Miru

Miru’s main selling point is a gorgeous view. This Japanese restaurant is on the 11th-floor rooftop of the glitzy St. Regis Hotel in Lakeshore East, and you can see the lake, the river, the skyline, and Navy Pier. Inside, the people-watching is just as compelling. A server might be popping champagne for a group of glammed-up European tourists, while one table over a Margot Robbie doppelgänger gazes out of the floor-to-ceiling windows. A clubby playlist fills the busy space, and it all amounts to a fun, luxurious experience.

photo credit: Kim Kovacik

But strategy is necessary for all sorts of things: war, UNO, figuring out table seating for a wedding—and eating at Miru. The menu is long, filled with raw seafood, robata skewers, and noodles. Cooked dishes range from rubbery chicken teriyaki to mushy duck yakisoba—avoid those like booby-traps in the Home Alone house. While the sushi is generally fine, it’s also unremarkable and pricey. But hiding among the mediocrity lies some sleeper hits.

photo credit: Allison Gallese

photo credit: Allison Gallese

photo credit: Allison Gallese

The dark chocolate souffle tart is satisfyingly rich. A warm mochi cake topped with vanilla-charcoal ice cream and crispy black sesame praline is a tasty contrast of temperature and texture. And if you want to admire some sunkissed buildings in the morning, do it over the Japanese breakfast set. It has flaky salmon, poached egg with salty ikura, and ginger rice. The strategy is to utilize Miru as a dessert or breakfast spot—that’s when it becomes more than just a place with a view.