Virgin Hotels Chicago To Serve Up Modern Diner Eats

CHICAGO, March 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- From flap jacks to fish & chips, Virgin Hotels Chicago's newest street level restaurant, Miss Ricky's, opened its doors today for hotel guests and locals. The modern day diner's name is a cheeky nod to the many times that Virgin's founder, Richard Branson, has jokingly dressed as a woman and how his mother Eve, lovingly refers to him as "Ricky". The new restaurant is a fresh interpretation on a classic American diner concept, offering a traditional diner menu set in an industrial yet contemporary aesthetic.

Hot off the grill are new regional riffs on the classics, such as Chicago's famous Ina's Heavenly Hots, The Great Lakes Reuben, house-made donuts, chicken and waffles, plus lighter options such as the Greek Wedgie Salad and Tuna Nicoise Wrap. The beverage menu reflects old-fashioned favorites such as Cream Soda Jerk and Full Sleeve, plus guests can choose from a lengthy list of malts that can be blended with whiskey, amaretto and others spirits for boozy milkshakes.

"Miss Ricky's is the third of four public dining offerings in Virgin Hotels, and is the perfect complement to The Commons Club, where smaller plates are served.  The diner, along with our coffee and wine bar, Two Zero Three, have created a new Loop dining experience, with options that aren't currently available in the neighborhood," said Marlene Leslie, Vice President of Food & Beverage, Virgin Hotels. "We're excited to present our interpretation of a diner to not only our hotel guests, but also Chicagoans that live and breathe food and are looking for terrific options around the clock."

Miss Ricky's has been designed in collaboration with Rockwell Group Europe and features suspended streamline modern lamps, classic penny round flooring, leather upholstered walls and music-inspired artwork. On the Northside of the diner is The Casting Room, an intimate space intended for private dinners, unconventional meetings or even a casting call.  Authentic movie style spotlights and a gold embellished vintage ceiling add dramatic flair to the private room.  A feature wall at the entrance is another nod to Branson, with a collection of snipped ties that reflect the entrepreneur's disdain for ties.  Alongside the feature wall is a red British phone booth that serves as a valet stand.

Interior and food photos plus the menu can be downloaded here.

Virgin Hotels Chicago is now open and accepting reservations at virginhotels.com, with Nashville slated for 2016 and New York 2017.  Virgin Hotels continues to explore hotel and office conversions as well as ground-up development in cities such as Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington DC, and London.  

Editors Notes:
Sunday – Thursday, 6:00am – 12 midnight
Friday – Saturday, 6:00am – 2:00am
Reservations are accepted at Miss Ricky's and walk-ins are welcome. For more information or to make reservations please call 312. 940.4777

About Virgin Hotels
Virgin Hotels is a lifestyle hotel brand designed to attract the same highly valued business and leisure traveler whose loyalty Virgin has captured throughout the last 25 years. The aesthetic will be completely unique to the hotel industry, reflecting a stylish functional design concept that removes many of the common pain points of today's travelers. The group seeks new development and conversions of existing hotels or office properties in major urban markets. Parties interested in partnering with Virgin Hotels may contact the company at www.virginhotels.com or (212) 966-2310.

SOURCE Virgin Hotels

Related Links

http://www.virginhotels.com