10 New Meeting Venues in Chicago

Texas-based chain Cantina Laredo opened its first Chicago location in River North last fall. Executive chef Larry Sinclair, formerly of Cantina Laredo Nashville, oversees the menu of modern Mexican fare with offerings such as beef fajita nachos and Mexican apple pie served in sizzling brandy butter. The cocktail list includes specialty drinks made with hand-squeezed ingredients. The private Sky Room on the first floor, named for its skylight, holds groups of 30. Also on the first level, the O Table seats eight for semiprivate meetings. Additionally, an upper-level lounge hosts functions for more than 100.

Hash House A Go Go opens late this month in the Gold Coast, and will be one of the area's few spots that hosts breakfast meetings. Specializing in what owners dub "twisted farm food," the 212-seat venue will sling blackberry-granola flapjacks, meatloaf hash, and sage fried chicken Benedict; it also will serve lunch and dinner and has stuffed burgers and roasted chicken pot pie. An upstairs private dining room can hold 25 to 30 guests, and a private room on the lower level holds 40 to 45. Screens can hook up to laptops or DVD players for presentations. The restaurant is part of a chain that has locations in San Diego and in Las Vegas. (The Las Vegas West Sahara location, which closely resembles the Chicago outpost, is pictured here.)

Stout Barrel House & Galley opened in the former Manor space in River North in early June. Billed as a "nitro-pub," the venue specializes in American comfort food and serves fried chicken, fish tacos, and honey-fried-ice cream sundaes. The 5,000 square foot space is outfitted with tufted leather booths and refurbished wood planks, and the second floor is dedicated to private events. The upper level room, which will open later this summer, is 2,500 square feet and has a separate DJ booth and a marble-topped bar. The room is also equipped with six 60-inch TVs that can hook up to laptops and DVD players for meeting presentations.

Earlier this summer, the year-old Union Sushi and Barbeque Bar rebuilt its upper-level UpBar to make the space more meeting friendly. With seating for 12 and reception space for 35 to 55, the space now has Wi-Fi connectivity and pull-down and flat-screen TVs that can be used for presentations. Overlooking the main restaurant, UpBar can be used as a cocktail-reception space or a private dining room.

In May, West Loop bar and restaurant Market completed renovations to its second-floor event space. With its own bar, private restrooms, and four 46-inch TVs that can hook up to laptops and DVD players, the space can seat 50 or hold 100 for receptions. The American menu offers black Angus burgers with truffle fries, falafel sandwiches, and mac-and-cheese muffins; the full bar slings specialty drinks such as the "Affair in Paris," made with vodka, champagne, and house-made strawberry puree.

Balena, a new spot from Boka Restaurant Group, opened in Lincoln Park in March. The Wine Cellar can host meetings for 40 and has two flat-screen TVs that can hook up to laptops. Hosts can also plug their own iPods into the venue's music system. Serving Italian-inspired fare, Balena has dedicated event menus with appetizers such as goat's milk ricotta with honey and black pepper; platters of meatballs with gravy and aged Provolone; and family-style dinners with options such as whole-roasted market fish and kale Caesar salad.

From the owners of Old Town Social, Nellcôte took over the former Marché space in March. Catering to meetings, events, and banquets, the 11,000-square-foot restaurant is outfitted with crystal chandeliers, an Italian marble staircase, and a flower wall covered with live lavender. The space can hold 150 on its main floor, and 250 if the upper level is used as well. Drop-down screens are built in throughout the space, which is also stocked with double-sided projectors. The interior can also host cocktail receptions for 500. A patio covered with flowery arches can seat 40 or hold 60 for cocktails. The menu has Neapolitan-style pizzas, house-made pastas, and meat and seafood dishes. The venue's name was inspired by Villa Nellcôte, a French estate where the Rolling Stones holed up to record Exile on Main St.

Estate Ultra Bar opened in February along the Chicago River, in the space that formerly housed Slow Down Life's Too Short. The 20-seat Trophy Room and the 32-seat Dining Room, both in the northern end of the space, are available for meetings, dinners, or cocktail receptions. In the southern quadrant, the Living Room seats 24 and the Front Room seats 10. The Atrium seats 44, and a central bar can seat 26.  Throughout the space, audiovisual amenities include two 70-inch and 11 46-inch flat-screen TVs. Each of the screens can be hooked up to laptops for presentations or video conferences. Additionally, a DJ booth is stocked with two CDJ-2000 turntables, a mixer, and video inputs. Chef Chris Turano oversees the menu, where specialty items include lobster mac and cheese with a Goldfish-cracker crust, grilled Wagyu steak with frites, and the Champagne Supernova Cake Pop Flight dessert, which pairs mini cakes with a bottle of champagne and a firework sparkler. Mixologist Dan de los Monteros stirs up seasonal cocktails with house-made syrups, herbs, spices, infused spirits, and custom ice cubes. A selection of "skinny" cocktails offers lower-calorie drinks.

RPM Italian, a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, opened in River North in late February. The 10,000-square-foot venue, which takes its name from surname initials of the partners—celebrity couple Bill and Giuliana Rancic, chef Doug Psaltis, and restaurateurs R.J., Jerrod, and Molly Melman—offers several private dining spaces. Three sectioned-off rooms—referred to as Sets One, Two, and Three—are situated to the left of the entrance; each can seat 16 guests for meetings. The separate spaces can be combined to host seated dinners for 48 or receptions for 60. The main dining room and bar can also be rented to seat 300. At the back of the restaurant, the boardroom has a conference table for 12. A semiprivate area outside the room known as the Stage seats 40. Chef Psaltis focuses on modern Italian fare: Cold antipasti options include lobster caprese, while hot hors d'oeuvres include wood-oven pizza bites and prime beef meatballs. The menu also offers house-made pastas such as angolotti with black mission figs and a bucatini pomodoro dish inspired by Guiliana Rancic's mother, "Mama DePandi."