A glance again at 5 of Chicago’s most traditionally romantic eating places

For Chicagoans, meals is romance.

A well-cooked beef, be it Italian or Kobe, is usually one among our sincerest expressions of affection. Even Jewel packages steaks in plastic pink heart-shaped containers for Valentine’s Day. The pandering shouldn’t be solely accepted, however celebrated as a result of we really feel seen as a people who find themselves hungry for love … and likewise simply hungry.

All through town’s historical past, there was no scarcity of institutions that present each the romance and the sustenance we crave. From upscale eating to mood-setting patios and admittedly weird menus, we took a take a look at a number of of the eating places diners have flocked to for an intimate meal.

For almost 35 years, one among Chicago’s most romantic fine-dining eating places could possibly be discovered on the summit of 425 S. Monetary Place: Everest. Head chef Jean Joho opened the Michelin-starred Everest in 1986 and laid his declare to the fortieth flooring of the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill-designed constructing, which additionally homes the Chicago Inventory Alternate. Rightfully, his Alsatian-inspired, farm-to-table dishes grew to become famend not solely right here, however world wide. If meals is a language of affection, then Joho was absolutely fluent. The choice of over 1,600 Alsatian wines, paired completely with every meal, was an added chef’s kiss.

To expertise the four-star French fare, diners needed to first ascend 39 flooring, then attain the height by way of a non-public elevator to the restaurant. There, the climb’s payoff was evident — significantly for love. With beautiful sundown views, candlelight, contemporary flowers and attentive service, it was simple for lovers to really feel as in the event that they had been basking on cloud 9. For this, Everest usually earned the excellence of being among the many most romantic spots within the metropolis. And who wouldn’t wish to show their love by climbing a modern-day mountain with such candy rewards?

Everest closed on the finish of 2020, however its legacy of beautiful delicacies and heat environment is ready in stone.

In contrast with the apex of romantic effective eating that was Everest, the Waterfront Cafe in Edgewater is far more grounded — however no much less pretty or off the crushed path (actually). The seasonal out of doors restaurant couldn’t be extra hidden; it’s discovered subsequent to a dead-end behind the Berger Park Cultural Middle, with no signage to supply clues.

However as soon as found, the Waterfront appears like a tropical vacation spot far-off from the shores of Chicago. The patio is surrounded by tall greenery and generously adorned with brilliantly coloured flora. The lake turns into an unlimited ocean. Nonetheless, sightlines all the best way to downtown skyscrapers trace at your true location. At sundown, the sky melts via watercolor tones into an infinite black sky that makes the right path for passing planes. Solely a sandy strolling path divides diners and the water, and it’s as much as the strung lights, Tiki torches and moon to supply night mild. Nightly reside music, like jazz and classical guitar, retains visitors entertained however not overwhelmed.

Right here, upscale eating isn’t the secret — atmosphere and privateness are. However the seafood rolls, summer time salads and tropical drinks preserve clients lots happy. Utilizing a former coach home as its kitchen, the Waterfront slings seafood classics like blackened Cajun shrimp, brown butter crab, and lobster rolls. It first opened as Dawghaus Cafe in 2007 serving solely snacks, then bloomed into the Waterfront in 2009. Its menu is restricted, permitting lovers ample alternative to give attention to one another.

Berger Park Cultural Middle, 6219 N. Sheridan Street, 773-761-3294, waterfrontcafechicago.com

After all, no checklist of traditionally romantic Chicago spots could be full with out point out of the Palmer Home. Its very creation is the manifestation of affection — a marriage reward from Potter Palmer to his bride, Bertha Honoré.

The resort first opened on Sept. 26, 1870, however burned solely a yr later within the Nice Chicago Fireplace. It was rebuilt in 1873, after which later expanded within the Nineteen Twenties, incorporating a chic artwork deco theme. The foyer’s luxurious aesthetic exudes opulence. It’s an astonishing array of grandeur lined with warm-lit candelabras, flashes of Louis Consolation Tiffany — together with two winged statues and ornamental gildings — a grand staircase, and lovely elevators designed to mirror a peacock’s plume. Its most well-known function is an astonishing 21-panel ceiling fresco painted by French artist Louis Pierre Rigal depicting scenes from Greek mythology. It’s the pinnacle of magnificence, romance and effective element, and subsequently an important excuse to put on one thing fancy, in case you so like.

In the principle corridor, {couples} can take pleasure in cocktails, small plates and a restricted menu of entrees at The Foyer Bar at Lockwood, which options home specialties such because the Palmer Home 1871 Whisky Sazerac and Palmer Home Brownie Previous Common — acceptable as a result of the resort additionally invented the brownie (which you will get for dessert). Its bar checklist additionally presents a number of nonalcoholic cocktails and supplies loads of choices to maintain an amorous night going beneath the Grecian sky. The resort may also accommodate non-public eating, together with a desk for 4 in a wine cellar and unbelievable mezzanine views for events or occasions — maybe for an anniversary get together or marriage ceremony reception, within the custom of the venue’s inception.

Palmer Home Resort, 17 E. Monroe St., 312-917-3404, palmerhousehiltonhotel.com; lockwoodrestaurant.com

For some, discovering love is absolutely all in regards to the thrill of the hunt. And all through its 50-year run, these individuals could have wound up having dates at Café Bohemia — a restaurant at 138 S. Clinton St. that boasted “Chicago’s Most Uncommon Menu” for serving dishes like tiger steaks and hippopotamus.

Proprietor Jim Jankek opened Café Bohemia in 1936 after taking on for his father, Joe Baseck. The restaurant’s menu was enormous, providing eight-course dinners of over 60 entrees that included contemporary candy corn year-round. Most of the recipes had been created or impressed by his Czechoslovakian grandmother.

Whereas comparatively tame dishes like hefty steaks, chops, ribs, veal, venison, contemporary fish and fowl had been the standard fare, Janek would additionally complement his menu with unique meats similar to elephant, pheasant, lion, bear, beaver, elk, buffalo burgers, broiled moose and sheep. Janek would say he’d estimate the ferocity of the upcoming winter by how a lot fats the bears had that yr. The heads of a few of these entrees wound up as mounted decor.

Capable of eat with out the judgment of prying eyes, diners, subsequently, liked visiting Café Bohemia. Exterior, elk would generally be hung, inflicting site visitors jams from gawking passersby. Inside, the restaurant was considerably posh, considerably safari. A renovation of the inside in 1965 designed by Warren Black noticed the set up of “deep purple cloth and stained glass (to) create a colourful and good-looking inside, and a contemporary purple rose at every desk” to offer a “last nice” really feel to the environment. Additions included spindle dividers, soft armchairs, paneling, and “dramatic purple leather-based banquettes.” Most, however not all, of the mounted heads had been eliminated.

To achieve the restaurant, diners might name upon its white Cadillac limousine service, which might retrieve these staying at Loop lodges. A limo bearing the Café Bohemia flag would fetch clients freed from cost and supply them a menu to peruse, as if finding out a map earlier than being dropped off within the wild.

The vacation spot was an offbeat, adventurous and considerably terrifying idea that fascinated diners for 5 many years — really a relic of an older period. Whereas its wild recreation choices offered attention-grabbing fodder for the time, they solely made up a small portion of the menu. At present, the ethics of such a meals program are questionable, however on the time it was a novelty. Crisp duck with wild rice grew to become the fan favourite, and by 1970, the institution had served its millionth duck. Janek additionally elevated the dimensions of his porterhouse steaks by an oz every year — at its closing in 1986, the steak was a dizzying 86 ounces, or effectively over 5 kilos. Sure, it was bizarre — however its appeal is that it was one thing completely different, possibly even a bit scandalous. And what’s extra romantic than flirting together with your natural instincts.

Positioned in Chicago’s traditionally Jewish Far Northwest Facet neighborhood of West Ridge is Fondue Stube, a French-concept restaurant with a German title and Japanese American proprietor. What’s extra Chicago than that?

Since 1972, the fondue eatery has been housed inside a low-key (and really parking-friendly) industrial stretch of Peterson Avenue, although it may be simply noticed by the pot of melting cheese on its maroon awning. For the reason that Nineteen Sixties, Chicagoans have had an obsessive attraction to fondue eating places for romantic and particular events, maybe as a result of it entails the couple doing one thing scorching collectively. Nevertheless it’s additionally the kind of place Chicagoans wish to go to really feel a way of custom or to have fun a special day, like a date or anniversary.

“Fondue is a specialty merchandise,” Carol Hiyama Martorelli, whose household took over the institution in 1977, informed the Tribune in 1980. “You’ve bought to like fondue to go to the restaurant, since that’s all we’ve bought on the menu.”

And Fondue Stube’s clients adore it, certainly. It provides the fitting temper with low lighting, deep purple partitions, and eclectic, classic appeal that claims supper-club-meets-fondue-diner. Although it shares the identical idea as different fondue spots within the metropolis, such because the venerable Geja’s Café, it distinguishes itself with uncrowded seating, higher parking, affordability and classical music overtures.

The menu presents cheese fondues in Swiss, cheddar, muenster, and cream cheese lox, served with French bread and apple cubes. Traditional fondue dinners include garlic bread and salad topped with do-it-yourself dressing (that clients have requested to “purchase by the tubs”). Whereas the Romeo and Juliet possibility could supply essentially the most romantic title (though the ill-fated couple’s ending was something however) the most suitable choice is the Sinfonia Eroica, which incorporates Swiss cheese fondue, adopted by a sirloin beef fondue served with contemporary greens and dipping sauces, and finishes off with a chocolate fudge fondue finale, full with contemporary fruits, angel meals cake and marshmallows. (Educated servers supply the tip of roasting these proper after the chocolate is lit.)

The place-mat menu is split into préludes, èncores, and finàle con spirito, the place you’ll discover drinks such because the Nutcracker Candy, Rhapsody in Booze, The Unfinished Symphony, and the Too Sizzling to Händel. These are a nod to one of many restaurant’s early house owners, Steve Kaye, who received a piano scholarship from Roosevelt College and studied on the American Conservatory. He noticed to it that for a few years Fondue Stube could be as identified for its classical music because it was for its mutual melting. Stay music from piano, flute and harp duos and trios performed for purchasers, rattling off compositions by the likes of Bach and Vivaldi. A child grand piano (that has since moved on) was a centerpiece of the room.

It was a classical music vacation spot for critical artists and appreciators, together with violinist Jaques Israelievitch, as soon as the co-concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Even Beethoven’s birthday was celebrated with performances by the Windy Metropolis Music Ensemble. Whereas there’s no extra reside music, classical music is performed over the audio system.

The change in tune hasn’t deterred loyal clients, who refused to let Fondue Stube’s house owners retire in 2010. After an announcement was posted on its web site that Valentine’s Day 2010 could be its final waltz, a brand new message from Martorelli later changed it saying that she acquired such an ovation from diners that she determined to remain open. Now, over 50 years later, the melting pot that’s Fondue Stube stays a brilliant spot on Peterson Avenue, ready to grow to be a part of your love story.

Fondue Stube, 2712 W. Peterson Ave., 773-784-2200, fonduestube.com

Linze Rice is a contract author.