Atwood Café

1 W Washington St, Hotel Burnham, Chicago, IL 60602 312-368-1900

Description: THE LOOP. With only 70 seats, tables at this intimate restaurant are in high demand. Come for breakfast to avoid the crowds and to start your day off right. Eggs arrive in a variety of ways ­ poached in a benedict, served with home fries, or scrambled in a savory breakfast panini, for instance. A sweet banana pecan waffle, brioche french toast, and warm oatmeal rich with fruit and cinnamon provide alternatives. Fresh orange juice and Illy coffee and espresso are perfect liquid accompaniments.
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Avenues

108 E Superior St, The Peninsula Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611 312-573-6695

Description: NEAR NORTH. Elegant and exquisite, this stately hotel dining room serves French-Mediterranean cuisine and has a penchant for fresh seafood. The contemporary menu includes dishes like foie gras, duck breast, Maine lobster, and fresh scallops. An elegant interior features gold walls, rich leather chairs, an open kitchen, and fine china. The large wine list includes over 600 varieties. Impeccable service too.
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Bijan's Bistro

633 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610 312-202-1904

Description: RIVER NORTH. Serving both food and drink until the wee hours, this New American bistro has become a popular spot, especially with the late-night bunch. Inside, dark woods, copper tiles, and faux antique light fixtures establish a comfy setting, and the menu has plenty of variety, thanks to appetizers, specialty salads, soups, sandwiches, and poultry, beef, and seafood entrees. Try barbecued chicken or a fresh-ground burger with hand-cut fries to bolster your energy.
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Bistro 110

110 E Pearson St, Chicago, IL 60611 312-266-3110

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. This Continental classic has a popular jazz brunch on Sundays. Regulars line up year-round to sit at the outdoor tables (enclosed in winter) that boast lovely views of the famous Water Tower. Check the long chalkboard for info about the day's news, stock quotes, sports results, and lots of other useful facts. Cuisine includes favorites like pommes frites, wood-fired pizzas, and breakfast classics like omelets and eggs Benedict. Desserts are a highlight, as well. EL: Red Line to Chicago
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Café des Architectes

20 E Chestnut St, Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, Chicago, IL 60611 312-324-4000

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. Located in the Sofitel lobby, this restaurant boasts notable French cuisine colored with global inspiration and a well-selected French-American wine list. The design of the restaurant is contemporary, mirroring the architecture of the building itself. The menu features a mix of soups, salads, and seafood and meat entrees, including roasted monkfish and seared beef tenderloin. The wine list offers over 60 varieties; several are available by the glass.
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Cheesecake Factory

875 N Michigan Ave, lower level, Chicago, IL 60611-1803 312-337-1101

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. You'll face an important decision when you arrive here, so allow plenty of time to ponder before choosing your cheesecake flavor from the list of 34 decadent options. There's also a large dinner menu with plenty of great dishes and other desserts, but the obvious draw is cheesecake. Try white chocolate raspberry truffle, chocolate mousse, or double chocolate upside down Jack Daniels varieties. The dining room fills up quickly, so go early or late. EL: Red Line to Chicago
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Dragonfly Mandarin Restaurant & Lounge

832 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607 312-787-7600

Description: WEST LOOP. This after-work spot draws a trendy group of yuppies looking to sip martinis and munch on delectable Chinese appetizers (or "teasers" as the menu labels them). Start off with a signature Dragonfly Martini and a plate of crab puffs or Shanghai spring rolls.
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Drake Brothers Restaurant

140 E Walton St, Drake Hotel, Chicago, IL 60611 312-787-2200

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. Located in the Drake Hotel, this restaurant is an upscale dining room that serves breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch. The breakfast menu includes a buffet that's brimming over with delicious early morning favorites such as eggs benedict and blueberry pancakes. The lunch menu includes a bevy of soups, salads, and sandwiches. Try the Bookbinder soup and a basket of the freshly baked bread.
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Frontera Grill

445 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60610 312-661-1434

Description: RIVER NORTH. Saturday brunch earns raves at this city favorite, which is considered by some to be the best Mexican restaurant in America. The room boasts folk art and vivid colors inside and sunny sidewalk seating outside. The ever-changing menu offers artistic dishes from award-winning chef Rick Bayless, including authentic tacos, tamales, breakfast burritos, and desserts like almond cake and buttermilk-lime ice cream.
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House of Blues

329 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60610 312-923-2000

Description: RIVER NORTH. House of Blues is well-known for its cool, hip decor and its stellar line-up of music. It's also known for its brunch, which includes an all-you-can-eat buffet with cooked-to-order omelets, amazing Cajun potatoes, tons of fresh fish dishes, waffles, sausage, and numerous other items. While you dine, sit back and enjoy an hour of some of the most heartfelt gospel music you'll ever hear. Church choirs come with talented soloists and their own musicians, and they always put on unforgettable shows.
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Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

60 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 312-379-5637

Description: RIVER NORTH. This classic dinner club-style restaurant boasts a vaulted ceiling, dark wooden furniture, and excellent lighting, making it an ideal place for a power lunch or entertaining important clients. Partner of the famous Joe's Stone Crab in Miami, this River North gem features a selection of fresh seafood and steaks. Of course, rumor has it that the stone crab claws alone are worth the trip.
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NoMi

800 N Michigan Ave, Park Hyatt Chicago, 7th floor, Chicago, IL 60611 312-239-4030

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. This restaurant offers an impressive view of the city as well as an upscale, elegant environment. Start off with peeky toe crab salad or a scallop tart. Next, order monkfish brochette, wild striped bass, or even the always-enticing veal strip loin. A full bar offers a vast array of wines and liquors. For added glamour, experience the romance of outdoor terrace dining by candlelight when the weather's pleasant.
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Pump Room

1301 N State Pkwy, Omni Ambassador East Hotel, Chicago, IL 60610 312-266-0360

Description: GOLD COAST. The Pump Room is one of this city's legendary restaurants. Dine on fine Limoges china under the sparkle of crystal chandeliers and enjoy the contemporary French cuisine turned out by the Pump Room's award-winning chef.
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RL

115 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 312-475-1100

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. Owned by fashion guru Ralph Lauren, this contemporary American restaurant has a cosmopolitan air about it. Rich leather furniture, mahogany paneling, and chic African style prints define the decor. The menu is just as fashionable and features notable items like Alaskan halibut, jumbo sea scallops in a cucumber-tomato salad, Amish chicken, and grilled lamb.
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Seasons Restaurant & Lounge

120 E Delaware Pl, Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, 7th fl, Chicago, IL 60611 312-280-8800

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. This upscale hotel dining room pampers guests and makes them feel like royalty. The setting is elegant, boasting fresh flowers, crystal, and mahogany at every turn. The lofty location provides for great views of the cityscape below, and the menu is contemporary American with French influences. Possible entrees include Peking duck breast with wild French asparagus, clay pot-cooked Alaskan halibut with Chinese sausage, and Mediterranean Colorado lamb rack with tagine sauce. Look for seasonal specials as well as a tasting menu. The lounge provides a stylish setting for lunch, afternoon tea or cocktails.
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Shanghai Terrace

108 E Superior St, The Peninsula Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611 312-573-6695

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. Located on the hotel's fourth floor, this serene, elegant restaurant serves consistently delicious pan-Asian cuisine in a dining room that hearkens back to Shanghai in the early 20th century. Try dim sum at lunch or Cantonese steamed fish or wok-fried lobster for dinner. Outdoor seating on a lovely terrace is available seasonally.
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Signature Room at the 95th

875 N Michigan Ave, John Hancock Tower, Chicago, IL 60611 312-787-9596

Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. If you haven't wined or dined at The Signature Room yet, your next trip will undoubtedly have to include this Chicago landmark. The high-stepping destination is a place not only to see and be seen but also to take in the beauty of the city with a 360-degree bird's eye view. Nurse a martini and laugh over the fact that you didn't make it to the Sears Tower. The menu features traditional American cuisine.
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Tavern on Rush

1031 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611 312-664-9600

Description: GOLD COAST. Trendy Tavern on Rush brings together all the elements of a fine steakhouse: a lively bar, plenty of leather and dark wood, and excellent beef. The main-level bar has excellent martinis and comfy couches, making it a popular gathering spot for well-dressed professionals, but it's great for pre- or post-prandial cocktails, too. The second-floor dining room sports an entertaining open kitchen and big windows with engaging views of bustling Rush Street. Start your meal with potstickers, crab and artichoke dip, or a thin-crust pizza. Steaks reign supreme, and you can get yours grilled or prepared with any number of additions, like bleu cheese, Cajun spices, roasted garlic, or brandy peppercorn sauce. Seafood and ribs are also well-prepared.
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The Lobby

108 E Superior St, The Peninsula Hotel, Chicago, IL 60611 312-573-6760

Description: RIVER NORTH. Come for breakfast, lunch, high tea, dinner, or dessert, and enjoy expansive views of the city's bustle from grandly proportioned windows. Extensive breakfast options range from traditional standards to decadent Nutella-stuffed French toast with banana brulee and "Nasi Goreng" Balinese fried rice with eggs and chicken satay. Live cello and piano music are available in the evenings. Note to chocolate-lovers: A buffet bar serves up the richest treats with coffees every Friday and Saturday night giving you energy to dance the night away while a contemporary jazz trio and singer perform.
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Wave

644 N Lake Shore Dr, W Hotel Chicago - Lakeshore, Chicago, IL 60611 312-255-4460

Description: STREETERVILLE. This see-and-be-seen hotspot draws a mix of folks to its modern dining room, which serves contemporary Mediterranean cuisine with a seafood focus. The house specialty should be ordered upon arrival ­ spice and molasses-glazed shrimp with candied orange, mulled red wine syrup, and cardamom. Notable entrees include poached monkfish, pan-roasted walleye, and pan-roasted American sturgeon. The interior features strong lines and curves, leather chairs and glass walls, a large projection screen, and a color scheme of red, black, and neutrals.
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