PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

Appropriately enough for its tony Oak Street environs, Le Colonial has one of the loveliest dining rooms in the city -- and the second-floor lounge is a sultry, seductive destination for cocktails. An escapist's paradise, the restaurant is a cleverly crafted re-creation of the civilized yet exotic world of 1920s Saigon, with bamboo shutters, rattan chairs, potted palms and banana trees, fringed lampshades and ceiling fans, and evocative period photography to set the mood. While the ambience certainly merits a visit, the flavorful cuisine is a draw on its own. Start with the hearty oxtail soup or the light and refreshing beef-and-watercress salad. Entrees include grilled lime-glazed sea scallops with garlic noodle salad; sautéed jumbo shrimp in curried coconut sauce; and roasted chicken with lemon-grass-and-lime dipping sauce. Refresh with the orange-mint iced tea, and finish with banana tapioca pudding, a gooey Le Colonial macaroon, or an after-dinner drink upstairs. Le Colonial offers outdoor seating in warm weather; try to reserve one of the coveted, romantic mezzanine terrace tables.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Chicago 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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