RIA (restaurant)

RIA was an American restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. Located in the Waldorf Astoria Chicago, it originally opened in 2009, serving upscale French cuisine. RIA was popular with critics, earning many awards, including two Michelin stars. After losing executive chef Jason McLeod in 2011, RIA closed on July 27, 2012 after replacement Danny Grant also left his position at the restaurant.

RIA
Restaurant information
Established2009
ClosedJuly 27, 2012 (2012-07-27)
Head chefDanny Grant
Pastry chefAya Fukai
Food typeFrench
Rating Michelin Guide
Street address11 East Walton
CityChicago
StateIllinois
CountryUnited States

History
RIA was located in the Elysian Hotel, now called the Waldorf Astoria Chicago.

RIA was a part of the Elysian Hotel (now the Waldorf Astoria Chicago). The Elysian, developed by David Pisor, was originally conceptualized as a condo hotel before being run as a traditional hotel.[1] RIA was one of two restaurants operated by the Elysian, with the other being European bistro Balsan.[2] RIA and Balsan were both launched in April 2009,[3] with Jason McLeod being the first executive chef for both restaurants.[4] McLeod, originally from Vancouver, had previously worked at the Four Seasons in Whistler and Toronto.[5] While working in San Diego, he was persuaded to come work for the Elysian after initially declining the invitation.[3] Stephanie Prida joined the Elysian in June 2010 as the executive pastry chef for the two restaurants.[6]

After closing temporarily from January 1 to 25, 2011 so that the staff could do research in New York,[7][8] RIA reopened with a new menu.[9][10] However, on February 11, 2011, it was announced that McLeod would be leaving the restaurant, with chef de cuisine Danny Grant taking his place.[11][12][13] McLeod later stated that the parting of ways was amicable. He explained that his decision to leave was fueled by his desire to open his own restaurant, and that he gave notice of his departure during RIA's closure in January.[14][15] In July of that year, Prida also left for an open position at the restaurant L20.[16] She was replaced by pastry chef Aya Fukai.[17]

On July 6, 2012, Grant confirmed that he would be leaving RIA on July 27,[18][19] with management deciding to close RIA on Grant's last day to perform "a repositioning of its food and beverage options."[3]

Description

RIA was described by press release as a "globally influenced upscale restaurant".[2] Listed by The Chicago Tribune Guide to Chicago as featuring "seasonally driven French fare",[20] the restaurant was located on the third floor of the Elysian Hotel.[21] Initially, McLeod kept the menu small, stating that the restaurant's "goal was to build as we go and add some more dishes".[22] As noted by reviewers, the menu simply listed each dish with few other details other than nouns.[22][23][24]

After reopening in late January 2011, RIA unveiled a retooling of their menu, with about half of the items being new additions.[10] McLeod's seasonal tasting menu included rabbit with foie gras, common sole with leeks, pain de mie, and Peking duck breast with blood orange, fennel and cumin.[10] At the same time, they also introduced a limited-time table d'hôte menu called the "Ria Lucky Seven", where one of seven parties got to experience a three-course meal with champagne for $75.[25]

After McLeod's departure, RIA introduced items like a pop-up seven-course lamb dinner.[26] They also created a new spring dinner menu.[17]

Reception

RIA was well-received by food critics. Jeff Ruby of Chicago described the place as a "polished new spot", as it felt "less like a restaurant visit and more like a banquet on a private island with your own staff."[22] Modern Luxury's Michael Nagrant enjoyed his experience, stating that it was "an oasis—of unpretentious fine dining" and that the establishment was "a five-star restaurant waiting to happen, derailed only by minor details".[27] Martha Bayne of the Chicago Reader praised RIA's grilled sturgeon, as well as the "pink knuckles of lobster and pale scallop dumplings trickled with impeccably clear pale-gold consomme". She described each dish as "an expertly composed work of art".[28] After McLeod's departure as executive chef, the Chicago Tribune's Phil Vettel gave the restaurant a four-star review,[29] stating that "Danny Grant is a taste master."[30]

The restaurant also earned many accolades before its closure. In their April 2010 issue, Chicago named it as their Best New Restaurant of 2010.[31] It also earned two Michelin stars in the Michelin Guide.[32] The Chicago edition of Time Out named RIA's seafood dishes as one of the "100 Best Things We Ate",[33][34] and the Chicago Reader stated that RIA was one of the best restaurants of 2010.[28][35] Under Danny Grant, the restaurant maintained its two Michelin stars in 2011.[36] Grant was also nominated for Food & Wine's People's Best New Chef of 2012, which he later won.[17][37][38]

References
  1. "Elysian Hotel opens, but is there room at top of Chicago's hotel business?". Crain's Chicago Business. 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  2. "Elysian Celebrates Grand Opening of Chicago's Newest Luxury Hotel" (Press release). Chicago, Illinois: Marketwire. 2009-12-09. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  3. Vettel, Phil (2012-07-09). "RIA restaurant to close in late July". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  4. Glusac, Elaine (2010-05-27). "Restaurant Review: Balsan, in Chicago". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  5. Johns, Chris (2010-10-12). "Canadian chef makes Chicago hotel a culinary hotspot". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  6. Kindelsperger, Nick (2010-06-14). "Stephanie Prida Is the New Executive Pastry Chef for Balsan and Ria". Grub Street. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  7. Bendersky, Ari (2010-12-22). "GQ Names Balsan's Paris-Brest Best Dessert in 2010; Ria Closing Temporarily". Eater Chicago. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  8. Kindelsperger, Nick (2010-12-22). "Restaurants Plan January Vacations". Grub Street. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  9. Kindelsperger, Nick (2011-01-25). "Welcome Back Ria". Grub Street. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  10. Bendersky, Ari (2011-01-25). "RIA Re-Opening Tonight, Reveals New Menu Items". Eater Chicago. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  11. Bianchi, Laura (2011-02-11). "Michelin-starred chef Jason McLeod leaves Ria restaurant". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  12. Bendersky, Ari (2011-02-11). "Jason McLeod Abruptly Leaves RIA; Danny Grant Promoted; Questions Arise". Eater Chicago. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  13. Kindelsperger, Nick (2011-02-11). "Jason McLeod Out at Ria". Grub Street. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  14. Pang, Kevin (2011-04-25). "Two Michelin-star chef Jason McLeod, formerly of Ria, surfaces in San Diego". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  15. Kindelsperger, Nick (2011-04-25). "Why Jason McLeod Left Ria". Grub Street. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  16. Bendersky, Ari (2011-07-20). "Pastry Chef Stephanie Prida Leaving Two-Starred Ria for Three-Starred L20". Eater Chicago. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  17. Gebert, Michael (2012-06-26). "RIA's Danny Grant On What It's Like To Be a Food & Wine Best New Chef". Grub Street. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  18. Bendersky, Ari (2012-07-06). "Shocker: Danny Grant Leaving RIA on July 27; Restaurant Set to Close for "Repositioning"". Eater Chicago. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  19. Gebert, Michael (2012-07-09). "Curse of the Food & Wine Best New Chef: Danny Grant Leaving, RIA Closing". Grub Street. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  20. The Chicago Tribune Guide to Chicago: Restaurants, Bars, Theaters, Museums, Festivals, Sports and More. Agate Digital. 22 January 2013. pp. 44–. ISBN 978-1-57284-439-1.
  21. Fodor's (4 December 2012). Fodor's Chicago 2013. Fodor's Travel. pp. 332–. ISBN 978-0-87637-178-7.
  22. Ruby, Jeff (2010-04-19). "Balsan and Ria at the Elysian Hotel: Dining Out restaurant reviews". Chicago magazine. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  23. Spiselman, Anne; Bayne, Martha; Sula, Mike (2010-02-04). "Haute Hotel Cuisine". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  24. "Ria - Menu" (PDF). www.riarestaurantchicago.com (Restaurant menu). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-11-24. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  25. Bendersky, Ari (2011-01-11). "Ria Introducing "Lucky Seven;" Special Wine Dinner". Eater Chicago. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  26. "RIA Gets into Spring with Lamb Dinner; McFadden's Offers Rainy Day Drink Special". Grub Street. 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  27. "Nagrant Attacks Medieval Times and Crowns Ria". Grub Street. 2010-05-11. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  28. Sula, Mike; Spiselman, Anne; Bayne, Martha; Meyer, Kristina; Hammond, David (2010-12-16). "The Best Restaurants of 2010". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  29. Kindelsperger, Nick (2011-04-07). "Phil Vettel Hands Four Stars to Ria Thanks to 'Joys of Nuance'". Grub Street. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  30. Vettel, Phil (2011-04-07). "Ria chef gets it right". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  31. Kindelsperger, Nick (2010-04-21). "Ria is Chicago's Best New Restaurant". Grub Street. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  32. Kindelsperger, Nick (2010-11-16). "Michelin Guide Released Early; Alinea and L2O Get Three Stars". Grub Street. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  33. Kindelsperger, Nick (2010-12-08). "Time Out Picks 100 Best Bites of the Year". Grub Street. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  34. Kramer, Julia; Shouse, Heather; Tamarkin, David. "100 Best Things We Ate: Chefs". Time Out Chicago. Archived from the original on 2020-12-11. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  35. Bendersky, Ari (2010-12-17). "No Major Surprises on the Reader's Best of 2010 List". Eater Chicago. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  36. Pang, Kevin; Vettel, Phil. "Alinea, Ria, Charlie Trotter's among Michelin-starred restaurants in 2012 Chicago guide". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  37. Bendersky, Ari (2012-03-05). "F&W Nominates Anderes, Grant, Vincent More for People's Best New Chef". Eater Chicago. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  38. Bendersky, Ari (2012-04-03). "RIA/Balsan Chef Danny Grant Named a Food & Wine 2012 Best New Chef". Eater Chicago. Retrieved 2020-08-14.


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