The House of Blues in Chicago is in the North River neighborhood of the city along North Dearborn Avenue in the Marin City complex. Established in 1996, the venue hosts live blues and other types of music and has featured artists like Al Green and Pearl Jam. In addition to the restaurant located inside the theater, the House of Blues Chicago is located within five blocks of a variety of restaurants, including those that offer waterfront views or specialize in a particular cuisine like Mexican.
Flatwater Restaurant is within one block walking distance of the House of Blues. Known for its views of the Chicago River, the restaurant is most popular during the summer months, when it offers outdoor seating on its patio along the riverwalk. The restaurant held Zagat ratings of "very good to excellent" for its decor, "good to very good" for its cuisine and "fair to good" for its service. Signature dinners include lamb with goat cheese and grilled pears and Chilean sea bass with bok choy and shiitake mushroom caps. Incorporating vintages from around the world, the wine list changes frequently and typically features a minimum of 50 selections. Flatwater Restaurant serves brunch on Sundays, lunch Mondays through Fridays and diner nightly. Reservations are accepted online or by phone. Casual attire is appropriate. Street-parking is difficult in the area, but a valet is available for a fee.
Flatwater Restaurant
321 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60610
312-644-0283
flatwater.us
A wine bar and cafe, Bin 36 is adjacent to the House of Blues. The restaurant held Zagat ratings of "very good to excellent" for its food, decor and service. The dinner menu is eclectic with a diverse range of entrees like the CLT (soft shell crab, lettuce and tomato) sandwich, the half rotisserie chicken with jalapeno bread, poached Alaskan halibut with tempura asparagus and the black-pepper crusted swordfish in bordelaise sauce. The Wine Director, Brian Duncan, has received nominations for the prestigious "James Beard Award" for his work at the restaurant, which offers more than 40 selections as well as flights that combine tastes of several different vintages. Bin 36 serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and serves food until after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. At lunch, the restaurant guarantees that the meal will take only 36 minutes or less to accommodate those on lunch breaks. Reservations are highly recommended. Parties of four or less can make arrangements online, and parties of all sizes may call for reservations. Business casual attire is the norm. A children's menu is available for young diners. The restaurant offers valet parking.
Bin 36
339 N. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL 60654
312-755-9463
bin36.com
Mercadito specializes in Mexican cuisine and is less than three blocks away from the House of Blues. The restaurant held Zagat dining guide ratings of "very good to excellent" for its food and decor and "good to very good" for its service as of September 2010. The restaurant is known for its six house-made guacamoles like the traditional avocado and the mango as well as for its three ceviches like the bay scallops, water melon and serrano pepper. Flautas, tacos, grilled steaks and enchiladas also are featured. Tequila and Mexican beers are the specialties at the bar. Mercadito serves lunch Mondays through Saturdays and dinner nightly. The restaurant serves a special light night menu and stays open after midnight every night of the week except Sundays. Reservations are highly recommended and taken online and by phone. Casual attire is acceptable. Outdoor seating is available along the sidewalk in nice weather. The tables indoors are close together, and when the restaurant is crowded private conversation can prove difficult. Valet parking is available.
Mercadito
108 W. Kinzie St.
Chicago, IL 60654
312-329-9555
mercaditorestaurants.com
