Table For 2

Idyllic Dining On The Chicago Riverwalk

Chicago Burger Company, 301 E. North Water St.
(312) 329-7272

O'Brien's Riverside Cafe, Chicago River At Wabash Avenue
(312) 787-3131

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CHICAGO (CBS) ― There are still a few weeks left to enjoy the last vestiges of summer, along the city's beautiful Riverwalk downtown.

In this edition of Table for 2, CBS 2's Vince Gersaole shows us where to find a lovely dining experience on the water.

Chicago's Riverwalk is a great way to enjoy wonderful weather, spectacular scenery and fantastic food. The walk stretches more than a mile of Chicago River, from its easternmost point just south of Navy Pier, to the junction with the river's North and South branches, at the Merchandise Mart.

With lots of outdoor dining, you can eat your way through. The Chicago Burger Company at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers, at 301 E. North Water St., is one of our favorites.

"Everything is hand-pattied, all made from scratch," said Chef Nicholas Jimenez. "We use the freshest products we can find."

Here you build your burger – either Angus beef, salmon, turkey, ahi tuna, or veggie. Ingredients include cilantro, mint, chili garlic sauce, cumin and coriander.

But what really sets this place apart are more than 14 gourmet-style toppings you can choose, from, to create a burger you can really sink your teeth into.

You can have grilled pineapple on the sushi-grade tuna burger, chipotle feta sour cream on the salmon burger, or caramelized onions and sherry mushrooms on the Angus burger. Mango salsa and a tomato and artichoke mix are also available.

Up the river, we found an old favorite at a new location. A lot of people know O'Brien's from its location on Wells Street in Old Town. But its new Riverwalk location, just off Wabash Avenue, is fast becoming a Chicago favorite.

The hungry crowd that comes to O'Brien's falls for their signature grill selection.

"It's strictly seasonal; anything you can get off the American grill – burgers, steak sandwiches, a couple of different salads," said Jennifer Tremblay of O'Brien's.

At O'Brien's, don't forget to order up some classic corn on the cob. It's grilled to perfection.

Those in the know also visit O'Brien's for the views, which include the Wrigley Building, the Tribune Tower and Marina City. On either side are the McCormick Tribune Bridge Museum and the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial.

But what else makes riverside dining so quintessentially Chicago?

"You always have a slight breeze that goes through," Tremblay said. "It's a cool, refreshing breeze."

Both the Chicago Burger Company and O'Brien's are open daily. In addition to restaurants, the Riverwalk also offers food stands to grab a quick bite.

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