Nine Steakhouse 440 W Randolph St.  Chicago, IL 60606-1507 Phone: (312) 575-9900 The Scene Close to two years after opening its doors, Nine still draws Chicago's beautiful people by the roomful to its glam dining area and hip upstairs Ghost Bar. All glass, mirrors, brown suede and shiny silver, the cavernous, super-sleek space is centered around a granite champagne and caviar bar supported by pillars that shimmer like disco balls.  The Food  Back in spring 2000, this place was more flash than substance. Since then, Nine has gotten its act together--service flows more smoothly, and Chef Michael Schrader's contemporary American fare is consistently excellent. The two cones appetizer is still fab, one overflowing with tuna tartare, another with chunks of lobster and avocado. Though clumsily served in a Chinese takeout package (so two years ago), rock shrimp are delightfully crispy, with a mellow tobiko aioli and a Vietnamese pepper sauce that's devilishly hot. Ahi tuna's perfectly pink inside; New York sirloin is charbroiled to perfection. Nine's greatest new asset may be Pastry Chef Robert Ash, whose desserts (dreamy profiteroles, luscious Valhrona chocolate cake) are worth saving room for.