the 95th and 96th floors. The entire 8,000-square-foot space holds 700 for receptions. Six smaller rooms seat 30 to 250, or hold 30 to 450 for receptions. (875 North Michigan Ave., 312.787.9596)
Modern Wing, Terzo Piano serves Mediterranean-Italian fare created by chef Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia. The restaurant’s patio provides seating for 60; inside, the space can seat 300. (159 East Monroe St., 312.443.8650)
SILVER CLOUD5
TEXAS DE BRAZIL
Silver Cloud slings comfort food like tuna melts, chicken potpie, and meat loaf. The 2,900-square-foot space seats 80 people or holds 150 for receptions; the tree-shaded patio can accommodate 60. (1700 North Damen Ave., 773.489.6212)
This chain brought its Brazilian churrascaria steak house concept to the Magnificent Mile in 2008. With 24,000 square feet, the restaurant can hold 500 people. Seven private rooms hold 10 to 175. (51 East Ohio St., 312.670.1006)
SIXTEEN
This brick-walled restaurant has a bar area that holds 70; it has large windows that open onto Halsted Street. There’s also a patio with 15 tables. Tilli’s offers contemporary American fare with Asian influences. (1952 North Halsted St., 773.325.0044)
World-class chef Frank Brunacci serves up modern American cuisine at this restaurant on the 16th floor of Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago. The grand ballroom holds 295, while the Skyline Room holds 175 for receptions. (401 North Wabash Ave., 312.588.8030) SOLA
Chef-owner Carol Wallack’s casual neighborhood bistro in North Center serves contemporary American fare with Polynesian twists. The private party room holds 40, or the entire restaurant, which holds 120, can be rented. (3868 North Lincoln Ave., 773.327.3868) NEW THE SOUTHERN5
The Southern took over the former Chaise Lounge space in Wicker Park in February 2010. The bilevel eatery can host private functions for 125 on its enclosed rooftop deck. Available for full buyout, the venue can hold 250. (1840 West North Ave., 773.342.1840) SOUTH WATER KITCHEN
This contemporary restaurant inside Hotel Monaco provides more than 4,100 square feet of meeting space. The River Room seats 35, while the Paris Room, Athens Room, and Tokyo Boardroom each seat 180 or hold 250 for receptions. (225 North Wabash Ave., 312.236.9300) SPIAGGIA
Chef/partner Tony Mantuano serves Italian cuisine. Spiaggia offers several dining rooms, which may be combined to seat 220 or hold 350 for receptions. Special additions to events include custom menus, specialty linens, exotic flowers, and a baby grand piano. (980 North Michigan Ave., 312.280.3300) SPRING
Award-winning chef-owner Shawn McClain’s flagship restaurant is in a historic 1920s bathhouse. Spring offers a New American menu with a strong seafood focus by combining French and Asian accents. A semiprivate room holds 35. (2039 West North Ave., 773.395.7100) NEW SPROUT
Chef Dale Levitski oversees the menu of this 40-seat Lincoln Park eatery, which is decked with red banquettes, marble floors, and oversize photos of colorful fruit. (1417 West Fullerton Ave., 773.348.0706) STANLEY’S KITCHEN & TAP5
Designed to resemble a down-home restaurant, this entire boisterous corner venue can be rented, or the basement/private party room can hold 100. Stanley’s on Racine, which opened in 2007, has outdoor seating for 200. (1970 North Lincoln Ave., 312.642.0007; Stanley’s on Racine: 324 South Racine Ave., 312.433.0007) SUNDA
Rockit Ranch Productions opened Sunda in River North in March 2009. The New Asian restaurant can seat 126 or hold 300 for receptions. For smaller groups, two communal tables offer seating for 14 to 32. The lounge can host receptions for 40; and the private Veranda room seats 24. (110 West Illinois St., 312.644.0500) SUSHI SAMBA RIO5
TILLI’S5
TIMOTHY O’TOOLE’S PUB
This restaurant has two private rooms available for events. The Guinness Room holds 36 and the Selooto Room holds 101. The entire venue can also be rented for groups of as many as 401.(622 North Fairbanks Court, 312.642.0700) TIZI MELLOUL
Specializing in offbeat Mediterranean cuisine, this festive eatery has three rooms for events. The Crescent Room and the bar/lounge each hold 25. The entire restaurant, which seats 150 or holds 175 for receptions, can also be rented. (531 North Wells St., 312.670.4338)
VINCI
The DaVinci Group owns this Italian eatery in Lincoln Park. Three party rooms offer rustic Italian spaces that hold 12 to 50. The Buca room holds 15; the Portico holds 35; and the more formal room, Enoteca, holds 50. (1732 North Halsted St., 312.266.1199) VIVO
This rustic Italian eatery offers two private areas. The popular elevator shaft offers private dining for eight. For larger events, the second floor, with its classic wood accents, holds 200. (838 West Randolph St., 312.733.3379) VOLO RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR5
With curtained-off cedar cabanas that seat 16, fountains, gardens, a 100-year-old barn, and a tucked-away location, Volo’s back patio offers a quiet space to sip on a flight from the extensive wine list. The backyard holds 65, while the sidewalk café seats 16. Volo’s narrow 1,000-square-foot interior seats 52. (2008 West Roscoe St., 773.348.4600) WEATHER MARK TAVERN5
A large painting of a sailboat hangs behind the bar at this sailing-themed venue. Sails section off four lounging areas that each seat 10 on couches, leather ottomans, and chairs. A front section with highboys and TVs holds 50, while the whole space seats 80 or holds 125 for receptions. A patio seats 60. (1503 South Michigan Ave., 312.588.0230) WEBER GRILL RESTAURANT
This River North restaurant from celebrity chef Rick Bayless was the first ethnic restaurant to be awarded four stars by Chicago magazine. The main dining room features art by famed Mexican artists, and the Morales Room offers private dining for 40. (445 North Clark St., 312.661.1434)
The Weber Grill has four spaces available for events. The Grill Room holds 100, the Summit Room holds 30, and the Ranch Room holds 150. During the warmer months, a covered patio seats 100 or holds 150 for receptions. There are additional locations in Lombard, Schaumburg, and Indianapolis. (539 North State St., 312.467.9696)
TOWNHOUSE RESTAURANT & WINE BAR5
WEST TOWN TAVERN
This 5,000-square-foot downtown restaurant opened in 2006. Townhouse’s main dining room seats 120 and is dominated by floor-to-ceiling windows that run the length of the venue; a patio seats an additional 70. (111 South Wacker Drive, 312.948.8240)
Susan and Drew Goss’s menu offers contemporary comfort food, and the venue features a tin ceiling and exposed brick walls. The dining room seats 65. The entire restaurant is available for rent on Sundays. During the week, it can hold groups of 20. (1329 West Chicago Ave., 312.666.6175)
TRADER VIC’S
WILDFIRE
This upscale tiki-themed restaurant chain opened a Gold Coast outpost in December 2009. The venue can cater to groups of eight to 200. Menu selections include macadamia nut mahimahi and wasabi-crusted filet mignon, and the specialty cocktail list features 76 fruity concoctions. (1030 North State St., 312.642.6500)
This 1940s-inspired supper club by Lettuce Entertain You is closed to the public for lunch but hosts daytime events and holds as many as 125. Planners may also reserve the smaller private rooms, including the Avalon, Buckingham, Stardust, and Geyser-Peak, which hold groups of 30 to 50. (159 West Erie St., 312.787.9000)
TOPOLOBAMPO
TRAMONTO’S STEAK & SEAFOOD
XIPPO5
Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand opened this sleek spot in the Westin Chicago North Shore in 2006. A candle room holds 60, and a room inside the 10,000-bottle wine wall seats six. (601 North Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, Ill., 847.777.6575)
This restaurant and lounge has low lighting, rich wood, a DJ many evenings, and an extensive beer list. Xippo holds 95 for receptions. A patio that runs the length of the building seats 40. (3759 North Damen Ave., 773.529.9135)
TRATTORIA NO. 10
ZAPATISTA
This Italian restaurant’s menu features homemade ravioli and four-grain risotto. Private dining is available in two rooms decorated with a Tuscan theme and featuring warm lighting, earth tones, and murals; each seats 30. (10 North Dearborn St., 312.984.1718)
This Mexican restaurant serves updated traditional Latin dishes in a festive setting. There is no private dining room, but the staff will set aside enough space for 25 to 70, or the entire restaurant may be rented out for groups of 250. (1307 South Wabash Ave., 312.435.1307)
TRU
ZEALOUS
The progressive French cuisine at this restaurant owned by Rich Melman, Rick Tramonto, and Gale Gand has earned it numerous accolades. The venue can seat 100 or hold 250 for receptions when rented in its entirety. The second-floor private room holds 40. (676 North St. Clair St., 312.202.0001)
Chef Michael Taus is known for going all out, especially for guests who reserve the 10-seat chef’s table. His restaurant also hosts larger events; it holds 250. The private dining room features cozy, plush chairs and views of the glassenclosed wine cellar. (419 West Superior St., 312.475.9112)
TSUKI5
ZED4515
Siblings Agnes Chua Yoshikawa and Eugene Chua own this sushi-focused restaurant. The restaurant has a clubby feel, with an upstairs party room that seats 65 or holds 100 for receptions. A patio may be used for events. (1443 West Fullerton Ave., 773.883.8722)
Chef Bobby Varua—who’s worked with Daniel Boulud, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Charlie Palmer, and David Burke—helped usher in this novel concept where the chefs act as servers. A first-floor wine room seats 10; the second floor holds 350; and the rooftop lounge seats 100. (739 North Clark St., 312.266.6691)
Shimon Bokovza brings his successful Brazilian/ Japanese/Peruvian concept to River North with this 12,000-square-foot space. Sushi Samba’s many rooms include the main dining room, which seats 250; the rooftop lounge, which holds 150; the 60-person main bar and lounge; the red room, which holds 80; and the mezzanine for 25. (504 North Wells St., 312.595.2300)
Noted chef Steven Chiappetti creates whimsical American contemporary fare at this restaurant inside the Marriott Courtyard. Its 5,000 square feet may be rented for parties of as many as 200, or one of two private rooms may be used. A small patio seats 25. (155 East Ontario St., 312.255.8505)
ZOCALO
NEW SUSHI TAIYO
VIET BISTRO
ZODIAC ROOM
From the owners of Rise and Shine, Sushi Taiyo opened in the former Farmerie 58 address in November 2009. With seating in red booths and walls made out of reclaimed barn wood, the restaurant offers sake, steak and specialty rolls. (58 East Ontario St., 312.440.1717)
This modern, Asian-focused eatery can be rented for receptions of as many as 80, or there is a lounge separate from the dining room that may be booked for smaller events. The space is outfitted with Asian fixtures, butterfly art, and lounge furniture. (1346 West Devon Ave., 773.465.5720)
This restaurant on the fourth floor of Neiman Marcus serves contemporary American food. The main dining room can be rented for groups of 150, and the smaller Light Touch room is available for private events for 20. (737 North Michigan Ave., 312.642.5900)
VIAND5
Cousins Marcos and Edgar Castaneda opened this regional Mexican restaurant. With the 5,000-square-foot Zocalo, they’ve created a warm, inviting dining room that seats 225. A private room seats 35. (358 West Ontario St., 312.302.9977)
TABLE 52
When chef Art Smith’s Table 52 opened, it was known as an impossible-to-get-a-reservation spot. Luckily, the cozy 35-seat restaurant is available for partial or full buyouts. Smith worked as Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef for 10 years. (52 West Elm St., 312.573.4000) TAPAS LAS RAMBLAS
This tapas spot opened in Andersonville in 2008. Hanging lanterns, colorful murals, and mosaics adorn the 2,500-square-foot storefront space. A private dining room seats 64 or holds 100 for receptions. (5101 North Clark St., 773.769.9700) TAVERN AT THE PARK5
Tavern at the Park has four private dining spaces that seat 10 to 100. The bilevel venue features soundabsorbing pressed-tin ceilings, 20-foot windows, and an upscale American menu. (130 East Randolph St., 312.552.0070) TERZO PIANO5
On the third level of the Art Institute of Chicago’s new
Retail Venues ELEMENTS
Although this shop sells jewelry, handbags, fine china, cashmere scarves, organic stoneware, and more, owners Jeannine Dal Pra and Toby Glickman also open the 3,700-square-foot space for events. Elements holds 200. (741 North Wells St., 877.642.6574) GUISE/CHIC
This space serves as a complete style store (think retail and salon) for men and women. The 4,000-square-foot open room has exposed brick walls and wood floors. The decor is split between the sexes—the men’s side
is decorated in stainless steel and cool colors, while the women’s side is black and white with hanging chandeliers. (2128 North Halsted St., 773.929.6101) MACY’S ON STATE STREET
This national historic landmark opened in 1852. The Narcissus Room holds 600 or can be divided into two rooms. The culinary studio can host cooking demonstrations and holds 100. The marble-floored Seven on State food court and the circa-1907 Walnut Room restaurant each hold 1,000. Six boardrooms and conference rooms hold 8 to 45. (111 North State St., 312.781.1000)
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