There are plenty of activities to do in Chicago around this time of year, but let’s face it; the traditional Holiday activities are a tourist trap. Plus, there are only so many times that you can take hundreds of selfies in front of the bean.
So you have quite the conundrum. How on earth are you going to impress your relatives with a truly magnificent experience in Chicago? Look no further than the newly opened Restoration Hardware.
Located in the heart of the Gold Coast, lies a massive oasis of luxury and wonder. Unlike your traditional furniture store, Restoration Hardware is anything but traditional. In fact, while perusing around the massive 70,000 square feet and lush six floors, one completely forgets that they are in a furniture store.
Each level is arranged like that of a gallery, which each section featuring the workmanship of a museum exhibit. The garden level features lush greenery, the modern floor features magnificently elegant hallways, and baby rooms feature luxuriously draped canopy cribs.
While each of the floors boasts impressive views, it’s Restoration Hardware’s 3 Arts Club Cafe that draws in the most fans. The cafe has been open for less than three months and the long lines that await to enter the glorious space show no signs of slowing down. On weekdays, you can expect for the wait to be minimally an hour. However, if you want to go on the weekends, my honest suggestion is to wake up early and prepare a solid block of time. Since everyone is off for the weekends, expect the wait to be even more taxing. But no worries, you have six floors of interior design inspiration to hold your attention while you wait.
So what is it about the cafe that has everyone flocking? It may be the gorgeous massive chandelier and the green garden making the scenery perfect for some Instagram boasting. Like the rest of Restoration Hardware, the 3 Arts Club Cafe is a fantasy ripped straight from a fairytale. It is the secret garden tucked inside the massive palace of luxury. As soon as one steps foot inside the cafe, one is greeted with an abundance of greenery and the gentle lull of a trickling water fountain.
On any given day, the cafe is packed with hungry diners vying for a taste of the delectable menu items. After about an hour wait, my friend Fanny of Lafreecaine.com and I were soon going to find out, why 3 Arts Club Cafe has been the talk of the city.
We knew that the atmosphere alone was worth checking out, but now was the time to put the menu to the test. There were various offerings from salads, vegetables, small plates and boards. As I’m scrolling through the boards section, I immediately lock in on my decision to go with the smoked salmon. I’m a sucker for anything smoked salmon so it was a no-brainer that I would order this. My friend Fanny selected the BLT club sandwich.
Moments later our dishes come out, and as promised my smoked salmon is served on a board. I knew that a board would accompany my dish, however, I did not expect the board to take up a good chunk of our table. For $18 it’s an understatement to say that you are getting your money’s worth.
The board featured long succulent strips of salmon with four pieces of lightly toasted bread, a cup of sour cream sprinkled with caviar, and cucumbers. The ingredients that were provided made it perfect for one to craft their own delicious creation. The dish itself was quite versatile, allowing the diner to eat from the board as they pleased. While I’m sure the menu has other standouts, I was so impressed with the salmon that this may be my go-to at the cafe. Plus, the presentation was equally admirable so it’s a win.
According to Fanny, the BLT is another favorite menu item. It’s a traditional BLT sandwich that is accompanied by a fresh garden salad. The presentation of this dish was another sight to behold. Let’s just say that our table was the epitome of too pretty to eat.
No meal is complete without dessert, so we concluded with a delicious scoop of mango sorbet. Even though it was one scoop, it hit the sweet spot. After some time passes Fanny and I find ourselves just indulging in sorbet and sipping on warm cups of tea. It was the perfect ending to a lovely afternoon in the beautiful 3 Arts Cafe.
So to answer your lingering question, is 3 Arts Cafe worth the hype? The short answer to that is a resounding yes. After waiting for one hour to spend a day in the lap of luxury, I completely understand the fuss surrounding this new Gold Coast hotspot. If you want to have a posh lunch in a gorgeous atmosphere, treat some family and friends to the luxurious 3 Arts Cafe inside Restoration Hardware.
