Q: I was wondering if you could suggest a fun, outdoor lunch spot in the city? I am meeting my girlfriend for lunch and would like to try something different. Thanks!
Oh, what a perfect day for some al fresco lunching….
(My favorite daydream involves afternoons spent on a terrace with flowing rose and oysters on the half-shell.)
A few spots I emphatically endorse for a special girls-lunch-out include:
- Terzo Piano: This modern cafe is located on top of the Modern Wing of the Art Institute. Chef Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia) uses fresh, local, organic and sustainably produced ingredients to create inspired seasonal menus and the views of Millennium Park are to-die-for. I ADORE this place. (And it shouldn’t be too hard to talk your gf’s into a quick lap around the museum post-lunch, right?)
- Tavern on Rush: The corner of rush/bellvue offers up some of my favorite people watching in the city….if you can score one of the outdoor tables here you have just hit the gawking lottery. Order a shrimp cocktail and a bottle of wine and spend the day just taking in the energy of the gold coast!
- Nomi Garden: Killer cocktails and delicious sushi….sort of pricey, but the views and zen-garden-floating-in-the-sky type feel of the rooftop terrace more than justify the $14 cocktails. Don’t be surprised if your lunch here stretches well into the evening - this terrace is so special, I never want to leave.
(And if you are looking for something a little less sceney or feel like heading a little west - Big Star gets my vote.)
What about you? Where are your favorite spots in Chicago for lunching with the ladies?
