Saturday, August 20, 2011

Eating Ralph Lauren in Chicago



You may have worn Ralph Lauren, but have you eaten at his restaurant? That's correct. Fashion designers apparently are no longer content to sell you expensive clothes; they now intend to wine and dine you too. Right below the imposing structure of The Peninsula in Chicago, Ralph Lauren has what is supposed to be the largest store for their Polo branded clothing and accessories. RL is located right next to the store. A fashionable but casual place that is said to be one of Oprah Winfrey's favorite spots, this restaurant serves what they call city-club cuisine.



I popped in for a quick lunch one day. The restaurant was quite busy but I was able to immediately get a seat at the bar where they offer the full menu. The restaurant is all wood with framed pictures on wood paneled walls, comfortable leather couches and dark furniture. You could also sit in the patio to dine in shaded comfort outdoors.

Having done my quick research, I ordered a cup of their popular lobster bisque followed by the RL Burger with Angus beef and extra mushrooms.



The bisque was very good with chunks of lobster in the thick, creamy soup. But it was the RL Burger that stole the show. Nice and juicy, the buns and the quality of meat made all the difference.

After the filling lunch at RL's I decided to get a bird's eye view from Hancock Observatory, on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center - only a few blocks from my hotel. Going up in what much be one of the fastest elevators took less than a minute.



The view from the top was amazing. The lakes, the downtown - several skyscrapers now looked small when seen from up above, and the surrounding vistas were a sight to behold. After taking my time here, I walked back to the comfort of my hotel room. Here are a few pictures of my room at The Peninsula, Chicago.





This trip was mostly business and I didn't have time to venture too far from my hotel. Hopefully, I will be back here with more time to spare and maybe I will even manage a dinner reservation at Alinea. Let's see!

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