REVIA Magazine Issue #11

Supper with Sylvia
By: Sylvia Perez
Hi there, I know I may look familiar.
You may recognize me from my
more than 20 years on TV as a
ABC7news anchor and health reporter,
where I covered a great deal of stories and
was probably front and center on many of
your TV screens. What you may not know
about me, however, is that I love Chicago
and trying out new restaurants, which is why I
was asked to contribute with this column.
I started an informal restaurant review
called, Supper with Sylvia, that I post on my
website [SylviaPerez.com] because everyone is
always asking me what place to try next. Now,
I'm excited to share it with you. And because
summer is almost over, and Chicagoans love
to take advantage of the outdoors, I've been
trying out different outdoor dining experiences
and rooftop bars. Here are a few I think
you can still be able to enjoy:
Picollo Sogno. The name means "little
dream." It's rustic Italian food with an outdoor
patio like no other. Can you say Enchanted
Forest? That's what it reminds me of.
My husband and I celebrate our anniversary
here every year. The food is delicious. Expect
nothing less from highly regarded chef Tony
Priolo. Highlights include any of the homemade
pastas and the branzino, a sea bass,
presented to you first, then whisked away to
be filleted in kitchen. Oh and try the balsamic
vinegar, bottled for the restaurant and imported
from Italy. It's so good you may want
to drink it straight from the bottle. Overall,
delicious food, a great outdoor garden setting,
and you are poised to have one of the most
enjoyable and romantic alfresco dinners ever.
Chicago Cut. I'm a bigger fan of this highend
steakhouse in the warmer months when
I can sit outside. It's so popular that sitting
in doors means screaming to hear each other
talk and practically sitting on your neighbors
lap. The food is always good here, with steak,
of course, being the showcase. But the view
overlooking the city and Chicago River on a
gorgeous warm night is wonderful. The wine
menu is definitely on the pricy side so prepare
to dole out the cash. You will rarely find me
sitting inside, but if you try Chicago Cut and
sit outside by the river, I'll be the one with a
smile on her face enjoying the end-of- summer
breeze and a nice light Rosé
Next, my quest to find the perfect rooftop
bar! I've been trying to hit one of these places
twice a month. Here's what I've learned:
When it comes to outdoor bars, you are paying
for the view, signature cocktails and the
social scene. The food is an also-ran in some
cases.
Godfrey Hotel IO. Really nice setting with
a beautiful city backdrop, right inside the
Godfrey Hotel. Of all the rooftops I've tried,
this one seems to offer the biggest food and
beverage options. I thought the food was
really good, especially the sliders and truffle
fries. There were a variety of cocktails to
choose from. When the sun went down, we
were surrounded by sparkling city lights. The
staff was a little odd, almost appearing snobby
at times [not sure why]. But, our waitress
finally warmed up after a little while.
Streeterville Social. This one is
billed as Chicago's largest rooftop bar. Its
9,000 square feet are located at the new
Loews Chicago Hotel located in Streeterville.
This terrace is separated into two bar
areas. Again, limited menu but our favorites
were the kimchi chicken wings and the
bucket o' fries. Not healthy, but fun finger
picking food with the girls. There's even a
grassy lawn for games. It's pretty over the
top, but very relaxing because it's so large and
does not feel crowded.
J Parker. We had a girlfriend’s birthday
party here and it was standing room only. Fortunately,
we had a beautiful sectional reserved
just for us. The view is spectacular, overlooking
Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan. Once
again, a limited menu, but a big selection of
signature cocktails, wine, liquor and beer. J
Parker is where the young and hip hang out,
which I am not and if you're not, I still think
it's definitely worth going at least once. Service
was good and the workers were friendly.
Trump. Finally, you can't do a rooftop roundup
without mentioning the Trump! No matter
your political affiliation, this by far is the most
beautiful view of Lake Michigan, the Chicago
River, bar none – all while surrounded by city
high rises. The problem is it’s way over priced
and the service can definitely be on the snooty
side. I leave this up to you but if you go, you
will be left in a wonderful awe. v
If I’ve missed any spots on this list
worth recommending, let me know
fast… because as the saying goes,
"Winter is Coming."
Connect with @ SylviaPerez.com
or on Twitter @SylviaPerezProd
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