Next-level Chinese in River North
If the sight of 10,000 drummers marching in unison, gymnasts literally flying through the air, and a Chinese pop star belting out tunes from on top of a giant, spinning globe during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics raised one universal concern in America, it was "There is no way these dudes haven't developed some next-level lo mein that I'm not eating!". Thankfully, Red Violet's giving America's Chinese food a face lift fit for the times, all in a sleek, bi-level 200-seater interspersing antique-style vases and pottery with red banquettes and violet accents, which aren't nearly as annoying as Veruca Salt's.
And with examples like the gin/lime/cucumber Kowloon Park, the martini list comes in at 30 tipples strong, which should be a breeze to get through if you stick around for this place's entire opening ceremony.