Japonais Restaurant: Chicago, Illinois

The Japonais Restaurant and Lounge sits along the river in Chicago, Illinois. The restaurant is a culinary marvel of the new millennium, and is rated one of the top restaurants in the world. The infusion of Japanese cuisine and European elegance keeps guests coming back, hungering for more.

The interior of the Japonais Restaurant and Lounge was designed by famed architect Jeffery Beers. The designer has been noted as having a keen eye for the true elegance and ambiance of a space. Prior to working on the restaurant, Beers worked on the Raffles City complex in Singapore, Mt. Sinai Hospital Medical Center in New York City, the Fragrant Hotel outside of Beijing, China, and the Morton N. Meyerson Symphony Centre in Dallas, Texas.

The space inside Japonais is broken down into vignettes. Beers, wanted diners to have a different dining experience in each of the four rooms of the restaurant, cafe and lounge. The interior design of the space blends industrial Japanese with European elegance. Beers designed the interior of the building to reflect the eclectic Japanese inspired cuisine of the menu. Thus making the space industrial, yet warm and inviting to the guest.

Upon entering Japonais, the Red Room is located to the left of the entryway. The room gives kudos to traditional Japanese architecture. The raised platform of the dining room and sushi bar are bathed in rich tones of red and gold. The neutral color palette of the sushi bar show cases the art form of the sushi chefs at work. The red leather chairs and stark white table clothes set the tone of the meal. The wall on the west side of the room is adorned with a large gold velvet framed mirror, giving the room a formal feel.

To the right of the entryway is the Green Room. The Green Room is a more serene setting in comparison to the Red Room. The lower setting of the chairs gives a relaxed feel to the space. The focal point of the room is a large marigold velvet ottoman. An immense floral design jets up from the center of the ottoman. The north wall of the Green Room frames a brick and slate fireplace and a communal table sits along adjacent east wall. A raised platform along the east wall is used for a more private dining experience.

The Lounge, Bar and Riverwalk Cafy are located on the lower level of the building. The outdoor and lounge areas, offer light appetizers and specialty cocktails in a more casual atmosphere. While the full service bar area has a livelier feel to the space. The lower spaces of the restaurant give guests many dining options.

The menu at the Japonais is an infusion of traditional Japanese cuisine with a hint of the contemporary. The entryes served at the restaurant are creative and varied. The selection of the sushi at the Japonais is massive, and the menu gives diners many options with its eclectic dishes and specialties.

The Japonais Restaurant and Lounge is considered one of top dining experiences in Chicago. The choice of dining settings and the delectable cuisine make for a true culinary treat. Dining at the Japonais Restaurant and Lounge is a gastronomes playground.