China Grill At The Hard Rock Hotel

The Scene
Loud, stylish and packed to the rafters with a flashy crowd of suits and locals, this Loop restaurant is about as scene-y as Chicago gets. Hottie bartenders sling drinks in a glass-front bar with jaw-dropping 44-foot-high ceilings; in the dining room, amiable servers shout to be heard over the din of conversation and blasting music. Decor is minimal, but gets the job done with gauzy gold curtains, snazzy red-lacquered tile and a Plexiglas wall of wine.

The Food
The restaurant's creative, Asian-inspired global cuisine comes at a steep price (appetizers are in the $20 range), but generous sharing portions and impressive execution soften the blow to your wallet. Salads are surprisingly good, from crackling calamari with mounds of greens in zesty lime miso dressing to ''Confucius'' chicken salad with lots of crunchy sliced cabbage. Other favorite plates include meaty, tender lamb spare ribs, perfectly flaky barbecued salmon, and absolutely decadent lobster mashed potatoes.