Specialty: Upscale, progressive Chinese cuisine

Location: South Loop

Attire: Casual

Hours:
Sunday - Wednesday: 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Thursday - 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Friday, Saturday - 5:00 pm to 12:00 am

 

Price: Appetizers - $12.00 to $17.00

Entrées - $16.00 to $26.00

 

Reservations: Recommended

Credit Cards: All major credit cards

Parking: Valet - $9.00, metered street parking

ADA: Wheelchair accessible

One of the walls is covered with Chinese newspapers while the rest of the room is saturated in tones of red and orange. This array of rich colors and mismatched velvet chairs, all presented in a very contemporary style, is a delight to the eye. The bar is a comfortable stop before dinner and offers Saki and Chinese beers as well as traditional cocktails. Dennis Ray Wheaton of Chicago Magazine describes Opera's menu as …”culinary aerobatics.”

The restaurant's Executive Chef Paul Wildermuth is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and developed his culinary style in restaurants in Hawaii, Washington D.C. and New York state before settling in Chicago. He collaborates on the menu for Opera with four star Chef Arun Sampanthavivat, a James Beard Foundation Award winner. Opera's specialty is whole red snapper steamed in light soy, shao xing wine, ginger bamboo lotus root, scallions and Chinese black mushrooms. It is drizzled with hot sesame oil to bring out the natural flavors.

Chicago Tribune's Phil Vettel wrote "an exciting night at the Opera is possible, and you don't need a ticket."

The Perfect Choice For: Date, fine dining experience, unique dining experience