Marcus Samuelsson
At the end of April,
NYC chef Marcus Samuelsson will open his first Chicago restaurant, C-House, on the ground floor of the Gold Coast's Affinia hotel, which just completed a multimillion-dollar renovation. Known for his Scandinavian (Aquavit), Japanese (Riingo) and, most recently, Pan-African (Merkato 55) fare, Samuelsson will be branching out yet again when he serves American seafood at the aptly named C-House. Expect a menu populated by classics with a modern twist, executed with his signature refined style. The space, which combines sleek shapes with rustic materials, will feature an open kitchen and a raw bar named C-Bar; a rooftop lounge offering a shortened menu is in the works (166 E. Superior St.; 312-787-6000).