino is owned by Gibson's and Rich Melman's Lettuce Entertain You empire owns Osteria). Osteria used to have a small plates emphasis, but they seemed to have moved to a more traditional menu set-up.

Cyrano's Bistro - I've recommended this place on the board before. Didier Durand's place is a charming slice of Paris right in the middle of the River North neighborhood.

Kiki's Bistro - along with Cyrano's and Ron's recommendations of Margot and Le Bouchon, another nice French "boite" at an affordable price point. Margot's has an advantage of being in the middle of the Old Town shopping/dining/drinking strip on Wells Street, while the other places are a bit isolated from other attractions.

Perennial - Seasonal fare in a nice location across the street from Lincoln Park.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by ld111134

Cyrano's Bistro - I've recommended this place on the board before. Didier Durand's place is a charming slice of Paris right in the middle of the River North neighborhood.

Cyrano's is nice indeed. I especially like eating there outside during summer.

 

[Meis]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

Two drinks are never enough.

Truth

 

[SField]

Ate at Riccardo Trattoria again. Fantastic.


A resto I forgot to add to the list is Graham Elliot. Such good food at his place.

 

[Spencer Young]

Originally Posted by SField

A resto I forgot to add to the list is Graham Elliot. Such good food at his place.

The truffled popcorn is awesome.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by SField

Ate at Riccardo Trattoria again. Fantastic.


A resto I forgot to add to the list is Graham Elliot. Such good food at his place.
+1.

Originally Posted by Spencer Young

The truffled popcorn is awesome.

The truffled popcorn is gimmicky. But Graham Elliot is legit, a great chef, always inventive, and his food is not only fun to eat b ut absolutely delicious.

 

[Spencer Young]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

+1.


The truffled popcorn is gimmicky.

Do you say that because it's popcorn, or because its yet another use of truffle oil? I'd probably agree that it can be gimmicky, but it's still good.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Spencer Young

Do you say that because it's popcorn, or because its yet another use of truffle oil? I'd probably agree that it can be gimmicky, but it's still good.

I'd say both. Popcorn is like the latest culinary trend, and putting synthesized truffle oil on everything is sort of the common denominator in food.