Quick Shot
Though not quite as spacious (3,500 vs. 35,000 square feet), Flatwater is like a carbon-copy of Fulton’s on the River with its long riverside patio. The loungier vibe, complete with a fireplace for winter, reflects the restaurant & bar’s name (meaning “no wake zone”) and stems from the mind of Jay Vohra, owner of the now-defunct nightclub Narcisse. Like Fulton’s, the upscale Flatwater menu features steaks, chops and seafood—though with more of an international flair, including their Bossa Nova weekend brunch—and is best enjoyed when someone else is paying for it. The entrance for the patio is located on street level along Clark in the American Bar Association Building (once home to the headquarters of Quaker Oats), though you can also walk down from Dearborn, especially if you enjoy having the waitresses will look at you like you should crawl back under the rock from which you came. Chicago Bar Project tip: make sure to avoid the three outside tables situated opposite the kitchen, as the resulting hot blast in your face from the open doors on summer days may help keep your food warm but is otherwise far less comfortable than just about anywhere else you could possibly sit, including in the river. If you like Flatwater be sure to check out nearby Dick’s Last Resort on the other side of Dearborn and Rivers a bit south on Wacker. For more information, check out the Flatwater website.
