Rivers, located on the lobby level of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, is the go-to spot for downtown power lunches. Located right across the street from the Civic Opera House, it also maintains a strong pre-performance business. With a sleek wood interior, dramatically embellished ceilings and stunning city views, the restaurant offers an alternative to the Loop's mostly humdrum locales. The boisterous dining room is typically jammed with suit-donning execs, and service is speedy yet snooty.
The contemporary American cuisine focuses on seasonal ingredients prepared on a wood-fired grill. Two menus are offered for both lunch and dinner. The bar/bistro menu provides inexpensive options such as the charred beef salad for $14.95 and the pizza margherita for $9.95, while the dining room menu highlights Rivers' signature entrees, including pan-roasted grouper with roasted potatoes, spinach, cherry tomatoes, green beans and shitake mushrooms with a chipotle butter sauce for $22.95.
Rivers to Go, the carryout section of the restaurant, serves up breakfast and lunch selections for a cheaper price. Fresh fruit smoothies, the gravlox sandwich and brewed gourmet coffee are among some of the take-out items offered. The eatery's seasonal outdoor deck overlooking the Chicago River is the perfect spot for after-work drinks; be sure to arrive early to find a seat.
Average cost: $10-$20
Centerstage Reviewer: Abbey Gillespie
