Tonight the programming committee for my alumni association met at a very cool restaurant that I’d like to recommend. It was my second outing at The Big Downtown in the Palmer House Hotel. This lunch/after work hang out is a total throwback to the past. It’s a rare find. As metromix.com indicates:

“The Big Downtown has resurrected the Loop’s heyday in all its art deco opulence. This restaurant is a real eyeful: the rail station theme features exposed ironwork that emulates the “el” understructure, as well as gleaming tiled walls, wood floors and high-backed booths. The ceiling is circled by a miniature electric elevated train model that gets the attention of diners young and old. An exposed kitchen shimmers with smoking grills and stainless steel, and a long bar serves up cocktails as big as Daniel Burnham’s command to, ‘Make no small plans!’ Burham’s bidding carries over to the menu as well, with hefty sandwiches, slabs of ribs and pizzas guaranteed to mess up your white tie and tails.”

So if you’re downtown Chicago and looking for something different, check out The Big Downtown. Also, if you’ve never been inside the Palmer House, go inside and walk around the lobby….its simply exquisite. A throwback to the past, they don’t build them like this anymore!