Curfew

Curfew - Chicago

On the website, Curfew describes itself as an American tavern...but that designation seems very unfair. Curfew is a lot more than just a place to go for drinks; their menu of delectable edibles is broad and deep. A restaurant from celebrity chef Fabio Viviani, headed up by Dirk Flanigan (The Gage, Henri), Curfew offers finely crafted cocktails, a menu of many fascinating food options, and a handful of awesome desserts. Lunch is frequently served in hotel restaurants, and Curfew is no exception: there are some quite delicious midday options on the menu, including "Grilled Cheese" Crispy Braised Lamb, Black Sesame Hummus and Moroccan Chili Wings. Dinner is when the big guns come out, with platters including Smoked Steak Tartare (so much tastier than just the raw meat), Octopus (with celery and crisp potatoes in an nduja vinaigrette), as well as a big favorite of meat lovers, the Butcher-Cut Steak Skewers with turmeric onions, chimichurri and Hen of the Woods mushrooms. You want fries with that? The Curfew kitchen does a delicious Deluxe Fries with fried giardiniera (!). For dessert, there's a lot of fine sweet things to choose from: Root Beer Mascarpone Pudding and a Blanca Cake with white chocolate crunch and dark chocolate syrup. Throughout, Chef Dirk Flanigan stands with Fabio Viviani, who, the restaurant site explains, "was on two seasons of the television competition show Top Chef and won the title of 'Fan Favorite.' When you meet him, you will understand why. His drive for excellence and true culinary talent makes him a celebrated and revered chef. He is a celebrity without the celebrity ego."

Curfew in the St. Clair Hotel is a place to grab a drink, have lunch, or relax into dinner. The drinks menu at Curfew offers a tightly curated selection of sparklers, rose, red and white wines by the bottle and the glass, including some eclectic finds like a Kosher Cab from Israel and a sparkling blend from Slovenia. There are also lots of classic and inventive cocktails.