5-May-19 – There is an iconic scene in the movie Dr. Zhivago in which rich and privileged Muscovites are dining in glittering splendor while outside the windows, below on the streets, the proletariat march by and end up in battle with police and other government authorities. Such was the scene for this reporter and his date on a visit to the LondonHouse Chicago hotel and Ocean Prime Chicago restaurant on April 17, the day 500 youths from the south and west sides decided to descend on the Loop to create havoc during a mini-riot along Michigan Avenue, State Street, and in Millennium Park.

I waited for the moment when a protagonist might burst into the dining room to announce that “there will be no more peaceful protests after tonight.”

It was not to be – most everyone but for 40 or so youths who were arrested got home safely that night – but it was indeed an odd evening out for the tourists and locals alike who visited downtown on a lovely spring night just before Easter.

We took the occasion of the recent opening of Ocean Prime to finally visit the recently remade LondonHouse and its now-famous rooftop bar.

As expected, the property is spectacular, a recovered gem. The views looking west along the main branch of the Chicago River are stunning. People milled everywhere – before, during, and after the melee.

This is a true place to splurge. Ocean Prime is a modern American restaurant and lounge from renowned restaurateur Cameron Mitchell. It opened in early April at the corner of Michigan Avenue & Wacker Drive. The second-floor restaurant offers 12,350 square feet of sophistication. There is a chic feel to it with familiar and spectacular views out all windows.

Chicago didn’t need a new steak house and this isn’t just steak. They offer an impressive menu of seafood and sushi along with prime cuts of steak and an extensive Wine Spectator honored wine list, courtesy of Executive Chef Jason Shelley. At the front of the house as general manager is industry veteran Louis Morgan III, who says he has come to love his new hometown.

Ocean Prime steaks come with a choice of accessories like black truffle butter, Maytag blue cheese crust, or wild mushrooms and brie. And they offer what is quite possibly the best house salad in town with hard cooked egg, salami, fresh mozzarella, smoked bacon, and a generous dose of club dressing. Smoked Gouda tater tots, lobster mashed potatoes, and asparagus with Hollandaise compliment the meal.

Want to smother, for the moment, the many layers of problems our hometown is dealing with today? Then dig into the Ten Layer Carrot Cake. Nope, that’s not a typo. Yes, it is really ten layers deep. You’ve got to see it – and taste it – to believe it. No doubt, it is the best carrot cake in town. Photo by Sheila Swann

Of course, a surefire way to forget the cruel, harsh world outside is with a drink. At Ocean Prime there is no shortage of options for Scotch, Tequila, Whiskey, and a very good offering of local craft beers from Half Acre, Metropolitan, Revolution Brewing, Spiteful, and Three Floyds. For real, the restaurant and hotel rooftop bar have perhaps the best riverfront seating in town right now. There’s no street-level patio seating but customers get expansive river views east and west on the main branch of the river.

There are two bars and three private rooms at Ocean Prime that will be in high demand for special events, while the hotel has a two-level outdoor space 20 floors up.

“We’re thrilled to open in Chicago, a city we’ve had our sights set on for quite a while,” said Mitchell (left, with guests at Ocean Prime), founder and CEO of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants and a past recipient of the Richard Melman Concepts of Tomorrow Award.

Under the direction of Shelley, Ocean Prime’s from-scratch kitchen provides a premium dining experience that includes the highest quality ingredients, as well as simple, pure, local and regional flavors. Shelley most recently was the opening executive chef at the highly-acclaimed Ocean Prime in Washington, D.C.

The two-story lobby is wrapped with illuminated transparencies of Chicago’s history. On the second floor, as one looks into the bar area, fluted and gilded column enclosures are centered in the room with exceptionally large wedding cake chandeliers cascading from the ceiling, reminiscent of Chicago architecture. From there, guests experience an extraordinary marble top island bar anchored by a multi-tiered liquor display and a collection of antique barware.

With two bars and ample banquet seating, the restaurant offers space for 350 guests to socialize, celebrate, and indulge.

It’s a great location for private events, too, as it has four private rooms. The Tribune Room holds up to 14 guests. Wrigley Room 1 accommodates up to 18 guests. Wrigley Rooms 2 and 3 accommodate up to 24 guests each. For larger events, patrons can use all three Wrigley Rooms, which when combined hold up to 66 guests.

As for fun on the hotel’s rooftop, try if you like for weekends but we found a large crowd there on a Wednesday. The staff tells us it’s everyone for him or herself on weekends.

Visitors to Ocean Prime need to look quickly around at the restaurant’s interior design because once they look through one of their large picture windows that overlook the Chicago River, they may not look back again. “When we toured the dramatic, beautiful space, looked out across the Chicago River through its floor-to-ceiling windows, and felt the energy of the neighborhood,” said Mitchell, “we knew the time was right.” (Left) Looking west from rooftop bar at LondonHouse. Photo by Steven Dahlman.