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aria Bar Opens at Fairmont Chicago

Where: 200 Columbus Drive [map], Chicago, il, United States, 60601

July 12, 2006 at 10:10 AM | 0 Comments

The Fairmont Chicago has opened a new bar, aria (lowercase intentional.)

The bar is described as a "playroom for adults," with a Far East theme, anchored by a gold sofa with metal-accented, Italian-imported tiled flooring that offers up a mosaic effect, glass beaded wallpaper, sari-inlaid tables inspired by noodle houses of Japan, and private "nooks" with coild drapery can easiy seat a few VIPs.

Despite the fancy decor, the real star of the bar is the sushi chef, Byung Kyu Park, aka BK, who stands behind the custom-designed and illuminated sushi bar. He flies all his sushi in from Japan, flavors his own soy sauce, and insists you let him order for you.

As far as the food, aria serves sushi day and night, with a lunch menu that offers up ancient noodle house fare. For dinner, choose from Thai chicken satay, tiger shrimp tempura, grey salt steamed edamame, Peking duck-maitake mushroom pot stickers, hoisin-sake glazed barbecue chicken wings and lobster avocado spring rolls.

But what we really care about is the drinks here. At aria, they serve sakes representing different regions of Japan, wines from Washington and Spain, Caribbean cocktails and more than 20 types of beers.

That should quench your thirst in the Chicago heat. But not that we think you should sample each one, we wouldn't want you to end up pulling a Hasselhoff or anything.

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· Fairmont Chicago reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Philippe Starck practically responsible for near-death of Hasselhoff [HotelChatter]