Inside Gold Coast’s Lavish New Champagne Lounge

Those living in Gold Coast love telling other Chicagoans how much they enjoy decadence and the owners of Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House want to cater to those champagne wishes and caviar dreams. They’ll try to do that with the 1,400-square-foot Esquire Champagne Room that debuts on Sunday on the restaurant’s third floor. It’s part of a wider renovation project for Del Frisco’s Double Eagle, the steakhouse that opened five years ago in Chicago and is part of the Texas company that also owns Sullivan’s Steakhouse.

Chicagoans familiar with the space at 58 E. Oak Street know about the building’s history as the Esquire Theater which opened in 1938. A gigantic-lit vertical sign marks the entrance off Oak Street, a corridor lush with posh retailers. Esquire Champagne Room is gunning for patrons of those businesses allowing the steakhouse’s 1,700 wines to shine. They’ll also have 50 Champagnes by the bottle and 20 by the glass including Ayala by Bollinger Brut Majeur, Dom Pérignon Brut Épernay, Krug Grand Cuvée, Perrier Jouët Grand Brut Épernay, Schramsberg Brut Rosé, and Veuve Clicquot Le Grande Dame Reims. There’s also a trio of champagne cocktails.

The Champagne room features a menu unique from the dry-aged steaks served at the restaurant. They’ll offer caviar service with white sturgeon and Galilee Prime and Royal Belgium Osetra. Other items include oysters, foie gras mousse, miso-glazed octopus, Iberico charcuterie, King Crab spring rolls, and lamb lollipops.

Del Frisco’s reps are stressing that seating is limited inside the small space. They hope the lounge becomes a destination, not just a place for pre- or post-dinner drinks. Take a tour around the space before Esquire Champagne Room debuts on Sunday.

Esquire Champagne Room on the third floor of Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, 58 E. Oak Street, reservations can be made by calling (312) 846-6575, hours not posted yet.

Marc Much/Eater Chicago

Marc Much/Eater Chicago