Henri, A New Restaurant From The Gage, Near Millennium Park
In the sea of bustling tourist spots near The Bean, Henri–the new sister restaurant to The Gage–is a bastion of elegance and calm.
Its ice blue chairs, elegantly veiled sconces, row of wide windows and dramatically dark walls make for a striking tableau. It's a chic spot for a dressed-up dinner.
And in the spirit of its namesake, seminal Chicago architect Louis Henri Sullivan, the vibe is suitably historic. In fact, we think it's retro in all the right ways (and modern in one exemplary way: its biodynamic wine list).
Start with a Henri Presse cocktail–a smooth combination of Pineau des Charentes (a French aperitif wine), rye and lemon ($12). Pair it with oysters or chilled shrimp, or a fanciful smoked steak tartare with a quail egg and superbly thin, crisp potato chips ($14).
Pick the hearty plat du jour for an entrée–go Monday for cassoulet with house-made sausage ($24), or Thursday for rabbit braised in chef Dirk Flanigan's new stone oven, with a fork-tender leg and bacon-wrapped loin ($29).
The dessert list is equally classic: crème brûlée, lemon soufflé, dark-chocolate tart, ice cream and sorbet. On a recent visit, the raspberry sorbet ($8) was an intense burst of summer berries–the type of flavor that never goes out of style.
Henri, 18 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-578-0763 or henrichicago.com