Dragonfly Mandarin Restaurant and Lounge

Dragonfly moved from its Gold Coast location to this considerably larger two-floor West Randolph Street spot in 2004. Located in the former Azure space, it offers upscale Szechuan, Hunan and Mandarin cuisine served in a swanky, Asian-inspired red and gold setting. The wine wall remains, although Dragonfly's list is considerably smaller than the former meat-heavy tenants (Millennium Steak House also called this space home a few years back). The menu is a duplicate of the State Street location, with favorites like Mongolian steak, sliced flank steak stir-fried with mushrooms, yellow onions and scallions in a wine and hoisin sauce; and the "dreaming roast duck," the chef's version of Peking duck. Other options include empress chicken, honey-walnut prawns, and pan-fried noodles. The Asian-inflected cocktail menu features the signature martini made with raspberry sake and amaretto. The large sidewalk cafe is great for people watching in the summer.
Come 10 p.m., Dragonly morphs into its alter ego Flybar: tables are cleared away, lights dim, and sweaty people shake it while you nibble on Mandarin beef.

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West Loop restaurants, Chicago restaurants, Chicago restaurants, West Loop bars, Chicago bars, Chicago bars, Chinese restaurants