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/641712
Despite the trends, Chicagoans can't live on burgers and tacos alone. Here, three restaurants whose creative takes on sophisticated dining are providing enticing alternatives. Ruxbin. This much- lauded Ukrainian Village spot now sports a family-style menu and a communal dining vibe. "Great food can be a shared experience," says chef/owner Edward Kim, "and large-format dishes are celebratory and can be equally as refined." ruxbinchicago.com Cold Storage. Swift & Sons owners Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm took advantage of the sizzling steakhouse's generous footprint to create a second, fish-focused concept within the space to "cozy it up a bit," says Katz —with big results. "The seafood towers are flying out of the kitchen." swiftandsonschicago.com Intro. A series of rotating chefs has made this spot a go-to for foodies searching for fine dining's next big name. "We're a school for entrepreneurs—we develop people," reasons Rich Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises founder. "And everybody likes to discover someone new." introchicago.com . clockwise from below: Ruxbin's sous-chef Daniel Jeffrey plates the carrot steak; Cold Storage's interior; baby artichoke risotto from Stephen Gillanders' recent menu at Intro. INNOVATIVE EATing From rotating cheFs to Family- style meals, chicago's most exciting restaurants are bucking the Fast-casual trend in creative new ways. PhotograPhy by Frank Lieu (ruxbin); kaiLLey Lindman (CoLd Storage); anjaLi Pinto (intro) SCENE taste trends 66 michiganavemag.com