Grant Park Bistro

"Like its Evanston sibling, Evanston Corner Bistro, this Loop restaurant will feature a buffet on Thanksgiving, albeit at a slightly higher price ($55 per person, $25 for kids). Started includes Parker House rolls, butternut squash soup, and local cheese and charcuterie boards, while entrees feature traditional roasted turkey, roasted salmon, and New York strip steak. Sides are plentiful too, such as mashed potatoes, turkey sausage stuffing, and roasted Brussels sprouts. Finish with pumpkin pie and an assortment of cookies and macarons. Also available at LM Group’s River North Bistro. Reservations are available on OpenTable." - Lisa Shames, Eater Staff

"Grant Park Bistro inside the Hotel Essex, which is shuttered until spring 2021." - Naomi Waxman

"Hotel Essex’s modern French restaurant is planning a three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving menu starting at noon that features seasonal classics. These include roasted squash soup (truffle chantilly cream, brioche crouton), roasted turkey stuffed with chestnuts, collard greens (sweet potato mash, turkey gravy), green bean casserole, and apple streusel pie. Adults pay $45 per person, and children under 12 can eat for $22.50." - Naomi Waxman

"Grant Park Bistro is an appealing French spot for a midday meal according to Joanne Trestrail. It’s located on the ground floor of Essex Inn and the 'small but appealing lunch menu is well executed by chef de cuisine Zeus Alvarez.' Silky chicken liver mousse is an 'elegant starter' topped with cherry mustard, pickled onion, and sprigs of thyme, and quiche Lorraine is also 'right on the money.' Grilled salmon is another winning dish but its accompaniments — roasted celery root, apple, and pickled fennel — are a bit 'oversweet.' The only clunker is a fettuccini entrée 'undercooked to the point of chewiness.' And if weather permits, 'alfresco lunch on the patio is delightful, well worth a walk down a few blocks' from all of the popular attractions." - Jeffy Mai

"Grant Park Bistro is another French restaurant from LM Restaurant Group and it’ll serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a return to the hotel for LM as the company operated Brasserie by LM from 2012 to 2016 inside the same South Loop building. The official opening date is April 2 at the corner of 8th Street and Michigan Avenue. It’ll debut with breakfast, according to a spokesperson, before expanding to lunch on April 8 and dinner on April 15. The owners are promising more modern, communal-style takes on French food. Customers will find grilled meats, fish, and veggies plus an assortment of terrines. The tarte flambée will even be grilled, opposed to the traditional baked preparation. The wines will draw heavy from France’s Loire Valley and Côtes du Rhône regions. They’ll also have French beers. The dining room features seating for 55 and an open kitchen. There’s also a bar with seating for 38. A patio will have a 40-seat capacity on Michigan Avenue." - Ashok Selvam