Ride an elevator to the top of the Chicago Stock Exchange, where tuxedo-clad servers wait to serve you glorious plates of roasted veal loin and slow-cooked salmon confit, and you'll reach the culinary pinnacle of the city: Everest. Taking up the 40th floor of the building, this upscale restaurant boasts an interior that matches its breathtaking view. Bronze figures on linen tablecloths accent the plush decor; mirrors and paintings by local artist Adam Siegel line walls; and floor-to-ceiling draperies frame picturesque windows. Gold railings skirt walkways and staircases, complimenting the contemporary, rich sculptures adorning the space.

The French cuisine changes seasonally, depending on which ingredients are freshly stocked. Chef Jean Joho, also of Eiffel Tower Restaurant in Vegas and Brasserie Jo, crafts an eight-course degustation menu, along with a seven-course vegetarian one. Prix-fixe menus of three and four courses are also offered, as well as a three-course pre-theater menu, available at 5:30 p.m. during the weekdays and 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Everest's signature dishes will impress (and have impressed) the toughest critics, with offerings like main lobster carnaroli risotto topped with a 24-karat-gold leaf. For dessert, the pistachio, triple chocolate fondant with manjari sorbet won't disappoint, and delighting in a bottle of wine is a must: The list boasts 1,400 bottles, which range from less than $100 to more than $3,000. If you can, reserve a table by the window to experience the full effect. If you're shelling out this much cash, you might as well go all out.

Centerstage Reviewer: Janis Mabalay