When we recently spent an evening with friends at Orchestra Hall we started with dinner at Monello Cucina. This fine Italian restaurant adjacent to The Ivy was perfect for mid-winter dining and a concert… connected by skyway to both the parking ramp and Orchestra Hall.
The wine list was impressive, with an all-Italian list including an extensive wine-by-the-glass list. When we asked about a Pinot Grigio we were given other options much more impressive, such as the delicious Vermentino di Gallura pictured below. They served it with complimentary amuse-bouche appetizers pictured above, preparing us for a special meal.
Pastas were fabulous… as was the steak topped with pasta. They offered a three-course pre-concert special for only $35, which seemed a bargain and offered serving sizes that could be comfortably finished without worrying about falling asleep at the concert to follow!
We made our reservations on Monday for Friday the same week and all the dining tables were already filled. They seated us instead at a long bar table, which I thought was even better than the standard dining tables… we will likely request that table again!
