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Private Events
Betsy Waldstein
Private Events Director
1633 North Halsted Street Chicago, Illinois
312.867.3888
Table of Contents:
Menu Information
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General Information
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Cake Inquiry Form
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Floorplans
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Pictures
MENU INFORMATION
Passed Canapes:
*We recommend ordering as many pieces of each canape selection as there are guests.
Vegetable:
• Sweet Potato Spiedini
• Roasted Beets, Pecorino, Saba
Seafood:
• Calabrian Prawn Spiedini
• Tuna Tartare, Taggiascia Olive, Aioli (Parties of 30+ Only)
• Crab, Pickled Celery, Apple
• Smoked Salmon, Mascarpone, Dill
Meat:
• Chicken Thigh Spiedini, Chili Honey
• New York Strip, Horseradish Cream
• Beef Tartare, Crispy Shallot, Egg
Pizza:
*14-inch pie, cut into sixteenths
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Margherita, Mozzarella, Basil, Tomato
Fennel Sausage, Onion, Chili Flake
Mushroom, Fontina, Taleggio
Spicy Pepperoni
Mortadella, Pistachio Pesto
Seated Dinner Packages (selections on next page):
*Menus are subject to change based on seasonality
Orecchiette
Porcini Mustard, Onion Agrodolce
Whole Grilled Halibut (+$5 per person)
Almond, Orange
Burrata di Panna
Pomodoro, Pecorino, Pine Nuts
Lamb Meatballs
Chef’s Seasonal Vegetarian Bruschetta
36 oz. Prime Porterhouse (+$20 per person)
Wood Roasted Lobster (+$20 per person)
Wood Roasted Ribeye (+$12 per person)
Grilled NY Strip (+$10 per person)
Grilled Marinated Hanger Steak
Seasonal Crudo
Wood-Roasted Tomatoes
Brown Sugar Brined Quail
Grilled Lemon, Greens
Grilled Striped Sea Bass
Grilled Salmon
Chili Honey, Escarole, Bitter Greens
Whole Wood-Roasted Chicken
Hearth
Tomoato Fondue, Basil
Mafaldine
Beef Sugo, Grana Padano
Papparadelle
Kale, Lemon Crema
Tonnato, Crouton
Tuscan Kale “Caesar” Salad
Pancetta, Avocado, Poached Egg
Charred Lettuce
Pine Nuts, Lemon
Arugula Salad
Spiced Olives
Starters
PRIVATE DINING MENU
alla Pork Ragu
Rigatoni
Pasta
Mains
Seasonal Sides
Seasonal Sorbet
Seasonal Gelato
Warm Chocolate Tortino
Seasonal Fruit, Pecan Crumble
Panna Cotta
Tiramisu
Coffee & Almond Streusel
Desserts
Sunflower Pesto, Garlic Cream
Crispy Sunchokes
Pecorino Moffato
Coal Roasted Beets
Garlic Orange Vinaigrette
Charred Broccoli
Celery, Walnut
Brown Butter Polenta
Ramp Cream, Grana Padano
Roasted Onion Gratinato
General Information
LOCATION: Balena is around the corner from the North and Clybourn Red Line, a ten-minute walk
from the Armitage Brown Line, and a 15-minute drive from Michigan Ave. If you need a taxi please
let us know, and we are happy to arrange transportation.
PARKING: Valet parking is $14, cash only. If you are going to the theatre at Steppenwolf or the
Royal George after dinner, you may pick up your car after the show. You may choose to host your
guests’ valet and charge it to the master bill.
ACCESSIBILITY: Our main floor dining area is wheelchair accessible with a restroom on the same
level. The Wine Cellar and Upstage are only accessible via stairs, and there is no elevator.
DÉCOR: The reception area features a dedicated private bar, uniquely back-lit by a tapestry of
vintage wines set into the wall and accentuated with an antique cast-iron safe (origin circa 1900).
The dining room offers a distinctive view into Balena’s Italian wine closet, framed by distressed
brick archways. Balena provides complimentary votives. You are welcome to bring decorations up
to two days before your event and may leave them to be retrieved up to two days after your event.
SET UP: All of our tables are rectangular. The Wine Cellar seats up to 18 guests at one table, 36
guests at two parallel tables, and 17 guests in a hollowed square shape. With adequate notice we
are able to rent round tables from an outside vendor.
AUDIO VISUAL: The Wine Cellar is equipped with a built-in sound system that can play either our
house music or your personal music accessible through almost any iPod, iPad, lap top or iPhone.
The room has three flat screen televisions that have a DVD player and PC hook up that is great for
presentations.
MINIMUMS: The food and beverage minimum varies by room, season, and day of the week.
Minimums are exclusive of tax, gratuity, and a $150 room rental fee. A 25% deposit is required to
secure the room, and is deducted from the final bill. Full buyouts of the restaurant are available.
MENUS: With three days’ notice, we can customize your menus with a header of your choosing
including the optional addition of logos. If you choose to leave it blank, we will print the date.
CORKAGE AND CAKE: If you wish to bring in your own wine, the fee is $25 per 750ml bottle, up to
six bottles. If you would like to bring in an outside dessert, the fee is $2.50 per person. We have a
Pastry Chef on site as well. Please see the cake request form below for cake offerings.
PAYMENT: All private events will be charged to one form of payment- we are unable to split the
bill. Acceptable forms of payment include cash, credit card and check. All checks must be made out
to 1633 N Halsted L.L.C. Checks made out to “Balena” cannot be processed and cannot be accepted.
Final payments are to be made at the end of the event.
LOST AND FOUND: If you believe you have left an item at Balena, please call within 72 hours to let
us know.
SPECIAL GUESTS: In the spirit of hospitality, be assured that we will go to great lengths to
accommodate dietary needs. We take food allergies extremely seriously, and welcome vegetarian,
gluten-free and vegan diners. We are also able to procure kosher and halal meal, prepared off-site.
Cake Inquiry Form
Please circle your selections below
Frosting
Filling
Cake
o Chocolate
o Vanilla
o Lemon Chiffon
o Chocolate Ganache
o Citrus Curd
o Mascarpone Cream
o Praline Crunch
o Fresh Seasonal Fruit
o Vanilla Buttercream
o Chocolate Buttercream
o Coffee Buttercream
o Cream Cheese
o Chocolate Ganache
Circular Cake:
Size:
Feeds:
Price:
4”
2-6
$30
6”
6-10
$40
12”
10-20
$90
Cake Size: _______________________________________________________
Cake Message: ____________________________________________________
Guaranteed Number of Guests: ________________________________________
Date/Time of Event: ________________________________________________
Signature: _________________________________________________________
Pricing is subject to change based on ingredients.
72-hour advanced notice for orders and cancellations.
1633 North Halsted Street
Chicago, Illinois 60614
312.867.3888
FLOOR PLANS
Wine Cellar
Main Dining
Room
Upstage Dining
Room