Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/175878
GUIDED TOUR THE LAO FACTOR Chinatown dynamo Tony Hu expands his restaurant empire with elegant River North showpiece Lao 18. BY MEG MATHIS Center Stage THEATER ENTHUSIAST LES CONEY DISHES ON HIS FAVORITE SHOW-NIGHT DINING DESTINATIONS. BY J.P. ANDERSON D escribing Les Coney as a supporter of Chicago's theater scene is a serious understatement. The Mesirow Financial executive vice president is a life trustee at the Goodman Theatre; he also serves on the board of trustees for Lookingglass, sits on the board of the League of Chicago Theatres, and is the founding chairman of Congo Square Theatre Company. He attends as many shows as possible—including the Goodman's Pullman Porter Blues, which runs through October 20 and whose opening-night event Coney chaired—and enjoys sitting down at these, his favorite restaurants for pre- and post-theater dining. Morton's The Steakhouse "The nice thing about Morton's for pre-theater dining is its 'power hour' menu, where you can have hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and a good meal that's quick and not too heavy before your show. The food is outstanding; Morton's has national recognition and, obviously, multiple locations in Chicago. The room is beautiful and very elegant; a great place if you're going on a date or with your spouse." 65 E. Wacker Pl., 312-201-0410; mortons.com Petterino's "If I'm going to The Goodman, I tend to go to Petterino's because it's right off the lobby. It has a frequent-customer board, so when I call, I'm guaranteed a reservation because my name is on the board. I like its chicken Parmigiana, which is a great dish served over spaghetti." 150 N. Dearborn St., 312-422-0150; petterinos.com Mastro's Steakhouse "If I want to go out after the show and discuss the play, Mastro's is my first choice. It has a lively bar and it stays open late, so you can leave the theater without feeling rushed." 520 N. Dearborn St., 312-521-5100; mastrosrestaurants.com the room boasts century-old tiles from China and golden birdcage chandeliers above the semiprivate banquettes. "In China, my grandpa and grandma would often go to the park in the early morning to exercise, and [they would] carry a birdcage with them," says Hu. "That means 'comfortable life.'" Family is indeed important to Hu; the front lounge features oversize, upside-down ceramic rice bowls (complete with chopstick-style beams) to represent kinship, while the dining room's cloudlike brass ceiling installation signifies peace and luck. "We want to make people happy," says Hu, "and we say to the customers, 'Always be lucky.'" 18 W. Hubbard St., 312-955-8018; lao18.com Szechuan peppercorn sole filet (BELOW) stars on the refined menu at Tony Hu's River North restaurant Lao 18. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANJALI PINTO (PETTERINO'S); JEFF SCHEAR (CONEY, SOLE FILET) Mastro's Steakhouse (TOP) and the chicken Parmigiana at Petterino's (LEFT) are favorites of Les Coney's. With eight buzzing restaurants under his belt, Tony Hu has had plenty of good fortune in Chinatown. A recent Uptown destination is thriving, and now he's bringing the fanfare to Hubbard Street with his first River North restaurant, Lao 18. Hu is renowned for his fiery Szechuan fare, and Lao 18 doesn't disappoint, with menu highlights like the Szechuan peppercorn sole filet ("very new to the country," Hu notes) and the signature Tony's Three Chili Chicken, which is spiked with a spicy/sweet blend of hot pepper, jalapeño, rosemary, and soy. Of the 8,000-square-foot space, Hu says, "We want people to feel like [they're in] a countryside home." To that end, RPM Italian "My daughter is a member of the Scenemaker's at Goodman Theatre, for younger adults, and RPM is number one for catering to that crowd. It's a young, hip, good-looking, fast-moving scene." 52 W. Illinois St., 312-222-1888; rpmitalian.com MA 84 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM 084_MA_Taste_Tour_October13.indd 84 9/17/13 5:51 PM