New Schaumburg steakhouse aims for urban feel
Chicago Prime Steakhouse opened in Schaumburg five months ago. While the steakhouse is new, its owners are old veterans of the suburban restaurant scene.
We asked management at Chicago Prime about the steakhouse and its origins. Here's what they had to say:
Q. Can you tell us a bit about the owners?
A. Owner George A. Kalkounos is formerly of the Prime Table in Rolling Meadows, Avalon Banquets in Elk Grove Village, Bristol Court Banquets in Mount Prospect and Germania Club in Chicago. He is a Greek immigrant who came to Brooklyn, N.Y., when he was 16 years old to work for his uncle in the kitchen of a diner. Later, he moved to Wisconsin and then eventually settled and had a family in the Chicago area. He is married to Maggie Kalkounos, who also was the designer of this unique build-out.
Q. What is Chicago Prime's average tab?
A. The average dinner tab is $45.
Q. What are your most popular items?
A. The most popular appetizers are Thai buffalo shrimp and escargot. Our most popular steak is the 12-ounce filet mignon, and our most popular seafood dish is the macadamia-encrusted halibut. Tiramisu is the most-ordered dessert, and cosmos are the most popular drink.
Q. What is the most unusual item?
A. The most unusual item on the menu is the Mediterranean chicken, prepared Greek style exactly how it is prepared in George's village of Nafplion, Greece. It's absolutely incredible and delicious and healthy!
Q. Can you describe Chicago Prime's setting?
A. Handsome and serene, this dining oasis near Woodfield Mall is clubby but not macho, refined but not stuffy. Savvy servers do the whole meat-tray thing, and background jazz helps guests relax amid the upholstered dark wood booths and dramatic drapery. The Chicago city skyline is featured backlit in the dining room. An inviting lounge featuring Buckingham Fountain completes the scenario.
Q. What sets your restaurant apart?
A. We're independents with a passion for each and every guest who joins us for dinner. There is an owner in the building at all business hours, seven days a week. Our food is the highest quality available, and our produce is hand-selected by our kitchen manager as we send our trucks into the city each morning. Our attrition rate is in the single digits, which means people don't leave our company. Once we find a match, we stick with each other and excel together.
Q. What type of crowd do you bring in?
A. A great mixed crowd depending on the day and hour. Usually, we draw classy, casual diners.
Q. What kind of special events do you offer?
A. Live entertainment five nights a week - jazz, vocals, bands, etc. We also host wine dinners, scotch tastings and private events in our banquet rooms.
Chicago Prime Steakhouse
Facts: 1444 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg, (847) 969-9900, chicagoprimesteakhouse.com
Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday
Accepts: Reservations; credit cards
Also: Two private rooms; plenty of parking