RPM Seafood opened last week along the Chicago riverfront, completing the high-profile multi-level project that includes two other concepts operated by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, or LEYE, with Bill and Giuliana Rancic.
The new concept is the latest in the RPM family of restaurants operated by LEYE, which includes RPM Steak and RPM Italian. At RPM On The Water, as the riverfront space was known, Pizzeria Portofino, the Italian Riviera-inspired casual dining restaurant opened in July, offering pizzas, antipasti and charcoal-grilled seafood. RPM Events, a private events venue with 6,000-square-feet, a ballroom, terrace and customizable dining experience catered by RPM restaurants, opened in the same building in September.
Bringing the restaurant group into the seafood arena is Chef Bob Broskey of Beacon Tavern, Intro and L20. Traditional seafood dishes — from Bone-In Swordfish Ribeye with coriander and herb oil to Charcoal-Grilled Black Bass — are on the menu, alongside a modern version of the Chicago classic Shrimp de Jonghe made with Peekytoe Crab and finished with garlic butter and espelette peppers.
The wine program is led by Richard Hanauer, a Food & Wine Sommelier of the Year, Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker and RPM wine director and partner. The list centers around the seafood on the menu which takes the form of several wines from Burgundy (including generations-old Chablis) along with RPM Private Barrels, Super Tuscans and Bordeaux.
The cocktail program has an agave program that includes drinks made with both mezcal and tequila in addition to RPM original cocktails like the Weston, made with Eagle Rare 10-year-old bourbon, Dark Matter espresso and essence of pipe tobacco. Benjamin Schiller curates the cocktail list.
The restaurant is 11,000-square-feet with a second-floor mezzanine that can seat up to 350. That’s in addition to the main 2,000-square-foot terrace and two additional private terraces, which allow for another 120 guests. Two boardrooms and private spaces are available on the second floor of the restaurant.
Designed in partnership with the design firm, Rockwell Group, the restaurant’s finishings are elegant shades of neutrals and creams with large wooden tables, panoramic views of the waterfront and open-air dining capabilities by means of floor-to-ceiling windows that open, weather permitting.
Click through to see the space.
Contact Holly at [email protected]
