A Taste of What's to Come

What Chicago's dining and nightlife scene looks like when curfew is at 10:00 p.m.

From the looks of things at Untitled Supper Club, the owners had been planning renovations for quite awhile. They had taken advantage of the pandemic and many stages of the city’s regulations on restaurants and bars and completely made over the River North venue.

Untitled had been closed since March and had planned a triumphant return with its new design revealed to the public last Friday. Unfortunately for them, that was the same day Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot enforced a 10pm curfew for all dining and drinking establishments, with last call at 9. These new restrictions are only supposed to last for two weeks.

I had been invited to come in to check out the new space, so I excitedly made a reservation for Saturday. Untitled has always had great live-music acts, from blues to soul to contemporary R&B, and I was looking forward to seeing whomever was on stage. I didn’t care. I just wanted to see live music. I made an 8pm reservation, so we could enjoy dinner and the show. That would be our big outing for the evening.

After I made my reservation, the mayor announced the curfew. My heart dropped. I felt bad for Untitled. On their first weekend back in almost eight months, they were forced to cut staff, cancel reservations and tell the talent they wouldn’t have second shows. Burlesque performer Vayda Rhynstone and musician Ivy Ford were scheduled to perform at 6 and 9pm.

Our 8pm reservation was moved up to 6 in the newly minted Cabaret, which had been transformed to look like an intimate live music venue. A new sound system had been installed as well as opera-box style velvet booths, Gatsby-esque crystal chandeliers, and flamingo feathers on the ceiling. It was absolutely stunning, with the stage as its centerpiece from all angles. All guests were seated in this room.

Untitled’s two other spaces had also been completely renovated. The Drawing Room features a Champagne-accented bar with subtle Art Deco cues, antiqued mirrored walls, a gilded ceiling and seven private dining cabanas. And The Library offers an outstanding American whiskey collection, which is proudly on display at the room’s entrance. The room is dressed in emerald velvet from floor to ceiling and enhanced by a pink marble bar and flamingo feathers. It’s a shame these rooms were not being utilized, due to restaurants only allowed 40 percent occupancy.

At 10 minutes to 9pm, an announcer reminded guests that they only had a few minutes to put in their drink orders. It was so sad. We watched the slight rush before last call, but at least we could enjoy the performance for another 20 minutes.

We walked out of Untitled around 9:30 and talked to others trying to figure out what to do next for at least 10 minutes. At this point in the evening, especially in an area like River North that’s heavily concentrated by eating and drinking establishments, we’re usually off to meet friends elsewhere. Instead, we jumped into a rideshare and went home.

[Photos at Untitled Supper Club by Matthew Lowell]