Chicago's Power Dining Scene Expands with New Openings
Chicago's fine dining landscape continues to evolve with several high-profile openings catering to executive and celebrity clientele. The Fifty/50 Group launched Steadfast in the Loop, blending Mediterranean influences for a business district crowd valuing excellence and approachability. Other new power-dining spots include Fulton Market's French-Japanese fusion restaurant *Maison du Vent* and *Cicero’s Table*, a classic Italian concept with a private speakeasy.
- Steadfast is housed in the Kimpton Gray Hotel, located in a landmarked building that is the third-oldest skyscraper in Chicago, formerly the New York Standard Life Insurance office. The beverage program is overseen by Benjamin Schiller and features antique bourbons that date back to the Prohibition era. - The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group, co-founded by Scott Weiner and Greg Mohr, has a diverse portfolio that extends beyond fine dining to include concepts like Roots Pizza, West Town Bakery, and Utopian Tailgate. The group has backing from notable investors, including Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts and several retired professional athletes. - Steadfast's Executive Pastry Chef, Chris Teixeira, was a James Beard Award semifinalist for "Rising Star Chef of the Year" and is a Certified Master Baker, one of only about 200 in the U.S. His culinary approach is influenced by his Portuguese heritage and he previously honed his skills at the four-star Sixteen at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago. - The design of Steadfast was handled by the James Beard Award-winning firm Parts & Labor Design, based in New York. The space includes a 14-seat chef's tasting room with a charcuterie cooler and displays of whole animals, intended to offer a "cutting-edge" experience. - Fulton Market, home to the new French-Japanese restaurant *Maison du Vent*, has become a hub for creative and high-end culinary concepts, attracting destination diners to its "Restaurant Row." This neighborhood is also the location of the Nobu Hotel Chicago, which contributes to the area's reputation for Japanese-influenced minimalist luxury. - The concept of a private speakeasy, like the one at *Cicero’s Table*, taps into a rich Chicago history. Hidden bars with secretive entrances are a recurring theme in the city's hospitality scene, with modern examples like The Library at Gilt Bar and the Chicago Magic Lounge, which is concealed behind a laundromat facade.
