Last year, Chicago's culinary talent took over the food world, storming
all media from Gourmet magazine to Food Network's Iron Chef. It's no
longer homerism or an empty boast to say that we are the first American
city of cuisine. New York may have more restaurants and San Francisco
may have great wine lists, but we are now the innovators and the
premiere destination for American food travelers. With the opening of
restaurants from American star chefs like Douglas Rodriguez and David
Burke, the invasion of national and international culinary talent has
just begun. Rumors of French super chefs Alain Ducasse and Joel Robuchon
dropping anchor in the near future signals that the we are now well on
our way to becoming the international food destination.
Resto 100 is, as it has been in years past, a list of "essential"
restaurants, which is most definitely not synonymous with "best." We
strive to reflect a world of dining in a constant state of innovative
transition, to capture a snapshot of the state of the food world at this
particular time. (Michael Nagrant)
Resto 100
Chicago's essential restaurants
Organized alphabetically by neighborhood
$ = most entrées under $10
$$ = most entrées $10-$20
$$$ = most entrées over $20
$$$$ = most entrées (or degustation menus) over $30
All restaurants accept major credit cards, unless otherwise noted
Albany Park
Semiramis
Middle Eastern, 4639 N. Kedzie, (773)279-8900. $
BYOB and the best rotisserie chicken in the city. The spot for
Lebanese featuring juicy grape leaves and coriander-perfumed falafel.
Wellfleet Occasional Restaurant
Seafood, 4423 N. Elston, (773)283-7400. $$$$
The Fish Guy, Bill Dugan, is now adding "restaurant guy" to his
title by serving up seafood-focused degustation menus that feature
terrines ala Joel Robuchon.
Andersonville
HopLeaf Bar
French/Belgian, 5148 N. Clark, (773)334-9851. $$
Hopleaf's compact menu offers comforting French/Belgian bar standards
done well, like mussels steamed in Belgian white beer.
Auburn Gresham
Lagniappe
Cajun/Creole, 1525 W. 79th, (773)994-6375. $
Mary Madison's from-scratch eats include a chocolate-brown swamp of
spicy étouffée filled with plump crawfish, specks of peppers and onion
surrounded by an island of white rice. One gulp and a lost afternoon in
New Orleans comes rushing back.
Avondale
Arun's
Thai, 4156 N. Kedzie, (773)539-1909. $$$$
Arun Sampanthavivat has created America's finest Thai restaurant, a
must-stop on every culinary tour of town. No menu will be presented;
instead your waiter will quiz you on your preferences, and then bring
you twelve courses accordingly prepared.
Hot Doug's
Sausages, 3324 N. California, (773)279-9550. $
Doug Sohn's "encased-meats" emporium, the best hot-dog joint in
Chicago, which also means the best in the world. Go for the exotic
sausages--wild boar, rattlesnake, etc.--that Sohn always has as
specials; go for the duck-fat fries available every Friday and Saturday;
but more than anything, go for the lovingly prepared classic dogs,
Polish sausages and other old favorites.
Kuma's Corner
Upscale Pub, 2900 W. Belmont, (773)-604-8769. $
The Hell's Angels version of Hopleaf, serving up bad-ass beer and
the best burgers, named after metal bands like Sabbath and Slayer, in
the city.
Bridgeport
Franco's Ristorante
Italian, 300 W. 31st, (312)225-9566. $$
Franco's red neon sign illuminates the otherwise unremarkable corner of
31st Street and Princeton, four blocks north of U.S. Cellular Field.
Inside Franco's, you'll find fine cuisine without pretense, without a
long wait for a table, and without high prices. The daily list of
specials is nearly as long as the menu, and it frequently features two
standards that should not be overlooked: the eggplant parmesan and the
herb-crusted tilapia.
Bucktown
Hot Chocolate
New American, 1747 N. Damen, (773)489-1747. $$
Mindy Segal, one of the city's greatest pastry gurus, slings cake
and comfort food, albeit elegant crafted versions of favorites like mac
and cheese and tuna melts.
Scylla
New American/Seafood, 1952 N. Damen, (773)227-2995. $$
Stephanie Izard's re-positioned her former upscale fish spot as a
neighborhood restaurant, but the food is as skillfully prepared as ever,
and the only thing that's changed at this homey Bucktown worker's
cottage are the prices, which are now even more wallet-friendly.
Silver Cloud
American, 1700 N. Damen, (773)489-6212. $
A king of comfort food, epitomized by its legendary grilled cheese
served on giant slabs of crusty, butter-doused bread.
Irazu
Costa Rican, 1865 N. Milwaukee, (773)252-5687. $/Cash only
The city's sole Costa Rican restaurant serves Latin food heavy on black
beans, rice and plantains, but its vegetarian burritos--packed with
mushrooms, rice, avocado and hot peppers--puts the plain old Mexican
burrito to shame.
Piece
Pizza, 1927 W. North, (773)772-4422. $
A Wicker Park pizzeria and brewpub that serves New Haven-style (that's
thin crust) pies with a broader range of toppings--like meatballs or
broccoli.
Spring
New American, 2039 W. North, (773)395-7100. $$$
Shawn McClain's Asian-influenced Spring spawned a legend-in-the-making.
The menu favors seafood, in creative presentations, grounded in
Midwestern food elements.
Chinatown
Emperor's Choice
Chinese, 2238 S. Wentworth, (312)225-8800. $$
It's hard to go too wrong--or too right--in Chinatown, but this
casually elegant one-room restaurant stands above most. The menu is a,
duh, Chinese menu of variety, but the specialty is seafood, which is
prepared fresh and in an authentic style.
Lao Sze Chuan
Chinese, 2172 S. Archer, (312)326-5040. $$
This nondescript, bustling spot in the newer north end of
Chinatown--that is, in the outdoor mall--is the place everyone's
buzzing about. Whether it's foodies or Chinese expats, Lao Sze Chuan's
spicy menu is drawing crowds, and deservedly so. Chinese patrons seem to
favor the fondue-like hot pot, but we're content to let chef Tony Hu do
the cooking.
Penang
Malaysian, 2201 S. Wentworth, (312)326-6888. $$
Penang's a bit of a detour for Chinatown fans, since it features
Malaysian cuisine. But it's a trip worth taking for delicious but
unusual (to palates more familiar with the more popular Asian cuisines)
dishes and sauces, and even desserts.
East Garfield Park
Edna's
Soul food, 3175 W. Madison, (773)638-7079. $
Brimming with history--the soul-food palace was a key gathering spot
for civil rights leaders in the sixties--Edna's sings a song of the
South. With its unbelievable fried chicken, creamy mac and cheese and
savory vegetable faves like collard greens and fried okra, Edna's
delivers.
Edgewater
Pasteur
Vietnamese, 5525 N. Broadway, (773)878-1061. $$
Arguably the best-known Vietnamese restaurant in the city, Pasteur is
also one of the most lushly romantic spots in town--like stepping into a
former colonial mansion in a scene from Marguerite Duras' "The
Lover."
Gold Coast/Streeterville
David Burke's Primehouse
New American Steakhouse, 616 N. Rush St., (312)660-6000. $$$
If P.T. Barnum and Julia Child had an illegitimate encounter, David
Burke would be their spawn. At Primehouse, Burke's serving up designer
grass-fed beef genetically derived from his $250,000 Angus bull stud,
Prime 207L. With his lobster, steak and cheesecake lollipops,
bacon-flavored sprays and pink rock-salt curing rooms, Burke is a bigger
culinary showman than Emeril.
De La Costa
Nuevo Latino, 465 E. Illinois, (312)321-8930. $$$
You know you've hit the culinary big time when food stars like
Douglas Rodriguez invade. This spot features all things upscale Latino
for those who can't decide on whether they want Mexican, South American
or Cuban.
Le Colonial
Vietnamese/French, 937 N. Rush, (312)255-1221. $$
The chic downtown style and sepia-toned romance of time gone by (in this
case, the French-occupied Saigon of the 1920s) make Le Colonial a
cultural and culinary curiosity.
foodlife
Food court, 835 N. Michigan, mezzanine, (312)335-3663. $
The ultimate food court. From rotisserie to stir fry, soup to pasta,
foodlife's got something for you--and the handy smart-card system means
you can wander from kiosk to kiosk, loading up, and not have to deal
with the bill until you leave.
NoMi
French-Asian, Park Hyatt, 800 N. Michigan, 7th Floor (312)239-4030. $$$
Park Hyatt Chicago's gem is NoMi, a spectacular, sprawling space
and unrivaled room with a view overlooking Michigan Avenue. Chef
Christophe David spices up the menu with sushi/sashimi flown in daily.
Spiaggia
Italian, 980 N. Michigan, (312)280-2750. $$$$
Chicago's unanimous four-star Italian restaurant continues to soar
both literally (overlooking North Michigan Avenue) and figuratively,
under the creative reigns of its founding chef Tony Mantuano.
Tru
French, 676 N. St. Clair, (312)202-0001. $$$$
Artistically prepared and exquisite in taste, Tru's cuisine never
disappoints. Indulge in a three-course prix fixe dinner that allows you
to enjoy such specialties as the caviar staircase. Or choose one of the
degustation delights (vegetable collection, seafood collection, "The
Grand Collection," "Chef Tramonto's Collection"), seven- and
eight-course meals designed to create a sensory overload.
Greektown
Parthenon
Greek, 314 S. Halsted, (312)726-2407. $$
The oldest spot in Greektown. Flaming saganaki cheese--the hallmark of
Greek restaurants everywhere--was invented right here on Halsted Street
in the 1960s by current and original owner Chris Liakouras. The
Parthenon also played a role in popularizing the gyro in Chicago by
giving it away as sort of a free amuse course from 1968-1971. They still
serve the best gyros in town, make most everything from scratch and
eschew frozen appetizers and pre-made foods used by their competitors.
Irving Park
Smoque
3800 N. Pulaski, (773)545-7427. $
Proving you don't need bulletproof glass to offer up some of the
best `Que in Chicago, Smoque serves up tender juicy brisket and spicy,
gently smoked toothsome ribs. Sides like mac and cheese or baked beans,
which are usually a sideline at other BBQ spots, are as good as the
meat.
Lakeview
Chicago Diner
Vegetarian, 3411 N. Halsted, (773)935-6696. $
Seitan and quinoa may need defining for the average carnivore, but for
the vegetarians out there, these foods (wheat gluten and a high-protein
grain, respectively) symbolize a dining experience with boundless
choices.
Erwin
American Bistro, 2925 N. Halsted, (773)528-7200. $$
Chef Erwin Drechsler, in crisp chef whites with his salt-and-pepper
beard, often mans the maitre d' station, peering out over his reading
glasses to scan for your reservation or bid you a hearty adieu after a
filling meal. Drechsler is the man who taught lauded Blackbird chef,
Paul Kahan, how to cook, so it should be no surprise that the seasonally
focused, market-based cuisine on display at Blackbird is also the same
rubric from which Drechsler works.
Mia Francesca
Italian, 3311 N. Clark, (773)281-3310. $$
A simple interior of white paper-covered tables and handwritten,
photocopied menus belies the noisy, energetic atmosphere of waiters
carting heaping bowls of full-flavored Italian pastas to tables of
well-heeled professionals.
Orange
Breakfast, 3231 N. Clark, (773)549-4400; 75 W. Harrison, (312)447-1000.
$
A cheerful, creative vibe permeates your experience, from the
self-designed fresh juices to the "frushi," a fruit-sushi appetizer.
The creativity permeates the menu as well--from the green eggs and ham
(scrambled with tomatoes, mozzarella, pancetta and pesto) to the
French-toast kabob, a skewer of coconut-infused French toast and fruits.
Yoshi's Café
French-Japanese, 3257 N. Halsted, (773)248-6160. $$$
Casual, healthy French-American flavors prevail at chef Yoshi
Katsumara's eponymous café, from grilled tofu to silky soups to
kobe-style beef.
Lincoln Park
Alinea
New American, 1723 N. Halsted, (312)867-0110. $$$$
Grant Achatz has been dubbed a molecular gastronomist, but compared
to most of his peers he tempers his wizardry with a lot more flavor and
craft. Everything at Alinea changes so fast, and the cuisine, the
serveware and the interior design, which is far removed from its
culinary progenitors, is in such constant flux, that if there has to be
a label, it should probably be "Evolutionary Gastronomy."
Boka
New American, 1729 N. Halsted, (312)337-6070. $$
Chef Giuseppe Tentori, who spent eight years as Charlie Trotter's
right-hand man, brings his rustic flare for grilled rabbit, ash-baked
eggplant and creamy polenta to Lincoln Park.
Charlie Trotter's
New American, 816 W. Armitage, (773)248-6228. $$$$
Behind the ivy-covered brick facade of owner/chef Trotter's demure
Armitage brownstone lies a five-star dining experience that everyone
deserves at least once. Set aside two or three hours to fully enjoy
Trotter's culinary creations and his outstanding wine selection.
Fixture
Funky American Small Plates, 2706 N. Ashland, (773)248-3331. $$
At most lounges, the food takes a backseat to revelry and spacey
beats, but the kitchen crew at Fixture redeems your faith in small
plates. The buffalo sliders with truffle mayonnaise are more Buckingham
Palace than White Castle, and Pasilla-marinated lobster ceviche is a
ballet of texture and flavor, with creamy hunks of spicy lobster,
crunchy jicama salad and citrusy cactus-pear emulsion.
Mon Ami Gabi
French bistro, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, (773)348-8886. $$$
With a beautiful park-side setting and a lively French-bistro charm,
Gabino Sotelino's downscale little sister to Ambria proves the range of
the master chef's charms. Ah, steak frites...
North Pond
New American, 2610 N. Cannon, (773)477-5845. $$$
Nestled in the picturesque environs of Lincoln Park, this homage to all
things artisanal offers locally raised meats and organic products
whenever possible.
Sweets and Savories
New American, 1534 W. Fullerton, (773)281-6778. $$$
David Rich's gourmet balancing act between dessert and dinner is
best represented by his extensive value-driven prix-fixe dinner. Not
interested? Then choose from ala carte items like scallops in
orange-scented demi-glace.
Lincoln Square/North Center
Bistro Campagne
French, 4518 N. Lincoln, (773)271-6100. $$
Chef-owner Michael Altenberg has brought the country-cuisine charms of
his Campagnola Italian restaurant in Evanston to Bistro Campagne and its
moderately priced lineup of French champagnes, wines and menu classics.
Chicago Brauhaus
German, 4732 N. Lincoln, (773)784-4444. $$
The Chicago Brauhaus lets you celebrate Oktoberfest year-round. A
traditional German oompah band rocks here nightly, cranking out your
favorite Bavarian drinking tunes and occasionally slowing it down with a
little "Edelweiss" while you chow on some hefty classic German dining
options.
Sola
New American, 3868 N. Lincoln, (773)327-3868. $$$
California- and Asian-styled gourmet fare like miso black cod,
mushroom pad Thai and sake-marinated steak from chef Carol Wallack.
Spoon Thai
Thai, 4608 N. Western, (773)769-1173. $
The Royal Thai Army must be led by Colonel Sanders, because the
crunchy red-chili-spiced Thai fried chicken (kai thawt) served at Spoon
easily dethrones Harold's as Chicago's new chicken king. Sure you can
score pad Thai, but now you can order like a Bangkok regular and sample
authentic specialties thanks to a translated "Thai regulars" menu.
Little Italy
Gennaro's
Italian, 1352 W. Taylor, (312)243-1035. $
Gennaro's is an old red-sauce emporium in Little Italy serving up
La Famiglia-style eats. John Jr. tends bar, pouring tipples of a garnet
Chianti (the same house formula his father served in 1959), while Mary
Jo works the room like a Southern-fried waitress, peppering her
conversation with a well-placed "honey." Gennaro's has made few
concessions to history. A legacy from when the neighborhood used to be
dicey, John buzzes you in from behind the bar.
Pompeii Bakery
Italian, 1431 W. Taylor, (312)421-5179; 2955 N. Sheffield,
(773)325-1900. $
Stepping into this bustling cafeteria-style Italian joint on Taylor
Street, it would be hard to imagine its origins as a Little Italy
bakery, if not for the mural-sized photo placed lovingly on the wall by
its founding family. Although homemade pastas are notable, pizza is
still the main attraction, with dozens of options behind a glass
counter, ready to reheat by the slice or two.
Tufano's Vernon Park Tap
Italian, 1073 W. Vernon Park Place, (312)733-3393. $/Cash only
The kind of place where the menu is written out daily on a blackboard,
Tufano's is at once a classic Chicago bar and a cozy Italian
restaurant--a place where you'll never have a bad meal.
Logan Square
Lula Café
New American, 2537 N. Kedzie, (773)489-9554. $$
Co-owners Jason Hammel and Amalea Tshilds conduct daily kitchen jam
sessions based on availabilities from local farmers and markets, and
deliver their findings in the form of ever-changing and
always-surprising specials.
Loop
Atwood Café
American, 1 W. Washington, (312)368-1900. $$$
Before heading to the theater, impress your date with dinner in the
Atwood Café at the Burnham Hotel, where haute comfort food is
supplemented by unpretentious sophistication. Chef Heather Terhune
styles her menu around seasonally available ingredients, but you can
almost always count on a hearty potpie for lunch, or unique dinner
entrées like garlic-honey-chile-glazed duck breast with Asian pan-fried
noodles and shiitake mushroom broth, capped off with perfect
vanilla-bean crème brûlèe.
Avenues (Peninsula Hotel)
New American, 108 E. Superior, (312)573-6754. $$$$
Forget filet mignon dotted in ruddy bordelaise. Hotel restaurants,
once grand ballrooms of classic uninspired French cuisine, are now
laboratories for gastronomic inventiveness. Chef Graham Elliot Bowles
led the way last year with Seussian platings like red wafers of kangaroo
carpaccio with shavings of melon, eucalyptus, micro mint and swaths of
caramel served in a boomerang-shaped dish.
Everest
French, 440 S. LaSalle, 40th Floor, (312)663-8920. $$$$
The quintessential big-city splurge: topnotch French chef Jean Joho,
spectacular views of the city, huge wine list and impeccable service.
N9ne Steakhouse
American, 440 W. Randolph, (312)575-9900. $$$
The restaurant/nightclub hybrid launched by Michael Kornick (of mk) and
Michael Morton and Scott DeGraff (formerly of Drink) keeps intriguing us
with its ostentatious splendor. Once you get past all that glitters,
you'll find an array of tasty steaks, chops and seafood.
Viand
American Bistro, 155 E. Ontario, (312)255-8505. $$
This is the best place to eat after a long Mag Mile shopping
excursion. Steve Chiappetti, who made his bones at Mango, Grapes and
Rhapsody in the late nineties, has made a triumphant return harnessing
his mad skills into American bistro-style cooking that is unfussy and a
perfect match for Viand's slightly jazz age interior.
Ravenswood
Spacca Napoli Pizza
1769 W. Sunndyside, (773)878-2420. $$
The crust on these wood-fired pizzas is a study in perfect
imperfection. Airy, crunchy, with bits of char and lines from the floor
of the brick oven, the Margherita topped with creamy fior de latte
mozzarella, anise-perfumed basil and zingy tomatoes conjures an
afternoon in Naples.
River North
Aigre Doux Restaurant and Bakery
New American, 230 W. Kinzie, (312)329-9400. $$$
Husband and Wife Mohammad Islam and Malika Ameen team up to bring a New
American, seasonally focused, detail-oriented touch to River North.
Ameen's Sticky Toffee pudding may just be the best new dessert in
Chicago.
Big Bowl
Pan Asian, 6 E. Cedar, (312)640-8888; 60 E. Ohio, (312)951-1888. $$
Steamed and fried wontons with various fillings and kung pao chicken are
king at this high-design Midwestern Asian noodle shop.
Bin 36
New American, 339 N. Dearborn, (312)755-9463. $$
A huge, dramatic space with an epic, arched ceiling and a terrific menu
offering well-prepared renditions of seafood, chicken and pasta would be
reason enough to visit, but the main attraction is the wine. Each item
on the menu is matched to several wine choices, which can be ordered by
the half-glass, the glass, the flight or the bottle.
Café Iberico
Spanish Tapas, 737 N. LaSalle, (312)573-1510. $$
Iberico is a perennial hotspot, always crowded, always a delicious time,
with killer tapas and some of the best sangria in the city.
Club Lago
Italian, 331 W. Superior, (312)337-9444. $$
The commission of food is less important than the commission of
nostalgia at Club Lago, with strong drinks that rinse away the smack of
1940s-style Chianti-bottle-candle cuisine.
Crofton on Wells
New American, 535 N. Wells, (312)755-1790. $$$
One of the few fine-dining places where you might find a vegan entrée
amidst French touches like foie gras. Chef Suzy Crofton has mastered a
winning formula--delicious, creative cuisine served in an unpretentious
atmosphere.
Cyrano's Bistro
French Bistro, 546 N. Wells, (312)467-0546 $$
Chef Didier Durand is Chicago's lead defender of foie gras, enduring
endless protests and the occasional brick through the window. This is an
emblematic bistro serving up classics from bouillabaisse to vichysoisse.
Brazzaz
Brazilian, 539 N. Dearborn, (312)595-9000. $$$$
They sling meat on swords like all the other churrasco-style
houses in town, but the succulent shrimp--and their superior salad bar
which features incredible meats, cheeses and upscale crudites--sets them
apart.
Frontera Grill/Topolobampo/Frontera Fresco
Mexican, 445 N. Clark, (312)661-1434. Frontera: $$; Topolobampo: $$$
Chicago is home to what just might be the nation's top Mexican cuisine.
Actually, the kitchens of widely acclaimed chef Rick Bayless encompass
two sister restaurants. Frontera Grill boasts regional Mexican cuisine
with a sophisticated spin, a festive atmosphere and knock-your-socks-off
margaritas. Next door, Topolobampo delves deeper into territory at once
more elegant and exotic. The newest spot, Fresco, located on the seventh
floor of the Macy's store, might be the most important development in
high-quality, quick service food in Chicago.
Le Lan
French-Vietnamese, 749 N. Clark, (312)280-9100. $$$$
What happens when not one but two four-star chefs collaborate? In the
case of Roland Liccioni and Arun Sampanthavivat, who opened Le Lan
together, creative combustion. Consider the evidence: lemongrass-scented
grilled bass with water chestnuts, bell peppers, shiitakes and beignet
of prawn; or Asian-spiced beef tenderloin with Chinese long beans,
Pankoed bok choy, white quinoa and a star anise red-wine sauce, just to
name two menu offerings.
mk
French-American, 868 N. Franklin, (312)482-9179. $$$
Chef Michael Kornick's multilevel River North restaurant has drawn
crowds since it opened. And creative cooking producing the ever-popular
"one banana, two banana" dessert keeps the fans coming back.
NAHA
New American, 500 N. Clark, (312)321-6242. $$$
Taking over the legendary Gordon's space was an act of culinary
bravado, but chef Carrie and manager Michael Nahabedian's Naha has
lived up to its surroundings. Designed with a simple, yet elegant,
interior space, Naha serves up its take on the New American cuisine
dominating our city's platters by infusing it with Mediterranean
influences.
Osteria via Stato
Italian, 620 N. State, (312)642-8450. $$$
Chef David Di Gregorio's degustation-inspired approach to everyday
Italian fare--what Italians might call family-style dining.
Pizzerias Uno and Due
Pizza, Uno: 29 E. Ohio, (312)321-1000; Due: 619 N. Wabash,
(312)943-2400. $$
The birthplace of Chicago-style pizza, so they say, is a hotspot for the
tourist crowd, but there's not a Chicagoan around who wouldn't
salivate at the thought of a Uno/Due pie, packed to the nines with
sausage and cheese and washed down with an Old Style.
Shaw's Crab House
Seafood, 21 E. Hubbard, (312)527-2722. $$$
Forget those concerns about seafood in the oceanless Midwest--at Shaw's
catches are flown in daily from the Atlantic and you can taste the
freshness.
Sushisamba Rio
Sushi, 504 N. Wells, (312)595-2300. $$$
Combining sushi with Latin flavors sounds like fusion hell--till you
taste it. Then it's genius. And the Latin music in this contemporary
supper club makes every night carnivale.
Zealous
New American, 419 W. Superior, (312)475-9112. $$$
Owner and chef Michael Taus found the perfect venue for his delicate,
stylish cooking--a River North loft revamped into an impeccably serene
dining area, replete with glass, bamboo and spacious ceilings.
River West
May Street Market
New American, 1132 W. Grand, (312)421-5547. $$$
Chef Alexander Cheswick, formerly of Tru and Le Francais, is
glamming up this gritty stretch of Grand Avenue. with seasonal haute
fare like Maytag blue cheese cake and oven-roasted skate wing.
Japonais
Asian, 600 W. Chicago, (312)822-9600. $$$
This gorgeous space, in a loft perched over the Chicago River, is
restaurateur Miae Lim's latest and greatest hotspot--a Japanese
steakhouse with all the sushi and trimmings.
Twisted Spoke
American, 501 N. Ogden, (312)666-1500; 3369 N. Clark, (773)525-5300. $
This biker-bar-gone-neighborhood-hangout is the home of the greatest
hamburger in the civilized world, The Fatboy, a half-pound mass of beef
and fixins.
Rogers Park/West Ridge
Hema's Kitchen
Indian, 6406 North Oakley, (773)338-1627. $
Anglophiles, British expats, curry aficionados and spiceheads
everywhere: your home away from home is Hema's Kitchen.
Khan BBQ
Pakistani, 2401 W. Devon, (773)274-8600. $
The best chicken boti, with flakes of char from the
natural-wood-charcoal-fired tandoor and neon green streaks from crushed
peppers, is crispy, while seekh kababs, skewered round cylinders
of ground beef, onion and coriander, are moist and spicy.
Hai Woon Dae
Korean, 6240 N. California, (773)764-8018. $$
The best place to grill Bulgogi over a bucket of live coals, filch
swigs of the Korean Budweiser, OB beer, and live the suburban backyard
dream indoors. From bi bim bop to mountains of complimentary Panchan- or
Korean-style appetizers, including kim chi, red chili-infused
fermented cabbage, this utilitarian store-front open twenty-four hours
is a late-night haven.
South Loop/Near South Side
Custom House
New American Steakhouse, 500 S. Dearborn, (312)-523-0200. $$$
The first two times were a charm, so who knows what that makes this,
the third restaurant in Shawn McClain's restaurant empire, other than an
utterly delicious palace of meats. Bone-in-ribeye and braised short ribs
celebrate the sacrifice of cows everywhere.
Gioco
Italian, 1312 S. Wabash, (312)939-3870. $$$
Gioco is an Italian "bistro" with warm, dark woods and brick, a huge
open oven, giant ornate mirrors and a selection of delicious rustic
Italian cooking, from pastas to savory steaks and chops to wood-fired
pizzas.
Manny's
Deli, 1141 S. Jefferson, (312)939-2855. $
The classic deli: New York-style lunch counter, Chicago-style attitude,
Manny's is, hands down, the best place to score a sandwich in this
city.
Opera
Chinese, 1301 S. Wabash, (312) 461-0161. $$$
From its dramatic fiery-red interior in a former film-storage warehouse
to its mesmerizing spicy Chinese dishes, Opera keeps its customers
singing its praises out loud.
South Shore
Soul Vegetarian
Vegetarian soul food, 205 E. 75th, (773)224-0104. $
Except for the honey in some sauces, the entire menu here is vegan. Many
popular dishes, including the McNugget-shaped (and obscenely addictive)
"protein bits," are fried. True to its "soul food without the meat"
credo, Soul plays nice with the traditionally carnivorous palate.
Uptown
Hai Yen
Vietnamese, 1055 W. Argyle, (773)561-4077. $$
Storefront Vietnamese for curious white folks. Authenticity-seeking
chowhounds can score a good bowl of pho replete with beef brisket, bible
tripe and tendon, while more discriminating palates might favor gui
cuon, or traditional Vietnamese rice-paper spring rolls.
Tweet
Rustic European, 5020 N. Sheridan, (773)728-5576. $$
This is the neighborhood restaurant of your dreams--a tiny spot at
unprepossessing Sheridan and Argyle that offers a wonderfully diverse
menu of organic-oriented food at accessible prices. This is the kind of
place that's done so simply and intelligently that you wonder why every
neighborhood can't have one just like it.
West Loop
Avec Restaurant & Wine Bar
Mediterranean, 615 W. Randolph, (312)377-2002. $$$
Cozy, storefront neo-enoteca with communal dining and simple but
often sublime Mediterranean-inflected cooking, the handiwork of chef
Koren Grieveson.
Blackbird
New American, 619 W. Randolph, (312)715-0708. $$$
Chef Paul Kahan's California-derived simplicity has inspired the newest
generation of restaurateurs to care about ingredients and freshness
instead of spicy presentation.
Marché
French, 833 W. Randolph, (312)226-8399. $$$
Although the Randolph Market restaurant district wasn't born here, the
advent of Marché let everyone know it was here to stay. The spectacle of
the large wide-open space and its fashionable crowd, as well as a
consistently excellent menu, have allowed Marché to remain in vogue much
longer than the shelf life of most trends.
Moto
Asian, 945 W. Fulton Market, (312)491-0058. $$$$
Homaro Cantu dishes food with the cerebral abandon of James Joyce
and the creepy technological obsession of William Burroughs. Edible
menus and dishes like Maki in the Fifth Dimension, donut soup and
Kentucky-fried ice cream are already Chicago classics.
one sixtyblue
New American, 1400 W. Randolph, (312)850-0303. $$$
The outside is painted a stark, cobalt blue, but inside the interior
softens into paler hues of yellow and blue, courtesy of designer Adam
Tihany. Chef Martial Noguier serves up French with a lighter twist in a
spacious dining room featuring comfortably spaced tables that allow
conversation without raising your voice.
Red Light
Pan Asian, 820 W. Randolph, (312)733-8880. $$$
A swanky, boku décor and an eclectic mix of Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese
and Indonesian flavors combine to make this one of the most popular
spots on Harpo Row.
Sushi Wabi
Sushi, 842 W. Randolph, (312)563-1224. $$
Most sushi joints would have to work hard to beat the meditative food
experience of this little West Loop staple. Besides the standard entrees
of tempura and teriyaki, they also have a two-piece-per-order dinner
sushi menu that includes red flying fish roe and a mean, wood-smoked
salmon, or tobikko.
Wicker Park/Ukrainian Village
Bongo Room
Breakfast, 1470 N. Milwaukee, (773)489-0690; 1152 S. Wabash,
(312)427-9972. $
The Bongo Room has a brunch menu that's worth the extended wait,
stocked with choices like eggs benedict with roasted red pepper and
feta.
El Barco
Mexican Seafood, 1035 N. Ashland, (773)486-6850. $$
This spot on Ashland looks like the prow of a wooden ship. Featuring
some of Chicago's best Mexican seafood including tostada de
pulpo, a crunchy corn wafer topped with purple chunks of octopus
glistening and swimming in limey cilantro infusion or huachinango al
mojo de ajo, a whole deep-fried snapper with its crunchy fins and
crispy tail suspended in batter, and topped with chopped garlic, white
wine and cilantro sauce.
Flo
Southwestern, 1434 W. Chicago, (312)243-0477. $$
A funky café outfitted in folk art with a tasty touch of Santa Fé menu,
Flo has grown from a brunch hotspot to a lunch and dinner staple known
for innovative cuisine at modest prices.
Green Zebra
Vegetarian, 1460 W. Chicago, (312)243-7100. $$
In Shawn McClain's hotspot, it's the thirty or so items on the menu on
any given visit that wow, including inventive salads, a rich polenta and
an avocado panna cotta, tomato gelee and crème fraiche concoction that
won't be forgotten.
Mas
Nuevo Mexican, 1670 W. Division, (773)276-8700. $$
Delight in resourceful spicings and inventive seafood that manages to
flourish amid sturdy martinis.
Mirai
Sushi, 2020 W. Division, (773)862-8500. $$
Live sushi: there are two words to wake you up, followed by the sinful
sensations of the freshest savors. Pricey sakes and champagnes could go
to the head and handbag, but instead listen attentively to the glorious
specials, sparkling and tangy, drawing from traditions only now
beginning to float into basic sushi joints.
Rodan
South American, 1530 N. Milwaukee, (773)276-7036. $$
The South American and Asian fare is good (great wasabi fries and fish
tacos), but it's almost worth the trip alone to this Wicker Park
hotspot to head to the bathroom and check out the video mirrors. At
night, a big art crowd checks each other out at this see-and-be-seen
place.
Schwa
Punk Haute, 1466 N. Ashland, (773)252-1466. $$
The best BYO Chicago storefront restaurant run by chefs sporting
mohawks--where the wine is served in glass tumblers and the ravioli with
gently poached quail egg soaking in ricotta, brown butter and
Parmigiano-Reggiano--is worth the elusive reservation. See feature.
West Town Tavern
Contemporary Comfort, 1329 West Chicago Avenue, (312)666-6175. $$
You'll find solid, moderately priced entrées prepared with the finest
ingredients, from the farfalle tossed with spicy sausage, eggplant,
zucchini, fresh mozzarella, capers and oven-cured tomato to the
zinfandel-braised pot roast with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and
Pennsylvania Dutch black vinegar sauce. But don't skip the tavern beer
cheese appetizer--it's a true classic.
The
Sultan of Schwa
Michael Carlson and his unconventional dream
