Restaurateur Jerry Kleiner’s newest venture is a lounge called Victor Hotel, a place so named because of a sign Kleiner had, a sign he loves, that reads: Victor Hotel.
At 311 N. Sangamon (312-733-6900) in River West, the place is a little bit hidden. Several semi-private rooms with drapes at their doorways also allow hipster cocktail drinkers and sushi eaters to get lost a little bit while inside. The back room, with its tangerine-striped walls, shag rugs and low leather chairs is a nice spot to sit and take in the scenery (clientele). If red is your color, there is also a room for you.
The all-sushi menu features a maki platter for $40, and a few other platter options, plus nigiri and sashimi by the piece, and single rolls for $5 to $17. Fruity cocktails abound, but there is also a wine-by-the-glass list.
The whole place feels a little bit free and easy–sit where you want, order as much or as little as you want, smoke/don’t smoke–so you should feel free, if you are a wine drinker say, to start with a cabernet sauvignon and follow it with a merlot, and then finish with a pinot noir before going back to yet another cabernet sauvignon. All while eating raw fish and white rice.
There are no rules at Victor Hotel, and no suggested guidelines. And once you’ve been there the experience stays with you forever because you can check out anytime you like (tip the coat check girl on the way out not the way in, unless you like tipping twice for the same service after her replacement arrives), but you can never leave.
