When your attendees think of Illinois dining, their minds will likely wander to deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef. However, the F&B appeal of Illinois stretches beyond these Chicago staples, as seen in a variety of venues across the state that can cater to groups of all sizes.
Meetings Focus surveyed a number of local area CVBs, in addition to receiving input from the Illinois Office of Tourism (Enjoy Illinois), and came up with eight intriguing F&B options to consider.
Carnivale, Chicago
Carnivale, a restaurant located in Chicago’s West Loop, serves up fun, Latin-inspired fare with colorful table settings and decor, alongside the occasional salsa dance party. Its menu includes a number of gluten-free and vegetarian options, making it friendly for groups with special dietary requirements.
“Our main dining room has access points to host aerialist performances, the space to accommodate live bands or DJs, and food and drink to please any palate,” says Angie Lage, marketing director for the restaurant. “All groups are welcome!”
The 35,000-square-foot facility offers seven distinct private rooms—the soundproof Samba Room is the largest individual space and can host 200 seated guests and 300 cocktail-style. Meanwhile, the entire venue can be rented out for plated meals of up to 500 guests or a reception for over 1,000.
Notable menu options include the beef tenderloin churrasco, Criollo half chicken, Creek Stone Farm prime New York strip and a fully loaded paella seafood dish. The restaurant’s signature drink is a cotton candy martini, mixing Purity Vodka, Cointreau, pomegranate, lime and cotton candy.
Firefly Grill, Effingham
Firefly Grill is located in the city of Effingham in central Illinois, which sits at the crossroads of a number of well-traveled interstate highways and serves as a major railroad junction.
The restaurant and event space was founded by Kristie and Niall Campbell, whose mission is “to nourish and care for people so that they feel they are coming home.” Firefly Grill grows many of its ingredients and hand-selects or locally sources the rest from artisan farmers, foragers and fisherman.
This passion for quality is also reflected in the venue’s construction. The building’s frame is made of recycled steel, all of the barn wood is reclaimed and so is the majority of its furniture, and on-site irrigation and composting is utilized to reduce the restaurant’s carbon footprint.
The facility features a number of options for private events, including a stylish main dining room with a vaulted ceiling and seating for up to 95 people; the Sunset Room, with seating for 55 overlooking Kristie Lake and complete with privacy blinds and audiovisual equipment; and the Wine Room, for up to 12.
Firefly Grill’s offerings include fresh seafood, oak-fired steaks and brick-oven pizzas. Its made-to-order menu is easily adaptable for gluten-free, vegetarian and other special diets.
Level 257, Schaumburg
The name for Level 257—a Pac-Man-inspired entertainment and dining venue in Schaumburg, Ill., about 45 minutes northwest of Chicago—is a nod to the classic arcade game, which features an infamous “kill screen” at Level 256 where the game becomes unplayable due to a glitch in the 8-bit process.
The 42,000-square-foot venue is owned by Namco Entertainment, which developed the Pac-Man franchise and is located at the Woodfield Mall. It offers several socialization options, including a Lost & Found Game Lounge with over 70 vintage and modern video games, and a 16-lane boutique bowling alley. It’s also within easy access of group properties, like the nearby Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel (about a 10-minute drive).
“You can break out from a serious conference or presentation and get on the bowling lanes, try to conquer your favorite childhood video game, or relax in stylish surroundings in our urban chic venue,” says Natalie Couzens, marketing manager with Level 257.
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Much like a timeless arcade game, pub food is something that never seems to go out of style with groups, but Level 257 also goes beyond the burgers and pizzas with a full menu of upscale entrees, desserts and sushi. There’s also a selection of craft cocktails and brews, and house-sommelier selected wines are available.
Level 257 can accommodate groups of up to 400 for private events, and a full buyout option is available for larger groups of up to 1,000, which includes a chef-driven catering menu.
The Berghoff, Chicago
Berghoff Catering & Restaurant Group offers an iconic dining experience that fuses German and contemporary American cuisine all set within the historic Berghoff building in Chicago’s Loop.
The original Berghoff opened its doors in 1898 and the current iteration of the restaurant aims to capture its beloved Old-World atmosphere, beer steins and all. The establishment holds a popular Oktoberfest celebration each year in September, including a three-day outdoor festival.
Planners can choose from one of four special event venues: The Century Room, The West Room, The East Room or The Chef’s Room. The Century and West rooms offer space for up to 150 guests each.
As an added bonus, the Berghoff Catering Restaurant & Group is certified gluten-free by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness and its catering menu is quite extensive for all tastes.
Epiphany Farms Restaurant, Bloomington
Epiphany Farms Restaurant is located in downtown Bloomington, Ill., and it practices the farm-to-fork concept of sustainable dining within a relaxing, rustic-chic setting.
The Central Illinois establishment offers private dining for groups of up to 160 in its second-floor ballroom located across from Anju Above restaurant, and three other dining spaces are also available for rental. Epiphany Farms can also hold a special event for up to 200 on its nearby farm and caters off-site.
Buffet menu options include BBQ pastured pulled pork, Thai catfish coconut curry and chicken marsala, and the restaurant can even lead a special cooking demonstration for groups.
Prairie Street Brewhouse, Rockford
The Prairie Street Brewhouse is home to the Rockford Brewing Company, office spaces, loft-style apartments and a 40-boat marina. It also offers event space for corporate and non-profit events.
The Barrel Room is the largest room available, with seating for up to 600 in rows, 350 classroom-style or 300 in a roundtable setup. The Malt Room is a flexible space with large timber posts and beams, ideal for meetings and seminars. The Ice Cellar is located on the lower level for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
Groups can utilize the menu and craft beer options available at the Rockford Brewing Company, which includes a variety of pub-inspired classics ranging from burgers to steaks, salads and more.
Prairie Street Brewhouse is located in downtown Rockford along the Rock River.
DeSoto House Hotel, Galena
The DeSoto House Hotel is the oldest operating hotel in the state of Illinois; it opened in 1855 and has served a number of notable guests, including Ulysses S. Grant, whose former home is also in Galena, Ill.
While the hotel only offers 55 rooms, it contains three on-site restaurants (The Courtyard Restaurant, Green Street Tavern and Generals’ Restaurant) and can accommodate groups of up to 150 for banquets.
The Courtyard Restaurant is open daily for breakfast and lunch, while the Green Street Tavern provides more of a casual bar atmosphere and Generals’ Restaurant adds a fine-dining element for dinner.
The Galena Historic District is worth a visit once groups are finished dining at the DeSoto House, and the nearby Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa allows larger groups to easily travel back and forth for a day trip.
Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, Champaign
Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery is a sustainable Grade A goat dairy and farmstead creamery, with 70-plus milkers, an eight-acre pasture, five-acre hay field and a two-acre restored prairie.
The farm hosts seasonal public dinners led by Culinary Institute of America-trained chef Alisa DeMarco, who incorporates Prairie’s own fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs and cheese. Outside farmers are also brought in to contribute to the food served on the dinner table, as well as to the conversation.
Prairie Fruits Farm has space for private meals and custom-tailored events, with lunch offerings available Monday through Friday. Private dinners are typically reserved for Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The farm is located just outside the city limits of Urbana in Central Illinois.
