HEARTH & HOME
SAVOR : Arami We love that Arami , a Japanese restaurant in West Chicago , is one of the “ chillest ” eateries in town - a good place to dine before the show or the game , or to kick back after hours . The ambience is casual-cool , with skylights , brick walls and touches of bamboo , but the star here is the menu : sushi made with fish flown fresh from Japan , 50 types of sake , and small plates that taste as good as they look . The Tako Sansai , an octopus salad that gives your taste buds a thrill , is a solid amuse-bouche . And if you can ’ t decide with the plethora of sushi choices , go with the Chef ’ s Choice - with the pedigree of the ingredients , you won ’ t be disappointed . aramichicago . com
Imperial Lamian This downtown dim sum / noodle house is the place to be for a quick lunch , happy hour , dinner - or just the most indulgent of desserts . If you ’ re going to name the place after a specific Chinese noodle ( lamian ), it better be good - and this eatery delivers ! The hand-pulled noodles are made to order , and you can see them preparing yours while you wait . Trust us when we say you can ’ t go wrong with anything on the menu , but we highly suggest the Combination Xiao Long Bao for a sampling of their specialty soup dumplings . And this is no place to skip dessert : Just utter the words , “ Lunar Blossom ,” and get ready for a show ! imperial-lamian . com
Benny ’ s Chop House It ’ s not hard to find a steakhouse in this town , but we found the one with the best selection of cuts - and one of only a dozen in the country to have true Japanese Kobe beef on the menu . Dining at Benny ’ s is an event , with its 1,800-plus-bottle wine cellar , “ not-for-the-faint-of-heart ” cocktails , substantial appetizers like its signature Chop House Maple-Glazed Bacon , and sides that hold their own ( try the Homemade Gnocchi , Truffle Fries or Crisped Kale ). And did we mention the steaks ? The dryaged Bone-In Rib Eye was heavenly , but the Japanese Black Grade A5 Kobe Filet left us in a state of bliss . bennyschophouse . com
Rainbow soup dumplings at Imperial Lamian
Café Robey Forget the fact that Café Robey was just an elevator ride away from our 11th floor suite . This street-level bistro at The Robey is definitely a standout in the very competitive , chef-driven Wicker Park dining scene . We know that breakfast is usually an afterthought when you ’ re playing tourist , but Café Robey ’ s offerings are worthy of attention . Wake up to a Seasonal or Green juice , squeezed in-house and just delightful , and the Brioche French Toast is a show-stopper . For dinner , Café Robey is bustling , not just with hotel guests , but also locals who know that this is a good place to be . The Rillettes off the Small Plates menu is a party for your palate ; for Mains , everybody raves about the salmon . therobey . com
The Robey ' s rooftop balcony , with the Chicago skyline on the horizon
SAVVY I SOPHISTICATED I SASSY 45