Hi!

Visiting Chicago over Labor Day weekend for a wedding. The only night we'd have available for dinner is Sunday night, and it's my husband's birthday.

We wanted to go to Tompolobampo, but they're closed on Sundays - so is Ambria, Charlie Trotter's, Tru, etc. Last time we were there, we went to Aruns, MK, and She-She - all of which were great!

Any suggestions? Thank you!

You seem to go for trendy aka expensive when Sunday night is a tough night for closings so try Naha, (new),Spruce, Smith & Wollensky, Joe's Steaks and Crab*. For less fancy (but still good) Club Lucky in Bucktown, and my favorite, the best underrated Italian in town, II Jacks in the most nondescript neighborhood imaginable. * Generally avoid Lettuce Entertain You. Corporate Crap.

The Chicago Reader has a new restaurant finder - you can choose many criteria, including Open on Sundays, to help narrow your choices. Go to
http://www.chicagoreader.com/cgi-bin/rrr/form.cgi

I believe Rhapsody and Prairie would fit your requirements.

I would go to 160Blue. It's on Randolph and Ogden. It's fairly new, and the service and food are wonderful. Another great choice on Randolph st. is Blackbird. I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard it's excellent. It's further east on Randolph, near the Kennedy.

Right around the corner from Charlie Trotters is a great Spanish place, Cafe Baba Reeba. It's more kitschy than chichi or fancy but it has terrific food (some of the tastiest I've had in months including at places like Charlie Trotter's)and a wonderful wine list--Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Their wines are mostly/maybe all Spanish, including a Vega Sicillia Unico that is one of the great wines of the world. We were at Arun's a year or so ago and had an excellent meal with possibly the best service I've ever had (felt like a guest in the server's home) It was a wonderful experience. Though different, my experience at Cafe Baba Reeba was equally wonderful.

You could try Aubriot if they're open -- FANTASTIC! -- or Everest?

For just plain good, not fancy, you could go to the Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder restaurant up in Lincoln Park or to Cafe Iberico on LaSalle.

The Reader guide is a great service. There also used to be something called centerstage.com, but I'm not sure if they still exist.

Jen, you might also try Metromix and do a search there for restaurants. I selected expensive and very expensive and I got a list, primarily of restaurants like the ones you've listed.

As for the suggestions for Cafe Ba Ba Reeba and Cafe Iberico (both Spanish tapas resturants), although I really like both of these restaurants, the atmosphere is not what you would call intimate. Boisterous is probably more accurate.

Thanks for the suggestions...I'll be checking all of them out! Bon appetit!

I would like to cast another vote for Everest, if it open on Sundays. It's a beautiful restaurant with wonderful food.

OK. Everest is closed Sundays. Baba Reba is Tapas from LEY (remember the corporate crap thing) --and noisy. Iberico is tapas --good--cheap and loud. 160 Blue is been around for a while. Whoever suggested Blackbird, gets it. An option if open, tho doubt it.

IF YOU HAVE A CAR DRIVE TO WHEELING AND DINE ON SOME OF THE BEST SEAFOOD AT BOB CHINS

If you DO go to Bob Chins, bring ear plugs. It rivals O'Hare Airport for noise. (Also, any restaurant that has the hostesses/hosts wearing headsets is off my list for fine dining.)

Was in Chicago for a long weekend about a month ago. We ate at Bistro 110 on a Sunday. Its a little French bistro right off of Michigan Ave (don't know the cross street). We were a little sceptical of a "bistro" but it was very nice and had great food and service. The BEST French onion soup I've had. The prices aren't terribly outrageous either. Entrees $20-$30.

This is really touristy......but I make sure that everytime I go to Chicago I eat at Unos Pizza......Also good in that area is the Fog City Diner.

Stay away from Harry Careys

Chris is in KY

Would you take Kentucky food reco's from a Chicago guy? Fog City closed a year ago (and it was terrible while it was open.) Stick with my list Naha, Spruce, Blackbird, S&W, Joes, and add Tru and Cafe Absinthe to it.