Sunda New Asian, The Underground , and Rockit Bar & Grill rated in Chicago’s top 10 celebrity hangouts in 2011 by Chicago Tribune
From original article:
“1. Sunda (110 W. Illinois St.)
Celebs: LeBron James, Barbra Streisand, Jamie Foxx, Channing Tatum, Gerard Butler, Dwyane Wade, David Arquette, Joe Jonas, Lea Michele, Josh Groban, Jay Cutler, Kristin Cavallari, Jeremy Piven, William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, Emilio Estevez, Adrian Grenier, Nicole Richie, Joel Madden, Marisa Miller, Hope Solo, Shawn and Marlon Wayans, David Schwimmer, Virginia Madsen, Vanilla Ice
Star moment: It’s not easy going up to a celebrity at a restaurant. You don’t want to interrupt dinner, and it’s awkward finding the right moment to approach the table. Even celebrities themselves have a hard time approaching another star’s table, as was the case when Jamie Foxx and the cast of “Glee” dined at Sunda in June. “Neither said hi to the other, but each talked a lot about how they were fans of the other,” Sunda co-owner Billy Dec recalled in an email. “They wanted to say hi but didn’t want to interrupt. I ended up feeling like a matchmaker.”“
Chicago Tribune rated The Underground Chicago’s #9 Celebrity hangout in 2011
From original article:
3. The Underground (56 W. Illinois St.)
Celebs: Lindsay Lohan, Enrique Iglesias, Jamie Foxx, Josh Brolin, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, David Arquette, Kirstie Alley, Joe Jonas, Lea Michele, Ludacris, Cee Lo Green, Nas, Josh Groban, Bruno Mars, Kellan Lutz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Ronnie Magro, Chris Colfer, Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, Joey Fatone, Pauly Shore, Kid Cudi, Taye Diggs, Larenz Tate, Anthony Anderson, Jeremih, David Banner, Plain White T’s, Amber Heard, Macy Gray.
Star moment: There is some strategy behind seating celebrities. They don’t want to sit just anywhere. And that’s why the Underground staff had its work cut out for it the night Lindsay Lohan, Bruno Mars, Nas and Cee Lo Green visited in August. “My partners and I ran in back to a seating chart to try to figure out who we should sit next to who and who would hate to be next to who,” said Dec, whose group also owns Underground. “It turned into a giant panic attack of confusion, like a high school cafeteria meets a wedding table placement meets an award show seating chart … We felt really uneasy about our choices as you could tell everyone’s posses were checking out the other, evaluating who got the best seats and who got the worst.” All was forgiven when Mars grabbed the mic and triggered a singalong.
Chicago Tribune rated Rockit Bar & Grill Chicago’s #9 Celebrity hangout in 2011
From original article:
“9. Rockit Bar & Grill (22 W. Hubbard St.)
Celebs: Danica Patrick, LeAnn Rimes, Henry Cavill, Jay Cutler, Tony Parker, Topher Grace, Emmy Rossum, Dave Schwimmer, Jeremy Piven, Amy Smart, Benji Madden, Zack Snyder, Joey Fatone, Fred Armisen, Mark Salling, Lance Briggs, Luol Deng, Lee DeWyze, Eddie Cibrian, Gordon Beckham, Jim Breuer, Dave Attell, Jim Norton, Demetri Martin, Billy Zane, Adam Richman, Mayer Hawthorne
Star moment: “Man v. Food” host Adam Richman liked his order of Rockit Pockits in March so much, he named them his favorite drunk food in an interview with Maxim magazine, saying, “They’re like sexual chocolate.” Rockit co-owner Arturo Gomez probably wasn’t too surprised: He recalls Richman “sat in front of me and ate all of them while making love sounds.”“
