Aria Restaurant   

200 N Columbus Dr
Chicago, IL 60601
312-444-9494
Official Website

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The SceneAmber and violet lighting wash the oval room. Metallic tiles play nicely with shimmering drapery. The bar to the right offers stool seating, but modish lounge configurations throughout are more inviting for cocktails. A central communal sushi bar is glass and glows blue and offers a more serious eating space for loners or couples. Techno is perhaps too aggressive, and maybe too loud, but reinforces an intended nightlife vibe.The FoodFrom the illuminated sushi bar (and hidden hot kitchen) comes a pan-Asian menu focused on well prepared and dramatically presented sushi. Hot starters jump from Chinese--crispy and richly filled lobster spring rolls--to Thai--Sriracha-spiked chicken satay. Sushi is about quality and subtlety, like freshly grated wasabi root and expertly formed and seasoned rice. Notable pieces include velvety fatty tuna and briefly torched salmon. Rolls are few but astute: toothsome nori holds creamy tuna and prickly scallion-jalapeno sauce.