Top Chicago Premiere Venues

1,302 results near Chicago, IL

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Choosing your premiere venue will be one of the most important steps in the planning process. So much goes into finding the perfect venue in Chicago. You’ll want to consider everything from the aesthetics of the space to any in-house amenities and services. Luckily, PartySlate makes it easy with our Find Venues page. Use the filters to narrow your search — taking into account everything from your guest count to specific catering preferences. Once you’ve set your filters, scroll down to search our curated list. Look for the “featured” tag for PartySlate’s top recommendations. With PartySlate, finding your ideal Chicago venue has never been easier.

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  • Featured photo from Clark Park Boathouse

    Clark Park Boathouse

    N Branch Riverwalk, Chicago, IL 60618, USA
    • Spaces for 20-225 Guests
    • 3 Event Spaces
    • 1 Historic Space
    • 4 Total Spaces

    Say your “I do’s!” on the Chicago Riverwalk at the Clark Park Boathouse! The sleek, elegant modern architecture of the Boathouse will perfectly counterbalance the simplicity of a wedding, or any event you may choose to host! With a 225 guest capacity, invite all your friends to celebrate your next event on the Chicago River! Inside the Boathouse, enjoy a delicious meal accompanied by gorgeous views of the Chicago River, courtesy of the floor-to-ceiling windows that line the building. This gem along Chicago’s Riverwalk is both beautiful and customizable, so you can mold your event space as you please! Host your next event here!

  • Featured photo from Hawthorne Race Course

    Hawthorne Race Course

    3501 S Laramie Ave, Cicero, IL 60804, USA
    • Spaces for 500 Guests

    Hawthorne Race Course has served as Chicago's hometown track since 1891, making it the oldest sporting venue in Illinois. The fourth-generation family-owned facility sits in Stickney, just outside Chicago, and holds a distinction no other track in the country can claim: it is the only race course that hosts both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing under the same roof. The main venue accommodates group events alongside live racing on Thursdays and Sundays, offering guests the backdrop of an active track with multiple large-screen viewing areas and food and beverage service throughout. For groups, the combination of live racing atmosphere and on-site dining creates an experience that goes well beyond a typical event space. A network of off-track betting bars and multiple sportsbook locations round out the broader Hawthorne footprint across Chicagoland, but the Stickney track remains the heart of the operation — a working venue with more than 130 years of racing history still running.

  • Featured photo from The Lytle House

    The Lytle House

    5517 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640, USA

    The Lytle House is a small, family-owned gathering room that may accommodate up to 80 people for a seated or cocktail event. We have a preferred vendor list that we highly suggest, as well as an approved caterer list from which you can choose. Our objective is to provide a one-of-a-kind setting for your celebration while also making the planning process as simple as possible. The Lytle House is available for weddings, private ceremonies, bridal showers, engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, baby showers, professional events, photoshoots, workshops, and more. It has over 2800 square feet of free flowing indoor-outdoor space and features high ceilings, exposed brick, factory windows, and original industrial features. With the bulk of our ceremonies being collected, we offer restricted seating for ceremonies (reserved row for immediate relatives, etc.). Most wedding ceremonies last between 15-20 minutes, allowing for an intimate and relaxed semi circle to form around you while you exchange vows. The majority of ceremonies are held in the courtyard, in front of one of the ivy walls, in front of our enormous cityscape mural, or on our patio with the courtyard as a backdrop. In the event of bad weather, ceremonies are held inside, in front of our enormous glass garage door, with the courtyard as a backdrop. If your event has more than 30 attendees, you must select a caterer from our approved list. When we initially started hosting parties at our studio, we felt it would be a good idea to let customers choose whichever caterer they liked. It just took a few incidents for me to understand I'd made a mistake. All of the businesses on our approved list provide a pleasant experience. They've done a lot of work in our space. They are knowledgeable about our requirements and processes, but most importantly, they are fantastic. They wouldn't be on the list if they weren't fantastic. They'll answer your emails and do everything they can to make the planning process as simple as possible for you. They'll cook a delicious meal for you, and sure, you can bring your own wine.

  • Featured photo from Topaz

    Topaz

    Burr Ridge, IL, USA
    • Spaces for 50-150 Guests
    • 1 Restaurant

    We are located only minutes from downtown Chicago and the surrounding suburbs in the lovely Burr Ridge Village Center, and Topaz Café has been described as "urban chic with a pleasant atmosphere." In addition to a distinctive Contemporary American menu that includes steaks, chops, and seafood, While dining in a lovely and romantic atmosphere, you may savor the flavors that are one-of-a-kind, fresh, and imaginative. In addition to a gorgeous chef's table, an impressive VIP room, a huge party room, a lovely outdoor terrace, and a delightful lounge with a unique assortment of martinis and an extensive wine list, the warm and inviting décor includes: Inside, two private dining rooms provide an ideal setting for hosting parties and celebrations. We're bringing a distinctive Contemporary-American menu with a "city atmosphere" to a neighborhood near you. Beautiful chef's table, exquisite and spacious private dining rooms, a lovely outdoor terrace, and a delightful lounge are all included in the warm and inviting atmosphere. With a broad selection of private and semiprivate areas, the venue is the ideal location to organize parties or celebrations.

  • Featured photo from Purple Monkey Playroom

    Purple Monkey Playroom

    2040 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, USA
  • Featured photo from Harbor Chicago

    Harbor Chicago

    1312 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
    • Spaces for 16-75 Guests
    • 2 Restaurants

    Harbor is located in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago. Gourmet versions of traditional meals, made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, are served at Chef Anthony Bernal's restaurant, which pays respect to the Great Lakes region. Drinks include regional tasty beers, delectable and balanced cocktails, as well as a diverse variety of wines from all over the world, including those from the United States. The interior of the resturaunt, created by Barker/Nestor in collaboration with Ingrassia Design, represents the sensibilities of the surrounding neighborhood while also paying homage to the region's illustrious history. The dining tables, which were custom made by Timberwolf Slabs of Crystal Lake, Illinois, included a 17-foot single slab live edge walnut table. There are several eating choices available to guests, including raw bar dining, dining by the fireplace dining, relaxing at a banquette dining, and watching Chefs make their meal while seated at the dining counter.

  • Featured photo from Penthouse 111

    Penthouse 111

    111 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60604, USA
  • Featured photo from Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool

    Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool

    125 W Fullerton Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
    • Spaces for 250-400 Guests
    • 1 Outdoor

    Begin your life together in Chicago's Lincoln Park, surrounded by the natural beauty and tranquility of a unique National Historic Landmark. The Lily Pool features an aesthetically important pavilion, a cascading waterfall, and native vegetation, and was designed by Alfred Caldwell in 1936. The Chicago Park District and the Lincoln Park Conservancy restored the Lily Pool to Caldwell's original design from 1998 to 2002, after decades of erosion and deterioration. The Conservancy is pleased to offer this natural haven as a location for your small wedding ceremony, proposal, or photos. The Lincoln Park Conservancy requires that all wedding, engagement, family, and other professional photos get a permit in advance. From May through mid-October, the Lily Pool holds seasonal events. During the Air and Water Show, it is also closed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Enter a hidden garden of unparalleled beauty through the Prairie-style Fullerton gate. Only the sound of birdsong and a soothing waterfall breaks the peaceful silence. Discover a pavilion, council ring, and different native flora along the stone walk around the lily pool. A hidden garden for the people of Chicago, created to resemble a river meandering over a vast Midwestern plain, is landscape architect Alfred Caldwell's concept. The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool was originally part of a Victorian garden that included tropical lilies and other water plants and was created in 1889. The Lily Pool and its surrounding area fell into ruin after the Victorian-style garden fell out of favor, until Alfred Caldwell rebuilt the pool and its surroundings in 1936.

  • Featured photo from Studio 1017

    Studio 1017

    1017 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
  • Featured photo from Woodwind

    Woodwind

    259 E Erie St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA

    CAPACITIES ON THE ROOFTOP TERRACE 20 - 140 Reception *can be reserved as a partial or entire space 74 Seated *includes lounge seating on the terrace IMPORTANT FEATURES Rooftop Garden with City and Lake Views in a Contemporary Urban Design Seating in the Lounge on a Partial Basis Tables made of stone Bar that can be moved Capacities at the Linden Center are as follows: 120 seats, 250 reception A/V equipment is available. 4 Wireless Microphones are included. 2 stationary microphones, a screen, and an LCD projector are provided. 1 movable podium equipped with a CPU (Laptop & USB Capable) IMPORTANT FEATURES Large/Open Space with Customizable Movable Bar and Carrarra Marble Console with Dimmable Pinpoint Lighting and Full Privacy Door WoodWind brings Matt O'Neill's elegant yet simple dishes — prepared with honest excellence, playful creativity, and spirited hospitality — to a beautiful, casual, and comfortable setting. Matt O'Neill's dishes are made with honest excellence, playful creativity, and spirited hospitality. GET UP AND SHOW OFF! WoodWind, located 18 stories above Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood, serves sophisticated dishes, drinks, and panoramic views of the city. The restaurant celebrates the integrity of the ingredients at their peak, presenting them with creativity and refined techniques. Its contemporary American menu, created by Chef Matt O'Neill in collaboration with Executive Chef Alex Cabrera, is brimming with regionally sourced ingredients and epicurean playfulness. Dishes are sensibly paired with imaginative seasonal cocktails created by Beverage Director / Mixologist Carolina Gonzalez. With its boldly off-the-beaten-path location just blocks from the Magnificent Mile, the restaurant offers guests a gourmet getaway in a comfortable and decidedly classic Chicagoan setting. WoodWind, a restaurant located in the Lavin Family Pavilion on the Northwestern Medicine Campus, is owned and operated by Craveable Hospitality.

  • Featured photo from Ranalli's

    Ranalli's

    1925 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
    • Spaces for 215-400 Guests
    • 1 Restaurant

    For groups of 15 to 385 people, Ranalli's offers private and semi-private spaces for events. A large sidewalk patio and a private rear room with a full bar are just a few of the amenities available for your occasion. Are you looking for a private area to host a larger gathering? Inquire about purchasing the entire venue! BACK ROOM The private Back Room can seat up to 50 people seated or 65 people standing for a cocktail-style gathering. A full private bar, high top banquette seating, flexible low top seating options, 8 TVs, private A/V options, private toilets, and a full wall of windows looking out onto our courtyard are all available in this space. KING'S TABLE The King's Table has seating for up to 12 people or cocktail space for up to 15. It has two tap handles with your choice of draft beers and five TVs. For gatherings of up to 25, adjacent table space along the windows can be added on. MAIN BAR Our Main Bar has a full private bar, a mix of scattered bar height tables and low seating, 12 TVs, and private facilities that can accommodate up to 125 guests for a cocktail-style gathering. PATIO Our outside terrace can seat groups of 12 to 170 people. It's the ideal outdoor location to host your next celebration, with heaters, shade umbrellas, flower boxes, lights, and a pergola! For the best of all worlds, inquire about adding a few reserved outdoor tables in conjunction with an interior space.

  • Featured photo from The Stadium Club at U.S. Cellular Field - Levy Restaurants
    • Spaces for 700 Guests
    • 1 Restaurant
    • 1 Event Space

    From the stadium to the top table, Levy creates remarkable experiences by combining unfettered creativity, custom strategy, flawless service, and a genuine passion for great food. Larry and Mark Levy bought D.B. Kaplan's Delicatessen in Chicago's Water Tower Place in 1978. Levy Restaurants was founded with the help of their mother, Eadie, and some traditional family recipes. Larry and Mark enlisted the help of their mother, Eadie, in the deli. Eadie Levy became known as our "Company Mom" after that. The concept of sports catering was born. At the former Comiskey Park in 1982, Levy pioneered the concept of excellent dining in stadiums (then home of the Chicago White Sox). We expanded our services to include Wrigley Field in 1985, and the rest is history. Our retail expansion has been amazing, from a 50th anniversary clothing line for the St. Louis Blues to a Chicago Cubs pop-up shop along the Magnificent Mile. We opened off 2017 with huge news, the debut of Rank + Rally, our retail subsidiary, with new partners the Vegas Golden Knights and the Brooklyn Nets adding to our roster. Regardless of how you want to celebrate, our assortment has something for everyone. We're thrilled to collaborate with some of the world's largest and best events, from the Grammys to the NHL All-Star Game, College Baseball to the US Open courts. Action! Lights, camera, action! Conventions don't need to be boring. From the first mouthful to the last, our access to important monuments and team of culinary and hospitality professionals make business meetings and social events extraordinary.

  • Featured photo from Joffrey Tower

    Joffrey Tower

    10 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, USA
    • Spaces for 300 Guests
    • 1 Event Space

    The Joffrey Ballet is a world-class ballet company based in Chicago. This one-of-a-kind venue offers a collection of masterpieces not only for dancing education, but also for magnificent wedding festivities. Weddings at The Joffrey Ballet can be tailored to your personal style and needs, ensuring that all of your exact wedding wishes are fulfilled. Your wedding will be classic and exquisite, whether you choose the Gerald Arpino Back Box Theatre, the Mel Studio, or the Barbara Levy Kipper & David A. Kipper Studio. Your guests will be in awe from the moment they walk into this historic Chicago landmark. The industrial chic architecture and sleek modern lines create the tone for a stylish celebration with family and friends. The entire space is brimming with windows, allowing you and your guests to take in the amazing Chicago night light from any point in the room. At the Joffrey Tower, dine, dance, and salute to the future. For a ceremony and reception, the rental rate ranges from $5,000 to $8,500 and covers 8 hours of event time, minus build up and clean up time. For a ceremony-only wedding, the charge is $3,500. Additional hours are available for a charge of $500 per hour. There is a refundable security deposit of 20% of the rental rates. For Corporate Sponsors: The Joffrey's Corporate Partner Program provides one-of-a-kind chances to engage with the Joffrey and its artists. The Corporate Partner Program offers a range of options to engage with Chicago's legendary dance company and your constituents, whether hosting a private event or networking with other business leaders. Choose a behind-the-scenes tour that is tailored to your company's objectives.

  • Featured photo from Nineteenth Century Club

    Nineteenth Century Club

    178 Forest Ave, Oak Park, IL 60301, USA
    • Spaces for 275-410 Guests
    • 1 Country Club

    The Nineteenth Century Landmark Building is a great place to hold your next event. From weddings, galas, benefits, and cocktail receptions to corporate events, conferences, and meetings, the gorgeous historic structure offers a variety of alternatives for large and small gatherings. Two dining rooms and a lounge are available on our freshly refurbished and customized first level. The big south dining room, ideal for small to medium-sized events, provides the ideal setting for elegant parties and ceremonies, as well as corporate events, award banquets, and graduation parties. The north dining room, which is smaller, is ideal for small dinners and meetings. The stylish and comfortable furniture in our sophisticated lounge is ideal for cocktail parties, showers, and small gatherings. Our newly remodeled ballroom, which can accommodate over 275 guests, is ideal for weddings, banquets, receptions, fundraisers, ceremonies, and special events. Our large stage is ideal for bands and orchestras performing live music and events. Since its erection in 1928, the majestic Oak Park Landmark building of the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association has served our communities. It was designed by architect James L. Fyfe, and it is listed as a "Contributing Resource within the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District" in a recent Village of Oak Park document. Our mission has been to promote study and charity since 1891. We encourage social responsibility by giving philanthropic work, financial support to community not-for-profit groups, and college scholarships to Oak Park-River Forest high school graduates as part of our commitment to our 21st-century community. Through vibrant, multicultural programs that include music, art, literature, science, and the social sciences, we foster lifelong learning.

  • Featured photo from Viaggio

    Viaggio

    1330 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

    Viaggo's in Chicago's West Loop area provides you and your guests personalized packages suited to your party size and dining preferences, whether you're planning a small gathering or a massive festa. Make a reservation for your group dining event or inquire about our catering services. We provide an attractive and delightful eating experience that draws people back time after time. Salads, soups, and sumptuous desserts round out our extensive menu of regional Italian pastas, meats, and fishes. Executive Chef Nicolas Biscaglio's signature adaptations of classic Italian meals are served alongside popular staples like Rigatoni with Braised Pork Gravy and Eggplant Parmesan. To provide a pleasantly memorable experience, we only use the best quality products! Our goal as a hospitality-driven establishment is to make every guest feel like family the moment they come through the door. At Viaggio, we welcome you to relax, unwind, and enjoy yourself! Get to know the Chef... Chef Nicolas Biscaglio, who grew up in a large Italian household, recalls his early interest in the culinary arts. Nick learned a lot of his cooking skills while spending evenings in the kitchen with his grandmother in Elmwood Park, Illinois. Nick's passion in Italian cuisine was started by his grandmother, but he continued to deepen his knowledge and expertise on his own. He studied at Chicago's Cooking and Hospitality Institute. Nick worked as a line and lead chef for numerous restaurants in the Elmwood Park and Melrose Park communities while attending CHIC, where he learned the fundamentals of the culinary industry. Nick continued to advance in the restaurant industry after graduating in 2001, directing the kitchen at a number of prestigious restaurants for more than two decades. We are ecstatic to have Nicolas as our chef de cuisine at Viaggio in Chicago's West Loop. His upbeat attitude and innovative nature are credited with his accomplishment as a Chef. Nick continues to instill these qualities in his employees and excite customers with the foods he produces at Viaggio on a regular basis.

  • Featured photo from Smart Museum

    Smart Museum

    5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
    • Spaces for 70-175 Guests
    • 1 Museum
    • 1 Landmark

    The Smart Museum is a unique and economical venue for your special occasion, having been named to the Knot's list of 10 best museums for a wedding. The Smart's beautiful Ratner Reception Gallery and outdoor Elden Sculpture Garden, which feature large-scale art and sculptures, provide crisp, contemporary venues appropriate for a wide range of events, including wedding receptions, smaller meetings, and corporate entertaining. You and your guests will have the option to tour the Museum's galleries privately during your event. On request, tours of our special exhibitions and permanent collection can be arranged. Under the guidance of Vinci/Hamp Architects, the Museum's interior was reorganized and restored in 1999, and now has a wide, light-filled greeting hall as well as a succession of smaller galleries. Availability After hours, on weekday and weekend evenings, the Smart Museum's reception gallery and sculpture garden are available for hire. We encourage making bookings well in advance to ensure that you can enjoy your special event at the Smart. Inquire about renting our sculpture garden for larger events. Email Sarah Polachek or call 773.702.5785 for additional information about event options, cost, and availability. The Smart has been guided by an educational mission centered on teaching and research, as well as a dedication to making the arts accessible to the University community and the general public through its collection and special exhibitions, since its inception. The Smart is still an experimental institution dedicated to great ideas now, as it was in the past. Our 40th anniversary was a stimulus for us to reflect on and redefine the Smart's basic processes in 2014–2015, with a special focus on teaching, interpretation, and interaction.

  • Featured photo from Club Lucky

    Club Lucky

    1824 W Wabansia Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, USA
    • Spaces for 45-250 Guests

    Club Lucky is the most popular restaurant in Bucktown/Wicker Park, specializing on traditional Italian cuisine served in a family-style setting. The interior is inspired by a 1940s dinner club, a one-of-a-kind cocktail lounge, and a private dining room on the edge of becoming a 1950s speakeasy. With everything from the vintage martini shaker collection to the big tables and booths to the cozy lighting, you and your friends will feel right at home. There are several solutions available to meet your preferences as well as your financial constraints. We recommend a meal that includes an Appetizer, Salad, Pasta Entrée, House Specialty Entrée, and Dessert. We will, however, make every attempt to accommodate any unique requests you may have or to create a menu just for your occasion. Although the ambiance is informal, the meals are substantial, and the pricing are affordable. For anyone arranging a lunch or dinner gathering in the Chicago region, Club Lucky is an excellent choice. In addition to being conveniently located off the Kennedy Expressway (just 5 blocks west on North Avenue), we are only minutes away from the Loop & Downtown Hotels. Club Lucky is available for private party buy outs of the whole restaurant for events taking place on Saturday and Sunday throughout the afternoon.

  • Featured photo from Cafe La Cave

    Cafe La Cave

    2777 Mannheim Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018, USA
    • Spaces for 130-320 Guests
    • 2 Restaurants
    • 2 Ballrooms

    As a popular wedding venue, Cafe La Cave is experienced in making once-in-a-lifetime moments come to life. Not only does Cafe La Cave have experience, but the experienced staff showcases unmatched hospitality, attention to detail, and a track record for making dreams come true. When you host your event at Cafe La Cave, you can guarantee that your next event will be everything you hoped for and more. This day is uniquely yours, and the in-house events team at Cafe La Cave is ready to do what it takes to make this day special. Located in a suburb of Chicago, Cafe La Cave has two ballrooms to choose from-let this sophisticated setting inspire you. Bring up to 350 guests and make it yours. This is the venue for you. Since 1991, La Cave Banquets has worked hard to establish a reputation as the top event facility in the Chicagoland suburbs. Today, Cafe La Cave continues the heritage of high-quality food and refined, professional service that began in 1991. Our attractive and convenient event venue is well-known for its cuisine, which is of high quality and served with exquisite service. It is also noted for its exceptional value. The tumultuous decade of the 1960s was drawing to a close. Cafe La Cave embarked on an astonishing journey in 1969, which continues to this day. The beautiful atmosphere, which would soon become home to celebrities, politicians, and Fortune 500 business leaders, was the ideal setting for an engagement, a meeting with new acquaintances, and a meal with family while enjoying outstanding food. Café La Cave quickly rose to become one of the most prestigious restaurants in the United States. The necessity to make reservations weeks in advance was a must. Today, we maintain our reputation by presenting traditional items that are difficult to get in other restaurants, such as Steak Diane, Chateau Briand, table side service, Cherries Jubilee, and many more besides...

  • Featured photo from Katherine Legge Lodge

    Katherine Legge Lodge

    Hinsdale, IL, USA
    • Spaces for 220-250 Guests
    • 2 Event Spaces

    Katherine Legge Memorial Park's Lodge is surrounded by 52 acres of beautifully landscaped parks. It's a beautiful relic from a bygone period. The Lodge, built in 1927 and designed by R. Harold Zook, one of Chicago's most known domestic architects, emanates grace and elegance. It can accommodate a wide range of special events and occasions, from weddings and social celebrations to corporate meetings and retreats, and is as versatile as it is engaging. The first floor of the English-style structure is full of charm, with a large living room with a fireplace, piano, dining room, kitchen, alcove, and access to the lovely patios and grounds, which can be utilized for outdoor events. ​ The Lodge is an ideal location for weddings and receptions. A lovely dining room, living room, and alcove for seated meals and cocktail gatherings can be found on the first level. A ballroom on the second level is excellent for indoor wedding ceremonies and dancing. Outdoor weddings, receptions, cocktail hours, and photographs are all enhanced by the wedding arbor, patios, and gardens. The Lodge works with a variety of pre-approved special event partners, such as caterers, alcoholic beverage distributors, and a full-service tent rental company, to help you plan your big day. Showers, rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, anniversary parties, memorial services, cotillions, and other special events are all possible at the Lodge. An Event Manager, Assistant Manager, and Event Host staff manage the Lodge's events. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We can’t wait to work with you on your next event!

  • Featured photo from Bruna's Ristorante

    Bruna's Ristorante

    2424 S Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60608, USA

    Bruna’s is located at 2424 S. Oakley Ave, near the southwest side of Chicago, only 12 minutes from the Loop. It is a convenient location for dinner before or after events at Soldier Field, Guaranteed Rate Stadium, United Center, McCormick Place and Wintrust Arena. "Bella Bruna" is an Italian name for "Bella Bruna." Bruna's was founded by Cani in 1933, the same year that prohibition was lifted. With a long history as Chicago's third-oldest Italian restaurant, Bruna's swiftly established a reputation for offering out substantial quantities in a vibrant, neighborhood setting. Bruna would dance on the bar as her clients sung in the background when she wasn't busy cooking for them. It was still possible to find her daughter Marylyn (Mickey), who passed away in 2013 at the age of 94, relaxing on a neighborhood bench when the weather was nice. Bruna's legacy continues to live on through Chicago lore, and until recently, you could find her relaxing on a neighborhood bench when the weather was nice. Following a bout with illness, Bruna decided to sell the restaurant to Luciano Silvestri in 1981. There was a lot in common between the two of them. Both were originally from the central Italian area of Tuscany, and they both had a penchant for traditional Italian cuisine. Several of Bruna's original recipes were kept, and Luciano added several of his own family's valued Italian specialties to the menu, which became a hit with the customers. Because Luciano is originally from Siena, Italy, he regularly returns to his hometown to seek culinary inspiration. He began working in the restaurant sector at an early age, and has since traveled widely around Switzerland and London. A native of Como, Italy, Luciano spent his early years working at the world-renowned Villa d'Este resort and aboard cruise ships for the Sitmar and Princess lines until settling in Chicago in 1977. Bruna's is today recognized for a diverse selection of pasta dishes, tender veal, and, of course, Bella Bruna's original roast chicken recipe, which is still served every Sunday at Bruna's Restaurant. It's also the location of what many consider to be the greatest tiramisu in the city, which is made by Luciano himself. Bruna's has a large wine list that is dominated by Italian wines, with a few Californian selections thrown in for good measure. Wines such as the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which is produced near Luciano's homeland in Italy, are also imported by Bruna's. The Vino Nobile is available by the glass and by the bottle at the winery. Luciano is usually found welcoming clients, serving wine, and preparing espresso shots for the establishment.