Chicago Dining Recommendations

[Darth Poker]

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this probably isn't what you are looking for, but Bob Chinn's is awesome.

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this is the correct answer.

[johnbeans]

z28dreams,
Does the signature room in the hancock require a jacket?

Posnera,
Butter is right on par with what I'm looking for. I'll definitely check it out sometime soon if not with my parents.

Davelin,
I've considered Gibson's and Morton's, and might still end up choosing a steak house. However, my parents are familiar with the steak house atmostphere, and I would like to expose them to a different fine dining experience.

GBP04,
Bob Chinn's is great, but yah, I'm looking for something a little more fine dining-ish, and if it's seafood, then with a little less Red Lobster feel.

I'm basically trying to avoid the 4-star places like Tru & Everest. This is almost exactly what I'm looking for, but it's a little too far out of the city.

Thanks for all the responses thus far.

[citanul]

1) Steak houses are good and all, but don't go chain if you're going to take your parents out for a really nice meal. Think more on the lines of Custom House, Lawry's, or the Chop House. I've had a couple of mediocre results at Lawry's lately, so I'd actually put it 3rd on the list (also because it is a chain, a small one, but a chaine).

2) Butter was absolutely meh. The food was overpriced, the attitude of the place was horrible, the seating was uncomfortable. But mostly everything was tiny and expensive and really not out of the league of taste from stuff costing 1/2 as much.

3) The food at Signature Room is cruddy.

If jacket not-required is a requirment, look of course at the steak houses, but also look at:

Sola

schwah (might not have a h on the end, but it's byob fyi)

Frontera Grill is one of the best Mexican restaurants in the country, but doesn't do reservations.

Cafe Spiaggia is fantastic, affordable, Italian, while the slightly more posh, and significantly more expensive Spiaggia (in the same building) requires a jacket I think.

Osteria via Stado is about 1 year old "traditional" Italian place that I've been using as one of my go-to places to take out of towners for a while.

Those are just some that jump to the top of my head.

Check out opentable.com for some of these for reservations or some more ideas.

citanul

[Rduke55]

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I'm a big fan of Cafe Absinthe in Bucktown.

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I really liked this place. And it's in a cool neighborhood so you can stroll around afterwards with your parents. Although depending on their tastes (say dad is an "I'm a big meat and potatoes guy. I don't want any frou-frou.") they may not like it a ton.

Also, I like Chez Joel on Taylor for some less expensive french.

[z28dreams]

If you explore the south-side, there are a lot of good italian places on Taylor street like Rduke mentioned.

La Vita is small but has great food. I wasn't as impressed with Francescas (or something like that). These aren't super high class places, more small quaint italian places. Definitely no jacket required.

Across the street is Beviamo Wine bar, which has a pretty cool atmosphere and you can do some tastings while you are there, live piano music on Fridays. (this is all 3 years ago or so since I've moved, so you might want to verify it)

[Grumbo]

Always take a look at Metromix.com and read the user reviews for the places you are interested in.

[citanul]

john,

check out spring and scylla as well, though sola and schwah are i think in ine with what you're looking for also.

citanul

[IronDragon1]

Fogo de chao

[posnera]

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Fogo de chao

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mediocre at best

[Inchoateposter]

Despite its Midwestern status, there is excellent Fresh Seafood in Chicago. Do they eat Seafood?