Thanks so much for these suggestions. We're going to try Sepia, per a recommendation from another friend.

I agree about avoiding Fulton Market but there are some nice places not too far from there. Fogo de Chao is a chain and not particularly quiet...

Need a bit more info...budget, location, any cuisine preference?

Gejas café for fondue was so good and very cool atmosphere

Fogo de Chao, Owen And Engine, Longman and Eagle. Avoid the hip Fulton Market suggestions since every restaurant I’ve been to on that strip has the industrial, echo-y thing going on. Gibson’s for overpriced steak and a funereal hush...

I love the RL Restaurant. Not particularly adventurous, but a classic, quiet and always good.

We're traveling to Chicago just after the New Year and will be having dinner with old friends (also not from Chicago) whom we haven't seen in some time. We'll have a lot of catching up to do, so would like to find a quiet restaurant where we can talk. The suggestions I've gotten so far are Farmhouse Chicago and EMA. Please share your thoughts on these, Chicagoans, as well as any other recommendations you might have. We're pretty open as to location and type of food (we're all adventurous eaters). Thanks!