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We are treating my ILs to dinner out for their 50th Anniversary ON THE DAY (5/19). That day is during the NATO summit being held in Chicago, so we decided we are not going downtown now. So that blew our chances for amazing cuisine with a view. We want both. Food is a higher priority though.

We are willing to drive to get a great night out.
Preferrably the NW suburbs (where my ILs live).
Second choice would be the Western Suburbs (around Naperville, or Geneva, St. Charles, etc.)

I'd like to avoid a steak house - my MIL and I prefer french, small plates/portions.

Please offer suggestions!
Thanks.

There's no view, but Le Titi de Paris is the best (and fanciest) French restaurant in the northwest suburbs. It's still open, slated to close next month. Two other French places in the northwest 'burbs are Barrington Country Bistro and D&J Bistro. Both are quite good, but a step down from Le Titi IMHO.

I'm not sure you need to rule out going downtown just because of the NATO summit. Everest is the obvious choice there, between the French cuisine and the view from the top of the Midwest Stock Exchange building, looking out over the city. It might be worth giving them a call to ask about how much hassle it would be to get there.

One other possibility is North Pond, where Chef Bruce Sherman just won the James Beard Award for best chef in our region. It's three miles north of the Loop, so there's no concern about the NATO summit. And the view is fantastic; it's in the middle of Lincoln Park (the park itself) facing its namesake pond, and if you're in the front room, the full-length windows face its namesake pond with the city skyline looming over the opposite shore.

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"we must all understand that we're not all going to agree on everything, so let's just accept it -- hell, let's cherish it -- and move on." - ronnie_suburban

While the NATO summit will definitely disrupt the area around McCormick Place and the museum campus (due to road closures), there will also be motorcades and street protests. My guess is that the disruption won't be limited to the immediate area around the summit.

I would avoid Everest, but you might be ok with North Pond...just allow plenty of time.

We have our Next reservations that weekend and I've got my fingers crossed for an easy trip there (and we're coming from Lincoln Park).

ETA - Here's the security map. Yeah...stay out of the Loop.

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-Josh

An amuse bouche at breakfast is called a Bloody Mary - Scott Manlin

Everest is located in the downtown Red Zone intended to protect federal buildings in the area. I'm not sure of the exact details, but I think the surrounding streets in the red zones will be inaccessible to traffic. According to the Sun-Times, the red zone will be patrolled by uniformed police and personnel from the Federal Protective Service, who will be carrying non-lethal weapons such as beanbag guns. I can't imagine a worse place to be. To give an idea, a friend who works in the Red Zone was instructed by her building security to wear "casual clothing" to work during the days of the summit so that they wouldn't stand out going to and from the building. I'm sure that's probably an overreaction by building security and an unnecessary precaution, nevertheless, nothing ruins a nice dinner like passing riot cops along the way and getting teargassed.

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Local Beet

D&J Bistro has good food, but the dining room gets loud and the service is not as good as Le Titi De Paris.

I think that North Pond fits your requirements. If you let them know it's a special occasion they personalize the menu and write a
"Happy Anniversary" on the dessert plate. Nothing beats that view looking over the pond.

While I think that North Pond would be an excellent selection, my recollection from a long-ago visit is that it can be a fairly long walk to get to the restaurant itself. Hopefully your in-laws don't any have mobility issues, but if so, it may be worth checking with the restaurant to see if there's any assistance available to get from the parking lot to the restaurant.

I think I figured out the perfect place based upon your criteria.

Courtright's in Willow Springs.

I haven't been there in a couple years, so I can't discuss the quality of the food right now, however I'm confident it is better than D&J and most likely better than Titi (both of which I've been to in the last year). Take it for what it's worth, but they also earned a Michelin star last year.

It is located in the Western suburbs. Their chef is French and the menu is French / American. It is located adjacent to woods and forest preserve. Frequently you can see deer from your table. Check out the pictures on their website. It is one of only a few places not in the city where I would consider the view/grounds a important part of the atmosphere.


Courtright's Restaurant
8989 S. Archer Avenue
Willow Springs, IL 60480
708-839-8000
http://www.courtrights.com (warning: annoying music)

If you decide that the food is more important than the view, go to Vie in Western Springs where you'll get the best food in the suburbs, bar none.

It's .12 miles from Stockton and .08 miles from Cannon. That's less than a block either way but if they truly have mobility issues, then maybe that's still too far. That'd be a shame since NPC is probably the most scenic in the entire city.

Just once in my life I'd like to say that

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The cake is a lie

I would go to Michael's in Winnetka. Great room, great service and excellent food.

My meal at North Pond was riddled with service and food issues and Bruce Sherman was in the house.

I have to agree with the Michael rec. No discernable view, but exquisite French food, done by a man with a thorough understanding of the genre. Plus you can always rubberneck at the Winnetka/Kenilworth swells.

MICHAEL
64 Green Bay Rd.
Winnetka, IL 60093

Michael Lachowicz, cuisiner

Phone:
847-441-3100

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Food & Flowers: Andre Jordan's sweet doodle for a cold winter's day; diary of an unhappy restaurateur, circa 1881; winter project - try a terrarium

I love Courtright's and would second it, although it's not on the northwest side, it is about 5 min from 294 if you exit at 75th st / Willow Springs Rd. They have a lovely garden and while the service can be a bit on the stuffy side, the food is excellent and the wine list is amazing.

Michael is another great suggestion, and probably a bit closer to where you are at. Good luck with the search.

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-- Nora --
"Great food is like great sex. The more you have the more you want." ~Gael Greene