C-House

Marcus Samuelsson, the James Beard Foundation award-winning chef, cookbook author and TV host is behind this new seafood house in Streeterville’s Affinia Chicago hotel.

Although Samuelsson is best known for his Scandinavian cuisine at Aquavit, the menu here is American with a focus on seafood, plus a handful of carnivorous offerings (such as a dry-aged rib-eye). The lineup includes raw bar and shellfish selections, both small and large plates (such as seared tuna with sea urchin and black olive couscous), plus there’s a create-your-own option -- you can have your whole fresh fish grilled, steamed or pan-roasted with a choice of roasted tomato sauce, rice vinaigrette or spring garlic sauce.  

The modern interior features an exposed wine cellar that separates the restaurant from the hotel lobby, a spacious raw bar and an open display kitchen, plus nautical touches such as photographs of the Atlantic Ocean. They’re also debuting a sidewalk café and C-View, a 29th floor rooftop lounge with a pared down menu and an outdoor terrace that’s fitted with a “living wall” of greenery and flowers (C-View opened July 2; food service begins mid-July).