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/67043
Guide devour dining by moonlight TAKE MEALTIME OUTDOORS AT THE BEST ALFRESCO RESTAURANTS IN TOWN. by ari bendersky Chicago Cut Steakhouse Na med one of the best power- lunch spots in the city, Chicago Cut's patio offers diners a prime location for gazing at the Chicago River and marveling at the glistening glass-and-stone buildings that rise off its banks. Whether simply sharing a bottle of Champagne or digging into a hearty New York strip steak, everything tastes better with the city as a backdrop. 300 N. LaSalle St., 312-329-1800; chicagocutsteakhouse.com The J. Parker S tart the day with sunrise yoga that offers sweeping views of Lincoln Park, and return for afternoon cocktails or dinner while watching the skyline's flickering lights. The J. Parker sits atop the newly refurbished Hotel Lincoln and transforms the roof into a sexy lounge with delicious bites sent up from Perennial Virant on the ground level. 1816 N. Clark St., 312-254-4700; hotellincolnchicago.com Café des Architectes S it on comfy outdoor sofas beneath structures meant to emulate billowing white flags, and take in the activity all around. Diners can watch horse-drawn carriages wheel by while enjoying chef Greg Biggers's seasonal French fare and desserts from Patrick Fahy. Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, 20 E. Chestnut St., 312-324-4063; cafedesarchitectes.com 152 michiganavemag.com NoMI Garden S The patio at NoMi Garden ocialites and tourists alike rub elbows at sunset while sipping handcrafted cocktails at the new, 30-foot, black granite-topped, teak bar in this somewhat hidden yet effortlessly private escape seven floors above Michigan Avenue. Come for lunch, stay for dinner; but either way, don't miss the mouthwatering sushi. 800 N. Michigan Ave., 312-239-4030; hyatt.com/gallery/nomi Piccolo Sogno F or a sublime lunch or a romantic dinner, steal away behind Piccolo Sogno and get whisked straight to Tuscany at one of the city's most coveted outdoor tables. Chef Tony Priolo's crispy-crust pizzas, toothsome pastas, and hearty meats taste even better under the stars. 464 N. Halsted St., 312-421-0077; piccolosognorestaurant.com RL Restaurant W hether guests are content to see and be seen or they prefer to be a part of the action determines if they get an optimal corner seat inside or a prime spot on the patio at this super power spot. Be a lady who lunches or get together for steaks with the guys. This patio is a sublime space amidst the bustle of Michigan Avenue. 115 E. Chicago Ave., 312-475-1100; rlrestaurant.com RM Champagne Salon T ucked away down a long cobblestone driveway beneath old industrial warehouses sits one of Chicago's hottest—and sexiest—new escapes. Home to RM Champagne Salon (adjacent to hot spot Nellcote and neighboring Graham Elliot's G.E.B), this urban hideaway invites patrons to sip from Jason Wagner's curated wine and Champagne list while indulging in pastry chef Nate Meads' petit fours, made-from-scratch chocolates, macarons, and more. 116 N. Green St., 312-243-1199; rmchampagnesalon.com Shanghai Terrace H aving undergone some changes, the Terrace now takes diners back in time to Shanghai's golden age of the 1930s, while offering a modern bent on the food and cocktails at its new permanent alfresco bar—making "just one more" that much easier. The Peninsula Chicago, 108 E. Superior St., 312-573-6744; peninsula.com Three Aces F eeling a little rock 'n' roll and want to get away from the scene? Grab a table on this string-lit parking lot patio, and enjoy chef Matt Troost's refined Italian- influenced bar fare like beer-steamed mussels, ribollita Tuscan stew with white beans and milk-braised pork shoulder, or a Calabrese pizzetta, while washing it down with one of dozens of craft beers. 1321 W. Taylor St., 312-243-1577; threeaceschicago.com MA Ryan LaRoche Kevin Boehm, Boka Restaurant Group "if the restaurant is full and people are clamoring to sit down, and you're done eating, let other people sit." Chris Dexter, RM Champagne Salon "the intent of the rm patio is to embody the european experience; we encourage patrons to embrace that lifestyle and linger over a glass of wine or champagne." Ryan LaRoche, NoMI Kitchen "if you can score a seat… keep it going as long as the bubbly is flowing." Garden seating at Boka Do Unto others We asked three restaurateurs and chefs for their opinions about holding court on an outdoor patio. photography by jorge gera (laroche)