"Is your visitor vegan? Gluten-free? Keeping a raw food diet? All of the above? Take this potentially hard-to-please person to Althea. It’s an upscale plant-based restaurant that’s also good for number of other dietary restrictions - and proof that Chicago isn’t just for people who enjoy the meat sweats. You’ll find dishes like a flavorful and surprisingly satisfying kelp noodle “cacio e pepe,” spicy udon with tempeh, and a vegan cheese plate that’s somehow not terrible. Yes, this place is unappealingly located on the 7th floor of Saks on Michigan Avenue, but at least it’s convenient if your dining companion needs to pick up some John Varvatos sweaters or popcorn from Garrett’s." - adrian kane