Lisa Shames 2019-11-26 23:21:09
FOR BIG, MEDIUM & SMALL GROUPS With award-winning chefs, stunning city views, and restored landmark buildings, River North and Fulton Market have become two of Chicago’s hottest dining destinations. BIG GROUPS (300+) From bowling and bocce to arcade games, Punch Bowl Social offers interactive fun. Choose from a variety of private event spaces accommodating up to 1,100 guests. Housed in a historic building decorated with dramatic Asian antiques, TAO Chicago offers a variety of unique event spaces for up to 300 seated guests and 1,000 for receptions. A rustic-elegant setting and a plant-filled rooftop patio are just two of the charms of Aba’s private event space, The Dalcy, which offers modern American fare for up to 300 seated guests or 550 for receptions. Gibsons Italia’s stunning river views from The Rooftop (150 reception-style) or the entire tri-level restaurant (750 guests), combined with elegant pastas and world-class steaks, have earned this newcomer plenty of fans. Handcrafted pastas, Italian classics, and signature cocktails are paired with a modern, chic design at RPM Italian, which can accommodate up to 300 guests for a buyout. With Southeast Asia as inspiration, Sunda Chicago offers family-style meals, multi-course menus, and even a sushi buffet for up to 400 guests in its private event space. Inventive Latin American fare, festive cocktails, and colorful decor add up to a party like no other at Carnivale, which can accommodate 40 to 500 guests in seven event spaces. Six handsome private dining rooms can accommodate up to 450 seated guests at River Roast, set in a landmark building with up-close river views and contemporary American tavern fare. Situated in a storied Loop building, Revival Food Hall offers an eclectic mix of favorite local restaurants for up to 650 guests in the main hall, or receptions for up to 250 in its sixth-floor indoor/outdoor space. MEDIUM GROUPS (100-299) Dramatic lake views and impeccable Italian cuisine from James Beard Award-winning chef-partner Tony Mantuano await guests at Spiaggia, which can accommodate up to 150 for seated private dining. Renowned chophouse Smith & Wollensky pairs river and skyline views with premium steaks and seafood in its private dining rooms, accommodating up to 120 seated guests or 140 for receptions. Hollywood’s Golden Age and classic American fare inform the swanky BLVD, which can accommodate 100 seated guests in its elegant second-floor space. Top Chef alum Katsuji Tanabe heads up the kitchen at Barrio, which offers creative Mexican fare and festive cocktails for up to 100 seated guests in its rustic-industrial private dining space. Part-art gallery and part-restaurant, Fulton Market Kitchen has a variety of chic event areas to choose from, each with its own unique design aesthetic, or arrange a buyout for 200 seated guests. Traditional and modern merge together beautifully at Momotaro, which features inventive Japanese fare and a variety of private dining options for up to 120 seated guests. Joy District offers two floors and a spacious rooftop for festive and energetic private events for groups of up to 140 seated or 350 for receptions. A group of favorite local food purveyors call Wells Street Market home, making it a special spot for private events for up to 250 guests. A dramatic multi-level restaurant with six event spaces overlooking the Chicago River, RPM on the Water serves up stellar seafood for seated parties of up to 120. SMALL GROUPS (LESS THAN 100) Handsome American brasserie The Smith features two private dining rooms for up to 50 guests, one with its own bar and the other with full AV capabilities. At Bellemore, the stylish 20-seat private dining room offers a view into the bustling kitchen, which crafts artistic American fare under the careful eye of chef Jimmy Papadopoulos. A sophisticated 60-seat space decorated with one-of-a-kind antiques provides the perfect backdrop to showcase the inventive seasonal American fare of Sepia’s Michelin-starred chef Andrew Zimmerman. Tacos and Mexican street snacks from celebrated chef Rick Bayless are featured at La Vista, the private space at his award-winning Frontera Grill, which accommodates up to 32 seated and 50 reception-style. The two hearth ovens at Pacific Standard Time play an important role in crafting its California cuisine. A spacious private dining room seats up to 58 guests or 100 for receptions. Steak 48, a handsome bi-level restaurant featuring prime steaks and fresh seafood, offers three private dining options for seated groups as small as 18 and up to 80. A restaurant as charming as its husband-and-wife chefs David and Anna Posey, Elske features Danish-leaning fare for private parties of up to 24 seated guests (54 for receptions) in its second-floor space. Trendsetting and award-winning Blackbird offers inventive Midwestern cuisine in its intimate second-floor private dining room for up to 48 seated guests (80 reception-style). The Peruvian-focused Tanta features a lovely rooftop terrace with seating for up to 70 guests (100 reception-style), and includes a stylish full-service bar. CHICAGO GIFT IDEAS Create lasting memories for your guests with these Chicago-centric gifts. The salty-sweet taste of the handcrafted popcorn of Garrett Popcorn Shops has been delighting fans since 1949. In the hands of Candyality, retro sweets live on with its huge collection of sugary treats, which can be custom packaged in eye-catching ways. Nestled inside Vosges Haut-Chocolat’s signature purple boxes are some of Chicago’s finest chocolates, including exotically flavored truffles and bars. Transit Tees’ custom-designed clothing, accessories, and home goods take visuals from Chicago’s metropolitan landscape and turns them into art. The Chicago Architecture Center’s love for the city it calls home is evident in its unique selection of design-focused books and gifts. Family-owned Chicago icon “Nuts on Clark” uses only the finest ingredients in its freshly prepared nuts, candy, and popcorn. CHICAGO’S JBF AWARD WINNERS Check out our impressive list of more than 40 James Beard Award-winning chefs and restaurants at choosechicago.com.
©Chicago. View All Articles.