Any foodie worth his, her or their salt ( pun intended ) knows of the reputation ( and prices ) of esteemed restaurant Spiaggia, which has entertained no less than President Barack and Michelle Obama.
However, for those who seek something more affordable while enjoying comparable rustic Italian cuisine ( mostly ), there's always Cafe Spiaggia ( 980 N. Michigan Ave.; SpiaggiaRestaurant/cafe ), which is right next door.
Chef de Cuisine Joseph Flamm presides over a menu that's as elegant as the cafe's decor. ( By the way, pray that you get Luis as your server. He's pure entertainment. )
Although crudo is an option, we started with two other interesting appetizers: farm egg and Emilia Romagna on a plate. The egg dish was wonderful, delicately balancing polenta, truffle and Grana Padano cheese, while I could've dined on the latter item ( with gnocco fritto, Prosciutto di Parma, fonduta and balsamico ) all day.
As one would expect at an Italian restaurant, there's a nice selection of pasta dishes. The gemelli comes with pine nuts, pancetta, garlic and the now-ubiquitous kale, while the gnocchi includes wild-boar ragu, Parmigiano Reggiano and basil.
Interestingly, the salad was suggested to eat after the pasta dishbut it didn't dampen our enthusiasm for the greenery. The wild arugula-and-chicken salad ( with grapes, balsamico and Grana Padano ) was solid, but the strachetti skirt steak salad ( with honey crisp apples, Grana Padano, arugula, pumpkin seeds and balsamico ) was a standout, thanks to the especially flavorful meat.
Desserts quaintly conclude the meal, with items such as the pumpkin budino and pizzelle panino ( wihich has a vanilla bean gelato, crunchy almond chocolate and cocoa nib glaze ).
So check out Cafe Spiaggia; it provides all the elegancewithout spending hundreds on a meal.