Make the most of your next client luncheon or team happy hour at these Loop locations
Whether you’re working downtown or just a visitor exploring this iconic city, if you find yourself among the afternoon bustle of Chicago’s famed Loop, you’re going to work up an appetite. From a quick bite to a lingering lunch, rest assured, all your dining needs can be covered here. Check out some of our favorite spots for lunching in the Loop.
Adams Street Brewery at The Berghoff {17 West Adams Street; 312.427.5820}: Located in the heart of the 120-year-old famed Loop establishment, The Berghoff, Adams Street Brewery is a local favorite for handcrafted microbrews. Just about everything is made from scratch at The Berghoff, and the hand-carved Reuben sandwich with bread fresh from their in-house bakery is among the most cherished lunch offerings. If lunch turns into Happy Hour, you can’t beat a $5 Adams Street pint or Berghoff bar bites, like the Adams Street Wings and Beer-Battered Cauliflower.
Taureaux Tavern {155 West Van Buren Street; 312.624.8778}: Expect sleek glamour, excellent service, and top-level French cuisine at the two-story Taureux Tavern. The Gold Label Burger is an 8oz Prime Angus Beef patty with caramelized truffle onions, American and Gruyère cheeses, and B&B pickles. It is among the best burgers in Chicago. The year-round outdoor patio is the ideal location for a break from the buzz of the Loop and is also available for private parties.
The Florentine {151 West Adams Street; 312.660.8866}: Located on the second floor of the beautiful JW Marriott Chicago, The Florentine offers chef-driven, modern Italian dishes featuring the best in seasonal ingredients with an extensive selection of classic antipasti, salads, wood-fired thin-crust pizzas, and handmade pastas and sandwiches. If you’re touristing around the Loop on a Sunday, The Florentine offers 50% off bottles of wine all day with no exceptions.
Fisk & Co. {225 North Wabash Avenue; 312.236.9300}: Inspired by the fun, laid-back atmosphere of a buzzing Belgian bistro, Fisk & Co. consistently finds itself on Chicago’s “best” lists for everything, from brunch to Happy Hour to killer cocktails. Their specialties are mussels and frites, but Executive Chef Ashlee Aubin highlights seasonal ingredients with some new amazing lunch offerings, like Salmon Gravlax with gaufrette potatoes, crème fraîche, dill, and pickled shallots or the Handmade Pasta with lobster, crab, herbs, lemon, and Aleppo pepper.
Prime & Provisions {222 North LaSalle Street; 312.726.7777}: It’s no surprise to find a packed dining room at Prime & Provisions when the lunch rush rolls around. This buzzy steakhouse is a go-to lunch stop for the area’s business crowd. Take your pick from their signature sandwich menu with standout selections like the Lobster Club or the Dry-Aged Prime Burger. Looking for something lighter? Opt for any one of their salads or seafood options, including the Classic Cobb Salad or the Broiled Wild Salmon. Caution: lingering lunch breaks and afternoon food comas should be fully expected.
Italian Village {71 West Monroe Street; 312.332.7005}: At 91 years old, Italian Village, which holds three different restaurants under one roof (The Village, Vivere, and La Cantina), is the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago and a true landmark. Featuring traditional Northern Italian specialities, The Village’s lunch menu includes an array of house-made items by Chef Jose Torres including the Rigatoni di Franco—barrel-shaped pasta in a light chicken sauce of cherry tomatoes and fresh basil.
312 Chicago {136 North LaSalle Street; 312.696.2420}: Italian-born Chef Luca Corazzina brings pure Northern Italian authenticity and modern creativity to the 312 Chicago menu, deep with innovative antipasti, house-made pastas, and the freshest in seafood and grilled steaks. Chef Luca’s rooftop garden adds on-site, garden-to-table veggies and herbs to many of 312’s dishes and sauces—the pesto is the freshest around. The patio overlooking LaSalle Street is a summertime dream, and they offer a Lunch Prix Fixe menu, so you can dine quickly and still have an amazing meal.
Cochon Volant Brasserie {100 West Monroe Street; 312.754.6560}: Cochon Volant’s polished blend of French tradition and American bistro staples have made it one of the Loop’s most sought-after spots for artisan organic salads and au jus dips on perfectly-executed breads from their full-service bakery. Their classic, casual yet elegant dining room is the ideal stop for a calming sip from their extensive wine list. Le Cheeseburger Royale: prime dry-aged beef, thick-cut bacon, confit onion, and house pickles will keep you coming back.
About Last Knife {168 North Michigan Avenue; 312.392.2440}: About Last Knife is the steak bar design that makes steaks less serious and more fun. Try their signature dinner item, Beef Wellington by the slice, as a slightly more streamlined lunch option, or the Steak Sandwich with giardiniera, Dijonnaise, and red onions on rosemary focaccia. Although steak is the focal point, the Chopped Salad with butter lettuces, blue cheese, apples, fried chickpeas, and Dijon balsamic is another favorite pick-me-up for a busy day in the Loop.
Remington’s {20 North Michigan Avenue; 312.782.6000}: Across from Millennium Park, Remington’s is the destination for modern ambiance with classic Chicago soul. Their steaks, raw bar, and expansive wine program are center stage, and the Wrightwood Salad, bursting with fresh ingredients, is a regular favorite. Josh Rutherford, 4-Star Restaurant Group Co-Owner says of Remington’s, “We love being the go-to restaurant for surrounding corporate offices, locals, and tourists alike. We pride ourselves on offering the best experience, whether it’s a quick business lunch, an important business dinner, or a casual spot for people visiting Millennium Park.”
Rosebud Prime {1 South Dearborn Street; 312.384.1900}: Rosebud Restaurants has been one of the biggest names for Italian and steak-finds in Chicago for over 40 years. Rosebud Prime in the Loop keeps that legacy going with the blue-chip Chicago steakhouse menu: steaks and chops, amazing seafood, their tested signature sides, and the Rosebud Classics pasta menu. Their 15oz New York Strip with herb butter is a Chicago tradition you don’t want to miss!
Steadfast {120 West Monroe Street; 312.801.8899}: Steadfast brings innovative flair and leading-edge cuisine to downtown Chicago. This elevated eatery offers house-made charcuterie and dazzling bites of seasonal New American flavors. Bring lunch to new heights with the Steadfast Lunch Break special. For $22, you can opt for the Stead-Fancy Cheeseburger (brisket, Dijonnaise, and American cheese) paired with the signature cocktail, the Weston (Old Weller 107 Antique, Dark Matter coffee, and pipe tobacco), or sample the Broccolini Salad (hard-boiled egg, bacon, and buttermilk dressing) alongside a crisp glass of Sancerre.
By Andy Hume, contributing writer
The post Lunching in the Loop: The Best Spots to Dine During the Work Week appeared first on DiningOut Chicago.