Nine Steakhouse   

Only the best steakhouses survive in Chicago, and N9NE has become a Windy City favorite. It certainly has the right pedigree -- owner Michael Morton is the son of the legendary Arnie Morton, founder of Morton's Steakhouses, and the brother of Hard Rock Cafe creator Peter Morton. Taking the best elements from both places, N9NE serves quality cuts of meat in a sassy setting of limestone, mirrored mosaics, dark walnut wood and leather furniture. Any steak that comes out of a kitchen owned by someone named Morton is going to be big, prime-aged and still sizzling when it reaches the table. Most diners stick to the red meat, but seafood lovers may opt for herb-roasted salmon with crabmeat bread pudding, accompanied by spicy cioppino broth. The champagne and caviar bar, with its fiber-optically lit drink rail, is a fun place to linger before or after the meal.