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Categories: American (New), Lounges [Edit]
Neighborhood: Near North SideChicago (Red)
Mon-Thu. 6:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 6:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 6:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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I add this to my list of boring names for a restaurant/bar. Maybe about 15 years ago it was trendy to name a restaurant related to its address but now it's just lazy.
The restaurant is located in the Omni Hotel. You need to take the elevator to the 4th floor. The decor is nice yet plain but could be so much better to be congruent with the view and large space. It could be so much more romantic or hip after they serve dinner if they dim the lights - just to start.
The drinks are good. I had a mojito. My date ordered one of their signature fruity martinis. She seemed to enjoy it. She also ordered the foie gras and loved it.
Overall it was quiet and the staff was older. It's a nice place but I got the feeling that people over 40 would enjoy it more.
Party of 4, Tuesday evening...only a few tables seated...this place was not busy at all
On the positive:
+ great view of Michigan Avenue
+ clean and spacious place
Room for Improvement:
- service is not that personal, rushed which was surprising with the low activity that night
- food is average
- over-priced for quality
There are better places in the city.
It was neither good nor bad, decent flavor and menu.. right up until my entire party realized we were ill because of the food.
If there's something worse for a business lunch than being sick the rest of the day, I'm not sure what it is...
I like this place, if only for their cucumber mojitos. All I can say is-they rock. Everyone I was with ordered the pomegranate margarita, tasted my mojito, and then ordered that. It's incredible and basically gave me a foodgasm right there on the spot. Their flatbreads (esp. the shrimp one) are also delish and I loved the creme brulee. Yummy!
Well, I just don't like hotel restaurants. I mean it's fine if say....you are staying at a hotel out of town, but in Chicago? I don't know, I just prefer a bit more off the beaten path...but, alas I was invited for a networking dinner, and of course with the Restaurant Week menus all over the city (my only night I took advantage of it), this was a good option.
The strangest dish of the evening was the salmon over risotto. It was so citrusy it was all I could taste. It kind of icked me out, and honestly when I think back to the meal all I can do is make that sour face you get when you get a chunk of lemon. Yeah, that face. It kind of marred the whole meal, in my honest estimation. However the filet with ravioli over the top was delicious, and the tart at the end very large and creamy. (face slowly unpuckers)
So, for....
One glass of prosecco, one glass of wine, coffee, Diet Coke (god, I'm a beverage champion, eh?), the RW menu (3 courses)...and an added 20 perecent gratuity it was $80. A bit pricey for a random Tuesday evening, and I much rather would have spent it elsewhere...but, the company was stellar, and the service was nothing short of impeccable, so they win points there most definitely.
It's a hotel restaurant, and if you are staying (or live) downtown, it's definitely a decent option. However, I found it to be a bit bland in terms of character and intrigue, and at the price point it just doesn't stand out for me...even during Restaurant Week!
(end grouchy streak)
Tucked away on the 4th floor of the Omni Hotel there's a good chance you don't even know that this restaurant exists. At least I had no idea and I consider myself "in the know" when it comes to the restaurant scene in Chicago.
The $32 prix fixe menu of 6 courses (yes, that's 6!) for restaurant week lured me in with a group of lovely ladies. I've been eating out for Chicago restaurant week every night this week so for the sake of fitting into my jeans I decided ahead of time I'd opt out of the 6 course menu and order something from their regular menu. Of course when I got there I was convinced that the courses were really small (really just samples) and to try it. And I"m always one to succumb to peer pressure when it comes to food. I may just need to buy bigger jeans...
I ended up being very happy with my 6 course menu...and it really was the perfect portion size. Here are all the details:
Hot Rock Shrimp: got to cook my own shrimp, which was fun. And tasty!
676 Green Salad: Full of almonds and goat cheese- yum!
Tomato and White Bean Soup: My favorite dish of the evening!
Seared Atlantic Salmon: Had a very strong citrus taste, which I didn't mind, but not for you if you're not a citrus lover
Chicken (was supposed to be filet, but I swapped it for chicken): Also delish
Navel Orange Tart for dessert: I didn't think I was a tart person, but maybe I am because this totally hit the spot!
The restaurant was pretty much empty (like i said...most people don't know about it) so we got lots of attention from our servers, although I thought there was a bit too much time between the shrimp course and everything else. Then again, we were a large party and when that's the case I always expect things to move along a bit slower.
They were extremely nice in letting us switch up things from the prix fixe dinner. Examples: chicken instead of filet for me, vegetarian options for a vegetarian member of our party, and a chocolate dessert instead of the tart for someone else. Although she really missed out on that tart!
I don't think I"ll ever get another deal here like I did last night, but now 676 has been put on my radar I may just go back to try the regular menu.
Stopped here simply because of the Yelp reviews. So glad I did! The fact that it's inside the Omni hotel really makes you feel exclusive. Prices aren't bad for what you get - it definitely feels like an impressive French influenced fine dining experience. The view over Michigan Ave makes for some of the best people-watching I've ever had.
My date and I ordered two items from the cheese menu and three "shareables." We could have definitely gotten by with two, but glad we got three because our last choice, the margherita flatbread, was outstanding. We expected the grilled scallops and crab cakes to be top notch (otherwise they'd leave them off the menu, right?) but the flatbread really surprised me. I honestly want to go back for a drink and that flatbread at this very moment. The perfectly salted and soft mozzarella, pesto... ahhh.
Check out the specials on their website too.
Came here for restaurant week looking forward to its pre-fixed SIX course meal. I had always passed by this restaurant on the way to work since its located right above my fave Express on Mich. Ave. Its blue and green lights always looked pretty from outside, and its huge windows made the view onto Mich. Ave. seem amazing.
Little did we know... first came the shrimp rolls- "try this amazingly creative new dish!" said the waiter- but really, it was a piece of shrimp that you had to cook urself on a hot stone, then wrap it in coleslaw and lettuce. Then, our next course came looking much larger than before, leaving us with high hopes. When we all realized at the same time that it was actually all FOUR courses at once- each course about the size of a plum, we were pretty disappointed...Three stars because the food tasted fine, but it was a meal for midgets! Who skimps out on salad too? The dessert ended up being our biggest course. Another downer- Saturday night and the place had about 5 couples total. Looks better/tastier from the outside...
Stopped in here after a movie to grab some appetizers and drinks.
It's on the mag mile - so not necessarily my first choice, but for where it is - it's actually a pretty great place.
It's in the Omni hotel - overlooking Michigan avenue. We were seated right by the window and had an amazing view and for a Saturday night it was not busy at all.
The appetizers were good, we had crab cakes which were great - we also had something else that I can't remember so apparently it wasn't memorable.
Drinks were strong and great! Service was right on.
A great Valentine's day spot. Although that information is probably useless to anyone for the next 11 months.
It was nice to look out over Michigan Ave, despite having to look @ the dreadful Apple store. The prix fixe menu was absolutely delicious.
Only negative was they could probably use an interior decorator. It's like three different people came in and decorated different parts of the restaurant. But then again, I don't really care.
I was at Restaurant Week and would have to agree with Kim C's assessment. Mediocre. I was attracted to the six course (vs 3) but wished now they had just done three well. They had:
Hot Rock Shrimp: The hot rock is so 1990s. And honestly is for lesser restaurants than this. The shrimp wasn't very high quality, and I couldn't save it.
676 Green Salad: Drowning in a citrusy dressing that while good kinda killed any thought of "green" or "fresh" from this offering.
Tomato and White Bean Soup: I liked better than I thought. Truly liked the chef just mixed together two classic soup styles. Really good.
Seared Atlantic Salmon: Highly overcooked and dry. Amateurish at best.
Filet - Very good piece of meat.
Navel Orange Tart for dessert: Boring, not a way to finish a meal.
Service was quite good, and I have to admit that the view from my table (overlooking Michigan Avenue) made for a nice evening. From previous reviews, I know that this restaurant has great potential - I just felt like they went "cafeteria" on me during Restaurant Week.
I had a gift certificate from a CS event so I decided to try brunch here. With the exception of the views, it was a little lame.
I often go online to look at the menu before a meal. I was pretty excited because there were so many options, many that appealed to me. When I saw the menu at the restaurant, I was confused. I could have sworn that there were many more options. My sister-in-law agreed. Sure enough, the online menu is completely different.
While the food is good, it really doesn't deserve a second visit with so many better brunch options in the city.
Mediocre in almost every way, and I probably would have given them 2 stars if not for the excellent service. From the foie gras (but then again, the only other time I've had foie gras was at Takashi..) to the the "6 course" Restaurant Week prix fixe menu that consisted of 6 bite-size courses, I was pretty underwhelmed. I was decently full afterwards, but the guys were definitely thinking about hitting up Boston Blackies..
This is a cool place to hang out. They have a great view and you can watch people and traffic as the day passes. The seating and decor are chic. Drinks were good, the snack food was better than average with nice presentation.
Went for my bday :)
Had the Alaskan Salmon, bf had Bone-in ribeye. I didn't love the salmon (the meat was awesome and perfectly cooked but the veggies weren't my style), the ribeye was yum. We ordered two appetizers and both were amazing. The portions are actually normal sized (maybe slightly oversized) unlike other 'nicer' restaurants.
The prices were about 10 per appetizer, 25-30 per plate, and they also had some $6-8 tasting plates (although we didn't try any).
The staff was incredibly friendly--and there was always someone around when we needed something :) And since they knew it was my bday, they had prepared a pretty chocolate cake on a prettily decorated plate. Yay!!
Would definitely go back.
This is a pretty relaxed place and seemed very uncrowded at the time that we were there. I think it was even for valentine's day, but since returning for drinks in the loung area, it's one of my favorite places to hang out. They're not exceptionaly trained at making cocktails, but they sure get by. This place came highly recommended from a few friends of mine and i'll continue to go back.
They are really inventive with their food menu. The soups are extermely well made, and the desserts...just amazing.
I had dinner at 676 last Sunday night after I took my future in-laws to see Jersey Boys. The place was pretty busy for 5:30pm on Sunday night. We had a table overlooking Michigan Avenue and our table was awesome. The hostess and manager both helped my fiances 91 year old grandmother to the table and made her feel very special. My future father-in-law was quite impressed, which put my nerves at ease.
Our server, Mario, was very efficient and knowledgeable of the menu and put together a special menu for grandma to match her dietary restrictions. We all enjoyed a glass of the Bele Cassel Prosecco while we tried six of their fabulous seasonal tasting plates. We each had a different soup or salad and my fiance had the crab cakes, which were incredible.
For the entree I had the filet, but my future father-in-law ordered the dainty 34 oz. bone-in ribeye that looked like something from the Flintstones. We all enjoyed a bottle of the Purple Angel by Montes, which is 92% Carmenere and 8% Petit Verdot from Chile. This wine melted in my mouth and truly complimented a hearty steak or the Patagonian Salmon my fiance had.
Dessert, we split a piece of chocolate ganache cake for the entire table which is served with a shot of Spicy Maya Chauo hot chocolate from Venezuela, which we all got. Needless to say we were stuffed.
I had been wondering the other day where one could go in the Magnificent Mile area to just have a quiet drink with no pressure or rigamarole. 676's bar is the place. It's not just a simple walk-in from the street, so it's fairly serene, and one can just walk up and order a beer and sit by the window and watch the street scene below. Nicely appointed and comfortable. I plan to stop here more frequently now that I know.
My kind of town, Chicago is...
And 676 is my kind of restaurant. Lucky me, I got to have two meals there. Lunch on a Friday and dinner on a Saturday.
Occupying a nicely decorated corner on the fourth floor of the Omni Hotel, 676 offers prime views of the always bustling Michigan Ave. The dining area has a domed ceiling with a faux sky that slowly changes from one shade to another, and is bordered by the bar area and a cozy seating area with overstuffed chairs. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Impeccable service from James during lunch, complete with sightseeing tips and plenty of good cheer. What did I have? I started with an incredible cup of coffee, presented in a huge mug with a freeform saucer and dainty spoon. Next came the smoked chicken soup (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) with herb dumplings, generous in portion, complex and layered in flavor, but not overpowering, and accompanied by a delightfully arranged basket of bread complete with a covered ramekin of butter (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) placed on the table and uncovered with an elegant flourish by my most adept server. The soup was more than filling, but I had also ordered the turkey and bacon on foccacia with an herbed cream cheese spread. It arrived sliced in half, and nicely arranged with a cast iron dish of the house kettle chips. ( http://www.yelp.com/bi...) I took as many bites as I could, all the while eyeing the lump crabcakes( http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and shrimp flatbread (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) my boss had ordered. James checked with us multiple times during our meal, always smiling, and the other servers made sure our water glasses were never empty, and that my coffee was always to the brim! It was a wonderful meal, and gave me the energy I needed to go and explore Chicago! I even followed some of the advice James had given me, thank goodness, because I got some amazing photos.
Dinner the following evening was just as impressive in terms of food, but the service was lacking. Not lack of attention, or anything like that, but more a lack of experience? I just don't like presumptuous waiters that interrupt me mid-sentence. Maybe I was just tired and cranky. But not too tired to thoroughly enjoy my savory beef empanadas, so crispy and perfect. And definitely not too cranky to appreciate the bites I tried of the rib-eye steak my boss ordered. Such succulent falling-off-the-bone goodness, rich with flavor, crusted with an Argentinean remoulade and topped with chorizo mashed potatoes. Heaven on a plate you say? No, that would be the chocolate torte with a shot of spicy hot chocolate that I had for dessert.
My experience at 676 wasn't horrible, but it was excellent or exquisite like I would have expected from a place like this. I have high expectations for restaurants on Michigan Ave. I had a 7:00 dinner reservation with my mom and fiancee on Saturday and probably could have been a walk in. The dinner area was completely empty, but there were plenty of people at the bar/lounge. The decor was relaxing and I like how it's situated directly above Michigan Ave.
Our waiter was friendly and attentive. I just hate the he carded me (and told me I kind of looked like a teenager) and didn't card my fiance (he is the same age as me)....maybe he thought my mom and fiance were a couple!?! Anyways...
For our appetizers we had the Lobster Spring Rolls and Grilled Artichoke Fondue (i.e. dip). The spring rolls were incredibly delicious and were by far my favorite item. I probably could have made this dish my dinner, I'd have to order more than one though. The artichoke fondue had a strong lemon flavor, which I liked, but the flat bread chips could have broken my teeth, I used the regular table bread instead. I also had the Five Onion Soup. It was really good, but not my favorite ever - it does comes close though. For dinner I had the Stuffed Amish Chicken. It was stuffed with red bell pepper, wilted spinach, and cheese. Very good and flavorful. The fiance and mother had the Bone-In Ribeye. The restaurant prides itself on having the best one in the city. I'm not sure if its the best, but it's definitely one of the largest - my mom and fiance probably could have split one. I will say that the leftovers were awesome!
This place deserves 3.5 stars. While the food and service was good it wasn't extraordinary and I'm taking a star for the prices - they are a bit steep. I don't think I will be returning for a sit down dinner, but I will come back for the lounge to have drinks and appetizers.
Originally, we stayed here two nights and only enjoyed the weekend breakfast buffet, which is awesome. We returned a few weeks later to have dinner at the 676, and let me tell you, it was awesome!.
To start, the drinks are really good here. My wife had the Pomengranate Marg. Not my thing, but she reallly enjoys them here. I had the Michigan Avenue Mojito, which is regular Mojito with fresh raspberries...excellent and potent!
We shared an appetizer. The Lump Crab Cakes - Grilled knob onion rémoulade and shaved corn succotash. They were very flavorful. We also shared a 676 Green Salad - Candied almond, capriole chevre and wild blueberry vinaigrette. WOW! What awesome combination! The vinaigrette complimented the goat cheese so well!
For our entrees, my wife had the Grilled Maine Lobster - Fava bean, corn, heirloom tomato mâche and grilled tomato vinaigrette. For me, it was a little mushy, as if overcooked, or perhaps previously frozen. She didn't complain, but it was my detection. For my entree, I had the signature Bone-In Ribeye - Smoked onion barley, shiitake mushroom and truffle-tomato salad. Holy Crap!!! This has to be one of the city's best cuts! It is a LARGE, tender, and flavorful as ever! And the smoked onion barley side.....I could take a bath in the stuff!!!! It complimented the steak so well. Shameful to say, I couldn't finish the steak and had to take it home. I made my wife and I steak and eggs for breakfast this morning, so yeah, it is LARGE, as I said.
Dessert! We shared the Chocolate Forte with raspberry sauce and hot chocolate shot with a homemade chocolate marshmallow merengue. WOW! Get it!
We also had two glasses of wine with dinner, so our total bill was $154.
It was a memorable dinner, better than I though it would be, except for the lobster. Still, I'd highly recommend the 676 for being innovative in the combinations and flavors.
Cielo means "sky" in Italian, and this restaurant in the Omni has a cool blue sky painted on the ceiling. It is not on the street level, so this gives the place an exclusive "guests only" feel to it. Italian food is the way to go here, though it is nothing overly memorable. Perhaps I have been spoiled by all the Italian food I have eaten in Italy. Cielo has recently been reinvented as 676 Restaurant and Bar with a more Americanized menu.
Great place for drinks!! Awesome drink menu!! Good apps too. I've never eaten here, but it always seems quiet, another gem on the Mag Mile.
I found the oasis I was looking for during a hot hectic week in Chicago. I just wanted to be alone with a cocktail and some decent food, so I rather matter-of-factly walked into the Omni Hotel off Michigan Ave a couple of evenings ago. The elevator took me up 3 or 4 stories above street level to 676. The blue and gold suede couches, faux sky blue ceiling, high back chairs w/ crisp white linens and a sea of lanterns all gave me a kinda Alice in Wonderland needs a drink feel. I was alone so I ate at the bar. The bartender was extremely attentive as a server and quite congenial considering the restaurant was pretty full. My meal was great. I had a clear broth based clam chowder with green onions and purposely burnt popcorn that was a really great starter. For an entre I opted for the special of the day which were short ribs w/ braised root vegetables and some type of spice chorizo. I found honest to goodness "comfort food" in an upscale hotel in downtown Chicago. Needless to say my quest to decompress was quite successful thanks to 676.
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