It's January in Chicago, but you can ward off the chill by hosting fireside meetings or client dinners at one of these local restaurants.
1. Located in Lincoln Park, D.O.C. Wine Bar offers private wine tastings and three-to-five-course seated dinners. The venue's main dining room can seat 65 beside a wood-burning, stone-encrusted fireplace. In the rear of the space, a smaller private room—also equipped with a fireplace—can seat 15 or hold 25. When combined, the two rooms can host cocktail receptions for as many as 125. The restaurant's menu options include sesame chicken salad, maple-cured pork tenderloin, and wild mushroom meatloaf.
2. The menu at West Side restaurant Carnivale features Latin staples such as ceviche, empanadas, and chunky guacamole. The private Flamenco Room comes equipped with a mosaic-tiled fireplace, a separate bar, and a 42-inch plasma screen TV. The festive space, replete with vibrantly colored walls and cushioned chairs, can seat 65 or hold 120 reception-style. Carnivale staff can assist with floral arrangements, decor, and audiovisual support upon request.
3. In the Kaffe Room, located within River North steakhouse Keefer's, trappings include private restrooms, a 20-foot granite bar, and a stone fireplace.The room can seat 50 or host receptions for 80. The venue's Fireplace Room seats 35. Five banquet-menu options offer steakhouse standbys such as filet mignon, whipped potatoes, and creamed spinach.
4. Backed by the owners of Gibson's, the Gold Coast's LuxBar serves up hearty American fare such as buttermilk fried chicken, Kobe beef sliders, and crab cakes. The upstairs Fireplace Room, which can seat 60 guests or accommodate 90 for cocktails, features four plasma screen TVs that can be hooked up to laptops or DVD players.
Correction: The text has been updated to reflect the correct capacity of the Kaffe Room.
