Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in Chicago / Illinois? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Rollapalooza

4.9

4.9 (358)

$30 and under

Sushi

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

COZY AND WARM RESTAURANT. FRESH AND DELICIOUS RESTAURANT. WE ARE NOT NO.1 RESTAURANT. HOWEVER WE DO OUR BEST TO SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS.

Top review

SamR

Dined on Sep 21, 2024

Rollapalooza never disappoints! They have an extensive menu, delicious, fresh sushi and it's BYOB! The staff is always welcoming and service is outstanding! This is our go to sushi spot. A real gem!

Sushi Suite 202 - Lincoln Park Chicago @ Hotel Lincoln

4.9

4.9 (491)

$50 and over

Sushi

Old Town

About the restaurant

Step into the secret world of Sushi Suite, located in Suite 202 of Hotel Lincoln and accessible only with a key from the front desk, this hidden gem combines privacy, luxury, and the art of Omakase, meaning "Chef's Choice,". Sushi Suite offers an opulent 'Bougie' Omakase, $140 for 17 pieces 75-minute experience. Elevate your experience with bespoke cocktails and premium sake, perfect for igniting passions. Whether it's an intimate Date Night, a lavish Birthday Celebration, or an exclusive private seating, let us whisk you away on a journey of decadent sushi and immaculate service. Visit all of our unique locations, each with its own culture-inspired vibe!. Reserve now to secure a coveted seat at Sushi By Bou.

Top review

Tim

Dined 4 days ago

What a great experience. Everybody working there was fantastic including chef Ken. Be aware that you are walking into an experience. You won’t have a setting to have meaningful conversation with a date as the service is shared and timed. That isn’t a negative but it’s just how the process works. The food was simply fantastic. You could see the care given right before your eyes. It’s some of the best sushi I have ever had. I will be back so I can show off this hidden gem.

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Victory Italian - Oak Park

4.9

4.9 (225)

$30 and under

Italian

Forest Park

About the restaurant

*Our patio is first come, first serve. Your reservation assures you a table. If patio is available at your time of arrival we will gladly seat you there. We appreciate your understanding*
Victory Italian features authentic Chicago-style Italian Cuisine. While the menu boasts of Joe's Mama's Meatballs, you will find fresh made pastas, home-made ciabatta garlic bread, and many other of Chef's classics that have wowwed Chicago for decades! The wine list is one to delight all palates offering several regions of Italy, many appellations of California and a well balanced mix of global varietals. Dine in our space filled with Old-World sophistication, black and white photos of familiar faces and quintessential Chicago Style. Our Oak Park location showcases a beautiful wrap around bar perfect to invite friends to watch a game while enjoying one of our many craft beers or signature cocktails. Perfect for romantic dinners, social gatherings, business, or a night out on the town.

Top review

Scottvip

Dined 6 days ago

Always delicious, always great service, and always a great vibe. One of our neighborhood favorites!

The Alderman

4.9

4.9 (200)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Pilsen

About the restaurant

Winner of the 2022 Jean Banchet Award for Best Bar, THE ALDERMAN is an intimate, 16-seat cocktail bar tucked away, behind closed doors, within Pilsen Yards. The cocktail list rotates some of its original cocktail features, while the twists on American classics are staples of the cocktail list.

With a plush velvet banquette and a 4-seat counter, it’s the perfect room for a night cap, a date, or a casual evening of one to several astonishingly good cocktails.

Top review

Johnaévip

Dined on Sep 23, 2024

We came to celebrate a birthday and the ambiance and service were amazing!

The Omakase Room at Sushi-san

4.9

4.9 (64)

$50 and over

Japanese

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

The Omakase Room at Sushi-san is a culmination of Master Sushi Chefs Kaze Chan and Shigeru Kitano’s combined experience defining the Chicago sushi scene. While the menu and service are informed by tradition, guests can expect a transcendent experience that breaks down the formality and austerity usually accompanying omakase dining. Each dinner in the warm, modern, and intimate ten-seat space features luxury ingredients from around the world. Sophisticated and carefully curated beverage pairings are available to complement the meal.

Top review

Deyja

Dined 7 days ago

Daniel was very patient and understanding with our situation, he really set the tone when we first stepped inside. Our sushi master chefs were very sweet and engaging along with the entire atmosphere. The food was amazing and plated in a craftful way to bring out the artistic vision. Loved the food and it was a great experience!

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Experience

Omakase Reservation Deposit

Balmoral Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1394)

$31 to $50

Scottish

St. Charles

About the restaurant

A passion for authenticity. Nostalgia for heritage, and recipes that have been passed down and held dear. Ingredients sourced from the Isles, and from local farmers.

Welcome to Balmoral Restaurant. Grand Scottish Fare as you’ve never experienced before.

Lush, dark Scottish wood tones greet you upon entering Balmoral Restaurant. A deep-set coffered ceiling hides recessed lighting, designed to light your table elegantly, providing just the right mood. Scottish designs surround you, from the tartan carpet, to wrought iron fixtures, to the swords and shields of lore, to wall murals that evoke the placid Scottish countryside. At Balmoral, we bring the incomparable splendor of Scotland to you.

Top review

Kathleen

Dined 3 days ago

Great food and service in a quiet and lovely atmosphere. I wish they had fishermen’s pie

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Popular dish

Dalkeith's Pork Chop

Popular dish

Ye Auld Sticky Toffee Pudding

Anna Maria Pasteria

4.7

4.7 (597)

$30 and under

Italian

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

Anna Maria Pasteria is now closed after 35 years of business. Thank you for all of your support through the years!!

Top review

Steve

Dined on Aug 22, 2024

Solid neighborhood Italian restaurant. Very enjoyable evening. If we lived here, it would be a go to for us.

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Popular dish

Linguine Pesto

The Village Vintner

4.7

4.7 (287)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Algonquin

About the restaurant

We invite you to experience a casual dining atmosphere with an elegant selection of food, handcrafted wine & house brew. We proudly feature a wood fired pizza oven, which allows us to offer you gourmet pizza, delectable flatbreads, tender smoky ribs, and many other mouthwatering wood fired entrees. When you arrive, both a full service bar and separate wine & beer tasting bar await you. Try some of our handcrafted wines or beer while you enjoy a tempting appetizer at our tasting bar. Don’t forget to ask about our Wine & Mug Club membership options, too!

Top review

Tammy

Dined on Sep 20, 2024

The server went above and beyond to meet our needs.

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Popular dish

White Pizza

Crab King Cajun Boil & Sushi

4.7

4.7 (55)

$30 and under

Cajun

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

Crab King Cajun Boil & Bar is a new business of seafood in this community. Our mission is to provide the highest quality of seafood, sushi and give you the best dining experience. At our new Chicago location, we strive to make Crab King Cajun Boil & Sushi to be the best seafood restaurant in town.

Top review

Brian

Dined on Sep 20, 2024

Excellent service. Forget the waitresses name but she was great. Good at explaining the process etc. Tge two who got the boil loved it. I went for the fried fish and it was decent.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Chicago, IL | Lakeview

4.6

4.6 (516)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

Thomasvip

Dined 3 days ago

Always a great experience and great food options

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Experience

Prix-Fixe Yakiniku Courses for Everyone!

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