I love traveling for work, I really do. Even when it takes me away from the three most favorite creatures in my life, I'm invigorated by it and I get to spend time with lots of interesting people. But sometimes, I land in my hotel room, totally wiped out and with several hours of work ahead of me.
Such was the case tonight, as I checked in to the MagMile Marriott in Chicago. So although there were several restaurants stumbling distance, and I could easily have convinced myself to head to Blackbird or Avec or Avenues (reviews for the latter two are forthcoming), I just knew it wasn't a good idea.
So, I threw caution to the wind and ordered from the restaurant downstairs, Viand. The thought of going downstairs to the achingly hip, excruciatingly loud room was anathema, and the room service menu was exactly the same as the restaurant's.
Three Cheese Flatbread ($8) was delicious and cheesy, sweet and savory all at one. The crust was a bit thicker than I would have liked, but had a nice texture, so that was forgivable. It was an enormously large portion for the price.
I also ordered Smoked Paprika Seared Tuna (Fried green tomatoes, sofrito, orange glaze & plantains) $24. Yea, I know. Why order tuna in Chicago, right? Call it a craving. This was a mish-mash of a dish, but it was, hands down, one of the best pieces of tuna I've had in a very long time. Rubbed with smoked paprika, this had a depth of flavor and uniqueness that really surprised me. Nearly everything else on the plate was negligible, and was left behind when room service came to pick up my tray, but that tuna. Oy, was that good.
The one really great thing about ordering room service is that I rarely order dessert, which means that I rarely overeat. I hopped downstairs for a Makers, neat, and finished up my work.
Viand American Bistro
155 E. Ontario
Chicago, IL
312.255.8505
