Not all parties are oversize. When hosting cocktail parties, editor luncheons, product launches, meetings, or business dinners, check out these new restaurants, hotels, bars, lounges, private rooms, and outdoor spaces.
Photo: Courtesy of Public Hotel Chicago
1. Two Sparrows
Run by two Charlie Trotter's alums, Two Sparrows opened in Lincoln Park in October. The 63-seat eatery, which specializes in lunch and brunch and also hosts a monthly dinner series, is available for nighttime buyouts. The menu changes seasonally and has included porchetta with sunny-side-up eggs, biscuits and gravy with lamb sausage, and foie gras pop tarts with cherry compote.
Photo: Courtesy of Two Sparrows
2. Eduardo's Enoteca
Eduardo's Enoteca, a snug wine bar in the Gold Coast, opened in December. The 30-seat space has high ceilings, exposed wooden beams, and rusted-tin wall panels. The beverage list offers more than 50 boutique wines, and menu items include antipasto, handmade pastas, and Neapolitan-style pizzas topped with ingredients such as roasted peppers, caramelized onions, and Italian sausage.
Photo: Courtesy of Eduardo's Entoeca
3. Marzano's
Marzano's, also specializing in Neapolitan-style pizzas, opened in McHenry in December. Though the sizable venue can seat 350, its event spaces can accommodate groups of as few as 10 guests. There are three private dining rooms. The larger Napoli room can hold 80, while the Campania Room has a 50-guest capacity, and the Vino room caters to groups of 14. Along with the pizzas, which come topped with ingredients such as fior di latte mozzarella, white truffle oil, and spicy salami, the menu offers pastas with house-made sauces, New York Strip steak, and chicken picatta. When the weather warms up, an enclosed patio room will open with two TVs, a full bar, and an outdoor fire pit.
Photo: Courtesy of Marzano's
4. Sal Seven at Public Chicago
Ian Schager's Public Chicago hotel, which opened in October, has several meeting spaces that cater to smaller groups. On the second floor, the 252-square-foot room referred to as Sal Seven holds eight-person conferences. The room has a boardroom table made of rift-cut oak, white linen drapery and window sheers, a private bathroom, a coat closet, and a fireplace.
Photo: Courtesy of Public Chicago
5. M Burger Water Tower
M Burger Water Tower opened in the Mag Mile shopping complex in November. With subway tiles and exposed ductwork, the casual space can seat 50 and is available for buyout. The fourth location of the Lettuce Entertain You venture has an expanded ice cream selection, with cones, dipped cones, and sundaes on the menu; it also offers draft beers. Burgers, of course, are the specialty, and are made with Midwestern beef. M Burger also provides off-site catering.
Photo: Courtesy of M Burger
6. Tokio Pub
A cozy space inspired by Asian pubs, Tokio Pub came to Schaumburg in May. With an upbeat soundtrack of dance, rock, and electronic tunes, the 50-seat venue is available for buyout and also has smaller semiprivate areas. Burlap walls with etched metallic artwork, concrete floors, and copper seating decorate the space. The menu focuses on tacos, sushi, barbecue, beer, and fruity specialty drinks. A seasonal patio can host alfresco dinners for 40.
Photo: Courtesy of Tokio Pub
7. Vertigo Sky Lounge at the Dana Hotel and Spa
Vertigo Sky Lounge at the Dana Hotel and Spa got a renovation in spring 2011. A former secluded V.I.P. area got a new name—the Chill Room—and can now accommodate cocktail receptions for 40 or 50 guests. With skyline views and a chalkboard wall, the room has its own full-service bar featuring items like chips and guacamole, truffle-salt-and-pepper fries, and Kobe beef sliders. Cocktails include the bourbon-based Peach Pussy Cat and the vodka-based Ginger Tea. The $600 champagne package comes with balloons, sparklers, and three bottles of bubbly.
Photo: Courtesy of Vertigo Sky Lounge
8. Butcher & the Burger
A modern take on an old-fashioned butcher shop, Butcher & the Burger came to Lincoln Park in late October. The cozy eatery and retail space, which sells freshly prepared meats and spice mixes, is available for buyout and has 30 seats. At the burger counter, guests can build their own sandwiches with ingredients such as croissants and pretzel buns; veggie, elk, and grass-fed beef patties; fried eggs; and onion-soup spice mix. Chef Allen Sternweiler can lead groups through butchery classes designed for home cooks; topics include techniques for buying, prepping, and cooking beef tenderloin, and breaking down a whole hog.
Photo: Courtesy of Butcher & the Burger
9. Quay Restaurant & Bar
Quay Restaurant & Bar opened in River East in July. Overlooking the Ogden Slip, the restaurant has a docking area and its own 56-foot yacht, which can accommodate private events for 20 or 25 guests. Rental includes a captain. The restaurant offers customized food and beverage packages, with menu items such as pan-seared duck confit nachos, breaded oysters, and Diver scallops with sweet parsnip puree. Inside the restaurant, semiprivate areas can accommodate meetings for 10 or more.
Photo: Courtesy of Quay Restaurant & Bar
10. The James Club at James Chicago
To mark its fifth anniversary in June, the James Chicago got updated furnishings, services, and in-room amenities. The James Club, a 450-square-foot room that caters to conferences for 10, got new furniture and an updated configuration geared toward making the space more open and usable. The room can also host dinners for 10 guests, with catering from David Burke's Primehouse. In the lobby of the hotel, the restaurant's menu was revamped in December. New seasonal items include Kung Pao sweetbreads, foie gras with bourbon-quince upside-down cake, and roasted chicken breast with chicken-leg confit bread pudding.
Photo: Courtesy of the James Hotel
