It's always better to do it in private—at least, that seems to be the case when it comes to riding on an airplane or swimming in a pool. The same personal luxury can easily extend to food, costing far less than owning a private jet. Catering to groups of two to 14-plus, these restaurants can make a celebratory event a memorable one…or just eliminate that bourgeois wait for a table.
Have a sexy night with friends at La Pomme Rouge
This opulent salon, whose name is French for "the red apple," plays off the idea of the apple as a temptress, with its elevated menu and private settings fit for indulgence. Grand circular booths, which seat up to five, run along the left side of the space and feature sheer and opaque curtains that provide partial or total privacy. You'll be more than tempted to order champagne and a heavy sampling of chef Jeff Mauro's serious menu of caviar, homemade charcuterie and Amish chicken with foie-shallot tortellini. Reservations accepted.
Dine on sushi for six at Kamehachi (Old Town) or Kamehachi (Streeterville)
Two locations of this Chicago chain, which bills itself as the first spot to score sushi in the city, offer private rooms for your maki mayhem. Expect a traditional tatami setting (though it looks like you're sitting on the floor, a cutout below the table gives your legs plenty of dangling room) that can hold up to 10 in Old Town, where diners have access to a private music system and TV. Throw on some Bjork or the Bears to set the mood for you meal, ordered from the regular menu with items like AAC Maki (asparagus, avocado and cucumber). Streeterville's two rooms can accommodate two to four or six to 16. Room charges run $10-$30, and you're welcome to bring your own candles, CDs, etc. to customize further. Book at least 24 hours in advance.
Celebrate over farm-fresh fine dining at aria
Chef Noah Bekofsky's globally inspired cuisine, much of it made from ingredients culled from the Green City Market, is perfect for any celebration, especially those involving your 10 closest friends. Glass doors create a private space that seats up to 14; it's recommended that the host works with a manager to create a set menu and a pre-selected wine option for large groups. With dishes like organic baby beet salad, chestnut-crusted Alaskan halibut and Thai lemongrass creme brulee, you won't hesitate to make your dinner a six-course one. A semi-private chef's table option, where you tour the kitchen and dine with Bekofsky, is available for groups of six to eight.
Do it dining room-style at Devon Seafood Grill
They may not be entirely closed off, but the semi-private alcoves here rock, feeling more like a hip dining room out of a Pottery Barn catalog than a sterile extra space. Two rooms seat two to four, a lovely small group setting; the other two seat up to 10 for a dinner of grilled Bay of Fundy salmon and potato-wrapped grouper. The only trick is that you can request the rooms but they aren't guaranteed, so it's a bit of a gamble. If you're not into spontaneous group dining, reserve the wine room, which can seat a party of big spenders; there's a $1,000 weekday, $1,500 weekend, minimum for the space.
Host your own salon at Brasserie Jo
This French restaurant's Petite Salon seats 10 to 12 guests in a room flanked on two sides by the restaurant's wine storage. If that doesn't entice you to pop open a few bottles of Bordeaux, nothing will (though the beer list is a tempting one). Order straight from the menu's plats principaux, with items like classic steak frites and an awesome sauteed skate wing, or you can customize a menu for your group. There's no food or beverage minimum, but a $50 set-up fee will apply, and you'd be wise to make reservations a month in advance.
More private dining:
Opera
Parties of eight to 14 can dine on a "Chinese with modern presentations" menu in the fully enclosed Banquet Room.
Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro
The Nautical Room accommodates smaller parties of about 10 for a classed-up meal of Irish bistro fare. A $200 room fee may apply.
Eno
Want a wine-, cheese- and chocolate-filled girls night out? This semi-private space, a long wooden table off the main area, can seat up to 10. A minimum charge will apply.
Le Lan
Hosting groups as small as 10, this restaurant customizes a menu for you; with tea-smoked duck and "sizzling" short ribs, you'll have plenty to chow on.
Fulton's on the River
This riverside restaurant caters to plenty of large groups, but you and your nine closest friends can dine on seafood among vintage selections in the Wine Room.
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