"If you haven’t been to a group dinner at Quartino in River North yet, odds are you’re new to town. It’s a busy spot great for any occasion, and it’s usually easy to get a same-day reservation thanks to its inexhaustible supply of dining rooms and tables. Yes, it will be loud and crowded in here, but that means no one will overhear the intimate details of your coworker’s breakup. Plus, the small-plates-style Italian menu is full of reliably good food that’s easy to share." - adrian kane