The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton
Chicago (A Four Seasons Hotel) and highly-lauded Dining Room Chef Sarah
Stegner just scored a culinary trifecta, taking the top spot for Food,
Service and Decor in the prestigious 2004/05 Zagat Chicago Restaurant
Survey. “I don’t believe this has ever happened before,” said Tim Zagat, CEO of
Zagat Survey, referring to a sweep of the three top honors by one
restaurant, as he congratulated Chef Stegner at an awards luncheon held in
Chicago this week.

More than 4,700 avid Chicago restaurant-goers surveyed over 1,083
restaurants and ranked The Dining Room #1 in these categories, as well as
selecting it as #1 for Business Dining, Hotel Dining and Best Chicago
Brunch.

The Dining Room is described as “in a class by itself” by raters, where
“patrons are treated like royalty” and chef Stegner’s food “consistently
excites the palate.”

A 20-year veteran of The Ritz-Carlton Chicago kitchens, Chef Sarah Stegner
has been at the helm of The Dining Room for 14 years. The two-time James
Beard Award-winner (1994 “Rising Star Chef Of The Year” and 1998 “Best
Chef Of The Midwest”) incorporates fresh, seasonal produce from small,
regional family farms into her distinct Midwestern style with French
influences. She is a founding member of Chicago’s vibrant Green City
Market.

Her dinner menu changes nightly and boasts one of Chicago’s finest cheese
carts, featuring superb farmstead artisinal cheeses from Europe and the
United States, as well as such signature dishes as Slow-Roasted Salmon
with Potato Terrine, Bacon-Leek Vinaigrette and Smoked Salmon and
Marinated Grilled Rack of Colorado Lamb with Snug Haven Spinach and
Roasted Tomato Tian.

Ritz-Carlton Chicago Executive Pastry Chef (Ms.) En-Ming Hsu—named
“Best Pastry Chef In Chicago In 2004” by Chicago magazine and captain of
the Gold-Medal winning U.S. Pastry Team at the 2001 World Pastry Cup in
Lyon, France—complements Stegner’s style with desserts that offer a
spectacular finale to the meal.

Additional notable honors include: “One Of The Top 50 Hotel Restaurants In
America In 2003,” Food & Wine magazine; “Four Stars,” Chicago magazine and
Chicago Tribune; and The Wine Spectator’s “Grand Award” for 26 consecutive
years.

The Dining Room is open for dinner Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday
from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. - 11 p.m., and
for Sunday Brunch with seatings beginning at 10:30 a.m.
——-