In May, chef Marcus Samuelsson and Townhouse Restaurant Group opened C-House on the ground level of the newly renovated Affinia Chicago hotel. The modern seafood house represents Samuelsson's first Chicago venture and showcases the Ethiopia-born, Sweden-raised chef's culinary diversity. Although Samuelsson is best known for the Scandanavian fare at New York's Aquavit, his C-House menu specializes in selections ranging from little neck clams or lobster to sashimi-style fatty tuna with pine nuts or fluke with pickled barley and citrus. Meat dishes, including a dry-aged New York rib eye, round out the menu.Designed by Brazilian architect Arthur Casas, the restaurant's minimalist interior is dressed up with nautical photographs. When combined, the main dining room, bar, and lounge seat approximately 85 guests. There's also a ground-level patio that can seat 24, making the entire space able to host cocktail and appetizer receptions for as many as 130 guests.
C-House's afilliated cocktail lounge, C-View, occupies a secluded spot on Affinia's 29th floor. Inside, the bar holds; a connected patio with glass walls can accommodate 50. C-View specializes in drinks infused with unusual ingredients, like the lavender-lemon cocktail made with lavender syrup and lemon verbena. The bar also serves small plates, entrées, and raw bar selections from the C-House menu.
C-House and C-View both offer wireless Internet access, and the venue can also source other audiovisual equipment for clients. The restaurant has already played host to an event for Condé Nast.
Photo: Anthony Tahlier
Photo: Anthony Tahlier
Photo: Anthony Tahlier
Photo: Anthony Tahlier
Photo: Anthony Tahlier