Chicago restaurant suggestion for large group
 

Looking for nice restaurant, preferably with private room, for 18. Right now, we're looking at some of the major steak and seafood houses, but open to suggestions. Gibsons only has a room that will seat 16. We want something we can't get at home, so not Mortons, Capital Grille, or Ruth's Chris. Quality beats quantity with this group, but we don't want to be someplace where 18 people might overwhelm the staff which is why we've been focusing on the larger steak and seafood houses, also open to other types of restaurants, though probably steering clear of specifically ethnic restaurants (italian, chinese, mexican, etc.) only because any one of them might not suit all. There are no vegetarians in this group. We're all staying on Michigan Avenue, near Water Tower, and would like to dine fairly close. Any suggestions welcome. annie

Update: I just got orders from the group, they want a steakhouse! Best steakhouse in Chicago, your vote?

Joe's Seafood is great. Had a company holiday party there once, and there are a few private rooms that could hold 18 comfortably. They're at GRand and Wabash and the website is www.joes.net. They serve steaks and chops as well as seafood.

Also, Wildfire is loved by many people I know - but I don't know what their group dining situation is. Their site is www.wildfirerestaurant.com.

Good luck and hope you have a great time in Chicago!

I believe that Gibsons (my favorite, look at my profile :-) ) has rooms that can accommodate anywhere from 12 to 200 diners.

I would give them a call and ask.

But if I were you I would ask Gibsons just to set up a table for your group in the main dining room. The atmosphere is electric, it's loud, there may be some celebrities, it's fun and I think you will have a better time.

Good luck with your planning and have a great trip!

For steak, go to Gene & Georgetti's -- definitely an old-school Chicago institution. So is Morton's, by the way. It's a chain, but the original is here. It's also expensive, while Gene & Georgetti's is reasonable (for a steakhouse, anyway).

Wildfire is excellent, too, especially if you like grilled steaks and chicken.

I've never had a bad meal at Gene & Georgetti's. Another suggestion, though not really a steak house, is Lawry's The Prime Rib. It's in the old McCormick Mansion on Ontario at Rush Street. It has several dining rooms and the prime rib is carved at your table on these large heated carts. Check their site at http://tinyurl.com/d3cgq4

All of the Lettuce Entertain You group restaurants have private rooms and they are a well oiled machine. Ben Pao for stylish Asian, Brasserie Jo for French. They own Wildfire, mentioned above.

Thanks, we worked out an arrangement with Gibson's. Looking forward to the trip! Not enough meals to get to all the restaurants we want to visit. annie

Gibson's was the right choice for all the reasons AAFrequentFlyer notes. Plus it is the only restaurant in my entire life where the waitress told me I was ordering too much food for our table. What integrity!