Le Passage   

Combining a late-night discotheque, lounge and fine-dining restaurant in a sexy, subterranean space, Le Passage offers many options for the night crawler. Le Passage, which is owned by the proprietors of next-door Le Colonial, means "The Passage" in French, and guests must travel down a pebblestone walkway right off Rush Street to enter the lower-level club. Downstairs, the 10,000-square-foot room is awash in color and style, from a French-inspired mural in the main dining room to the lush furniture spread throughout the club. The dinner menu consists mainly of French classics like roasted duck, beef tenderloin and several seafood specialties, but also includes some pub grub like mini-cheeseburgers and fries. A dance floor is right off the dining section, where patrons can groove to deep, classic and contemporary house music several nights a week. The Yow Bar, which is also the VIP room, has its own DJ booth, bar and a small area for dancing. This is where the movers and shakers come to play, including big names like *NSYNC, Destiny's Child, Jay-Z, R. Kelly and Mary J. Blige. The Yow Bar also features specialty cocktails such as the Scorpion Bowl (a fruit-flavored flaming drink that serves up to four), Mai Tai and various martinis. Seating is sometimes available, but often not -- so call ahead for reservations. -- Audarshia Townsend