Chicago - April 10, 2006

Fat Cat

Avenue M Opens

Chicago wasn’t named the fattest city for nothing. We like things big. Buildings. Hair. (Thanks, Schaumburg.) And portions.

Avenue M, which opens Wednesday, should fit right in. At the new contemporary American steakhouse, chef Daniel Kelly (D. Kelly) serves larger-than-life meals. Steaks and chops are jumbo, fish is ten to twelve ounces (as opposed to the six- to eight-ounce norm), and colossal house-made pastas and salads are enough to make Nicole Richie fat.

Even the scale is oversize: 9,000 square feet, 26-foot ceilings, two levels. The upstairs bar has chaise lounges for spreading out and modular seating for mixing things up. Our favorite is the 2,000-square-foot patio, one of the biggest outdoor spaces around.

Since the owners all have serious nightlife cred (Bacchus, Green Room, Circus), they’ve designed the bar menu with liquid dieters in mind: There are ten nibbles for ten bucks. So you’ll have plenty left for a cocktail or two.

Now that’s huge.

Avenue M, 695 North Milwaukee Avenue, between Grand and Chicago Avenues (312-243-1133).