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Fred's at Barneys: Our Secret Foodie Hotspot in Chicago

Where: 15 East Oak [map], Chicago, IL, United States
May 4, 2010 at 10:05 AM | by | Comments (0)


Our flourless chocolate cake with walnut ice cream

It's not every night that you get to sneak through a closed luxury department store after hours, to take a private elevator to its top floor for a sumptuous meal, but it is your night if you're heading to Fred's Restaurant at Barneys in Chicago. This gourmet eatery, perched about eight stories above the active Rush Street and just off of the luxury boutiques that line Oak Street, is the Chicago version of Manhattan's original Barneys and its Fred's, but the difference is that the Chicago one is newer, having just celebrated its one-year anniversary in a stunning building.

Fred's is a must-visit foodie destination in Chicago, and like all the best places, it seems a sweet secret, hidden away as it is on the top floor of the store, yet open later than shopping hours. We stopped in for a meal with friends recently and spent way too much money on way too many choices off the menu, but then how could we resist a filet mignon with lobster risotto and flourless chocolate cake with walnut ice cream? We couldn't!

Now, about that 'luxury pizza'...

Gallery: Dinner at Fred's at Barneys Chicago

Not to mention the excellence of their luxury pizzas, as these aren't Chicago's famous deep-dish; just listen to the menu description:

Made from 100 % King Arthur Flour, our dough is kneaded and fermented in the true Neapolitan style. Our mozzarella is made locally and our tomato source imports directly from the San Marzano Valley. The olive oil is Monini made from 100% Italian olives in Spoleto, Italy.

If a 4-course meal seems a bit much, then you'll be happy to hear that Fred's really shines during light brunch hours, especially on days with nice weather when they open up the terrace. This is one of our many awesome Chicago dining secrets for surprising a friend with a unique brunch. Actually it's a secret no longer now that we're letting you in on it, but just remember this extra tip: to enter the restaurant at night when the store is closed, look for the single "Fred's" door on Rush Street side, where two men guard the entrance and direct you to the correct elevator.

[non-disclosure: we totally went to Fred's on our own and paid for everything ourselves]

Related Stories:
· Fred's at Barneys Chicago [Official Site]
· Food Travel [Jaunted]

[All photos: Jaunted]

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