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Recs for Loop Restaurants near Opera for Girlfriend's 30th Birthday

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Recently moved to Chicago and currently planning girlfriend's 30th birthday in December. Got Friday tickets to opera and need advice on where to go before the show for a tasty, romantic dinner not terribly far from the Lyric Opera in the Loop. Looking for somewhere with a good atmosphere, not too chic or pretentious, but definitely nice and memorable. We eat everything (except for maybe chicken feet). And as long as it's not Jimmy John's, I'm open to suggestions!

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  1. Sepia fits your criteria pretty well and is 3 blocks away.

    1. Blackbird is not quite around the corner but it's less than a 10-minute walk if it's nice, or a 3 minute cab ride if it's not.

      1. Lloyd's at 1 South Wacker is a fine place to dine after the opera. Great food, reasonable prices.

        3 Replies
        1. re: gregg407

          As someone who has business lunches at Lloyd's somewhat regularly it definitely doesn't fit into the "memorable" category. It's nice, but pretty MOR.

          1. re: ferret

            It's close to the Opera and the atmosphere after a production is quite lively. Lots of fun. I REMEMBER it well.

            1. re: ferret

              I'm not even sure that I'd describe it as "nice." The atmosphere is fine but "middling" is about as much praise as I'd give to the food.