I get a lot of e-mails from, shall I say, “mature” readers looking for places that cater to an older crowd. I’m talking about couples lucky enough to score a baby sitter on a Saturday night who want to come into the city for a night on the town.
They’re not interested in paying a $20 cover charge to listen to pounding music and sip overpriced specialty shots and cutesy martinis. They prefer a quieter evening with maybe a glass of wine or two. And if they’re feeling a little frisky, possibly some romantic dancing before they had back to the kids.
Well, you’re in luck. I believe I have found the place for you.
Just east of the Magnificent Mile in the shadow of the John Hancock building, the 200 East Supper Club sits adjacent to the historic Seneca Hotel. It hearkens back to the days of the old-fashioned Las Vegas supper clubs, the ones that offered cocktails, dinner, live entertainment and dancing.
Only open since February, the place feels as if it’s been in this location at 200 E. Chestnut St. for years, and is already drawing a steady stream of regulars, including business people from the neighborhood.
“People have been waiting for a place like this,” said Pat Richter, 50, while snapping his fingers to the smooth musical stylings of crooner Jack D’Amico last Friday. “It’s a place where you can drink and dance.”
Run by the management team of Chicago veterans Tony Navarro and Bob Garippo, the duo set out to create what Garippo describes as a “business casual” bar with an understated elegance, a spot just off the Magnificent Mile where couples and singles alike can come for a traditional Italian dinner, knock back a few cocktails and dance the night away.
The spot is inviting — from the high-backed chairs in the main dining room to the cozy front bar to the large dance floor that easily fills up whenever there’s a band playing (there’s no cover charge).
Even Navarro and Garippo are somewhat surprised at how popular the 200 East Supper Club has become, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.
“Believe it or not, all we did was decide to just let nature take its course,” said Garippo, a longtime Chicago-area restaurant owner. “I think the music has a lot to do with it — we feature R&B, jazz and the old standards. It’s a good combination that I think attracts a good crowd. The atmosphere really attracts a better clientele.”
Being veterans in the business, Navarro and Garippo (Tim Fong, former manager of Navarro’s Pal Joey’s Italian Steakhouse, is the general manager and longtime Gibsons bartender George Cozzi manages the bar), are big on service.
They travel from table to table, pressing flesh and making sure that patrons are having a good time. And don’t be surprised if they grab a woman and hit the dance floor.
They make sure the customers are having fun.
“We’re getting the millionaires and we’re getting the average Joes,” Navarro said. “The unique thing about this crowd is they all blend in.”
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And everybody seems to be having a good time. Dancing tends to bring that out in people.
“The energy in here is contagious,” said Stephanie Leese, a concierge from the nearby Talbott Hotel. “You can’t dance like this anywhere in this town.”
And with that, she was off to the dance floor as Jack D’Amico launched into “For Once In My Life.”
The 200 East Supper Club
200 E. Chestnut St.; 312-266-4500, www.200eastchestnut.com
Hours: 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday through Friday, to 3 a.m. Saturday.
The buzz: Although co-owner Tony Navarro boasts that the crowd ranges from “25 to 85 years old,” this supper club draws a mostly over-40 clientele ready to dance to the live entertainment provided six days a week, including salsa lessons on Sunday. You’ll need to move your body to work off the old-school Italian cuisine (dinner averages an affordable $24-$32 for three courses).
Terry’s tip: Since there’s no cover charge, you might want to get there an hour or so before the live music starts — which is 7 p.m. on Tuesday and 8:30 p.m. the rest of the week.
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