I'm suprising my wife with a 30th birthday trip to Chicago in March (hope she doesn't read this) and are staying just south of the Wrigleyville area on Broadway.

On Saturday night, I'd like to take her to an exciting restaurant in the Wrigleyville or Bucktown neighborhood (or somewhere near where we are staying). Cost isn't an issue, but prefer to stay away from stuffy places. Trendy is OK as long as the food lives up to the hype. French/Italian/New American food is preferred. Good wine list is a plus. Need to be able to make reservations (I've got about 2 weeks advance notice).

I've tried to do a search, but it's not working too well.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Might suggest Green Dolphin Street, 2200 North Ashland, 773-395-0066, a contemporary super and jazz club fashioned out of an old auto repair shop and junkyard. Good food, intriguing wine list, adept service and jazz later.

Or in Lincoln Park, Mon Ami Gabi, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, 773-348-8886, is a lively French bistro. Its more expensive relative across the lobby, Ambria, is also great, very intimate and romantic. I would describe it as formal rather than stuffy.

One of the best sources for restaurant info for Chicago is Chicago Magazine. Their web address is www.chicagomag.com

If you don't mind drving to Wheeling, which is about 30-40 mins drive ( if I remember correctly) then you should try Le Francais, which many concider the best French Restaurant in the country

The Chicago Tribune listed the 10 4 star restaurants in Chicago-Ambria (French), Arun's (Thai), Charlie Trotter's, The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton, Everest, Spiaggia, and Tru (opened in 1999) in Chicago and Carlos (French in Highland Park), Le Francais (French in Wheeling) and Trio (American contemporary in Evanston). I personally haven't tried any of these restaurants so check out www.metromix.com for reviews from the Chicago Tribune. They had a write up today on both Le Francais and Carlos', both of which are about a 30-45 minute drive from the city.

What's wrong with Charlie Trotter's? I love that place: great ambience, great service, great food, at relatively reasonably prices (considering the quality).
???????

It's stuffy!!

If you want to stay in the area Bucktown), try Cafe Absinthe - 1954 W. North 773/278-4488 or Le Bouchon - 1958 N. Damen 773/862-6600.

Dear Kim:
Please define "stuffy"?
Do you mean it suffers from poor air curculation?

Does Brian need to justify the Trotter veto? Can't he just not want to go there?
(Yes, I realize that on the car rental thread, I want to know why Joan won't consider John Sevy's Tacoma suggestion. I contradict myself, even if I'm not vast and don't contain multitudes.)

I've read wonderful things about Trotter's (latest in this month's Wine Spectator), and I have little doubt that the food would be superb. The problem we have with big name restaurants is that due to our age (early 30's but my wife looks younger), we are often treated badly. I can't tell you the number of times we've gone to expensive restaurants with reservations and been lead to the worst table in the place (the one by the kitchen or the bathroom - the one that gets the most traffic buzzing by). It's gotten sort of comical now - it happens EVERY single time. It's especially funny when our reservation is for early in the evening and there are lots of tables available. It borders on hilarious when we ask if we could be seated elsewhere and are told that all the other table are reserved. For who we wonder? Other people with reservations like us?

And it's not the way we're dressed, I'm sure it's part of the host/hostess code. If they're expecting a full house, then someone's got to sit at that table, and the smart thing to do is sit the couple that 1) doesn't appear to have the means to return that often, 2) doesn't appear to have a circle of friends to whom to recommend that restaurant, and 3) probably won't protest too much. Probably good business sense, but it has really gotten on my nerves.

And even when the host/hostess reluctantly lets us move to a better table, there's already a bad taste in our mouths that unfortunately taints the experience.

Sorry about my venting.

Anyway, our solution to this problem is to avoid those places where we expect this treatment and frequent those places that live on the 20 and 30-something trade.

Thanks for all the suggestions (and thanks Marilyn for the website). We won't have a car so will stay in town. I've also gotten recommendation for Oo-La-La, Erwin's and Mia Francesca. Any comments on these? Thanks again for your help.

Dear Brian:
Thanks for the enlightenment. I'll save it!
There's one thing, however, I have learned in more than two decades of restaurant reviewing: Never let the staff out-snub you. Out-snub them first. And always bring a small note pad. Pretend to be sly about taking notes. That gets their attention every time. (I only use that for those occasions when the wait staff annoys me. I usually carry a tiny, invisible micro recorder that catches all nuances.)
Remember, no serious reviewer ever admits that he or she is visiting a restaurant on business. So, it's funny to watch how the snobs react when they think their snobbish attitude is being recorded! I once reviewed a restaurant where the staff had been tipped off. But they thought the guy at the table next to mine was the reviewer. They got so nervous, they poured coffee into coffee into his lap.
As I left, a waitress recognized me. I ran.

Brian,

About five years ago, my boyfriend and I went to Spiaggia to celebrate my 25th birthday, and we were treated very well and given a good table. The place seemed a little sedate when we were there--I mean quiet and relaxed, not stuffy--but we enjoyed ourselves and the food was top-notch. I understand it's still very highly rated.

What a bunch of editorials when all you wanted was restaurants. Cafe Absinthe was a great recommendation. My personal favorite is Jane's (small, intimate and great food). Located in Bucktown on Cortlandt so out the way. Make a reservation as gets jammed with locals. Can read more about it and other great restaurants on the website: www.zagats.com