3 stars
151 W. Adams St., 312-660-8866

The hottest restaurant in the Loop for the last 18 months has been Cibo Matto, the hip Italian in the ultramodern Wit Hotel. The new Loop restaurant that hopes to become just as hot is The Florentine, which opened two months ago in the new JW Marriott, built, quite respectfully, within a historic, Daniel Burnham-designed bank building. What these modern and classical Italian creations have in common is Todd Stein, the debut chef at the former and current chef at the latter. Entree prices: $21-$42; Reservations: Recommended; Other: Wheelchair accessible; discounted valet parking (with validation)