THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Spiaggia

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Spiaggia Restaurant Review:

After more than three decades and a major floor-to-ceiling renovation, much has changed at this super-luxe Italian restaurant from chef-partner Tony Mantuano. Gone, for instance, are the white linen tablecloths and the strict, jackets-required dress code policy, allowing for a more relaxed and casual dining experience. Yet some things never change, and the quality of the food --- as reflected in its high price tag --- endures. With a menu made almost entirely from scratch (pasta included), the difference in taste is evident when stacked against competitors. Seafood options stand out, as do the tasting menus (five courses for $105, eight courses for $155, plus optional wine pairings). The à la carte menu might present such inspirations as duck breast, strawberry, rhubarb, Swiss chard and fennel, continuing to a dry-aged porterhouse, truffle hollandaise, potato and spring onion with nasturtium. Accordingly, the array of cheeses is vast. Gold leaf adorns an indulgent Italian-style opera torte with salted caramel gelato. The wine list offers unique Italian selections rarely seen in Chicago. The tab is a small price to pay, we say, for the view from the tiered dining room with its panoramas of Oak Street Beach and the lake.