Alinea

”Grant Achatz, the 32-year-old chef at Chicago’s Alinea, has a hyper-experimental cooking style that’s put him in the vanguard of...”  More

Bin 36

”Wine director Brian Duncan has created a laid-back, unintimidating atmosphere for sampling the dozen different flights on his international wine...”  More

Blackbird

”Chef Paul Kahan was born and raised in Chicago, and his loyalty shows in his reliance on incredible local ingredients;...”  More

Bonsoirée

Custom House

”Star chef Shawn McClain focuses on artisanal meats at Custom House....”  More

Everest

”Chef-owner Jean Joho has amassed the world’s largest selection of wines from his native Alsace—and they share space on the...”  More

Frontera Fresco

”The best downtown fast-food lunch is here on the seventh floor of Marshall Field’s department store, on the flavorful Mexican...”  More

Frontera Grill

The Gage

Lula Cafe

”This hipster coffeehouse and chef hangout has been transformed into a word-of-mouth destination for creative American cuisine from chef-owners Jason...”  More

Moto

”The international and eclectic list here inspires diners to discover great wines, many from small-batch vintages. The staff is smart...”  More

The Peninsula Chicago

”The Peninsula Chicago offers children ginger ale mixed with cherry-citrus sangria syrup in a tall crystal Champagne flute garnished with...”  More

Schwa

”Chef Michael Carlson and his sous, Nathan Klingbail, do the greeting, seating, cooking, serving, and clearing while managing to look...”  More

Sepia

”A Champagne is likely to be from an unknown producer like Gardet, a Chardonnay from a small winery like Stoller...”  More

Spiaggia

Takashi

”Yagihashi marinates the bird in sesame oil, soy sa...”  More

Taqueria La Oaxaqueña

”Fans of the flavorful cuisine of Mexico’s Oaxaca region will find a surprisingly accomplished menu at this plain-looking spot....”  More

Vie

”But chef Paul Virant (an alum of Blackbird and Everest) is remedying all that at Vie. Nestled improbably in a...”  More

Aigre Doux

”A Chicago power meal...”  More

Al's #1 Italian Beef

”Embrace Chicago's two-fisted frontier philosophy at Al's # 1 Italian Beef in its landmark Taylor Street location. There are no...”  More

Ann Sather

”Want more tastes of Sweden? Go for the meatballs and lingonberries at the equally popular (and good) Svea or Ann...”  More

Aria

A Taste of Heaven

”A Taste of Heaven is a longtime standout for great chicken pot pie and other homespun treats....”  More

Avec

”The buzziest place on this stretch off the Loop—known for big, jumpin' restaurants such as the French Marché and the...”  More

Avenues

”Ask chef Graham Elliot Bowles of Avenues Restaurant in Chicago about how he creates his delicious, adventurous and strikingly beautiful...”  More

Billy Goat Tavern

Bin 36 Lincolnshire

”Bin 36 serves flights of milk—vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and plain—on paper tasting maps just like the ones it uses for...”  More

Bistro Campagne

”Other new businesses, most notably a handful of excellent restaurants, are now thriving here, including Bistro Campagne....”  More

Bobak Sausage Company

”Polish comfort food (pierogi, kielbasa) from the all-you-can-eat buffet at Bobak Sausage Company restaurant...”  More

Boka

”Elizabeth Dahl of Chicago’s Boka makes a brilliant...”  More

Borinquen Restaurant

”But it is Borinquen Restaurant owner Juan C. Figueroa (known as Peter) who can take credit for the success of...”  More

Brasserie JO

Butter

”Starters include a toothsome risotto with melon and prosciutto, while entrées resemble works from the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art:...”  More

Byron’s

”Salad-like add-ons such as cucumbers, curlicues of lettuce, and green peppers give at least the appearance of a healthy dog....”  More

Cafe 103

Café Selmarie

”For lighter meals and snacks there's Café Selmarie; buy a whole Sacher torte at the bakery up front—or at least...”  More

Carnivale

”It's always Mardi Gras at the latest brainchild of Chicago restaurateur Jerry Kleiner (Marché, Red Light). Carnivale, a cavernous 400-seat...”  More

Chicago Brauhaus

”Other German outposts in the neighborhood include Delicatessen Meyer, with wonderful displays of sausages, cheese, wine, beer, breads, and candies...”  More

Clandestino Suppers

Coalfire Pizza

Coobah

”At Coobah, an endless stream of bossa nova music is the backdrop for exotic pan-Latin dishes (try the shrimp piri-piri)....”  More

Delicatessen Meyer

”Other German outposts in the neighborhood include Delicatessen Meyer, with wonderful displays of sausages, cheese, wine, beer, breads, and candies...”  More

Del Toro

”Zimmerman pipes the dough into a ribbed spiral, then coats the churros in crunchy sugar and cinnamon. They're perfect for...”  More

Diner Grill

”Customers, who include Dean Zanella of 312 Chicago and Atwood Café's Heather Terhune, will also tell you that everything at...”  More

The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton

”Chef Sarah Stegner's unpretentious modern French style leads to guinea hen with baby turnips and artichoke puree. This restaurant (which...”  More

Gabriel's

Gene & Georgetti

Goose Island Shrimp House

”Expertly fried shrimp, moist and juicy inside, from Goose Island Shrimp House...”  More

Hot Chocolate

”Her savories (green-curried mussels, rabbit rillettes with baby carrots) are excellent, but dessert is what you really come for: linger...”  More

Hot Doug’s

”Former cookbook-editor Doug Sohn presides over what he calls his sausage superstore and encased-meat emporium...”  More

Ikram

”Ikram Goldman, who owns the Chicago boutique Ikram, recommends an elegant outfit like this one...”  More

Intelligentsia Coffee Roasters

”Low-key Intelligentsia is one of the most respecte...”  More

Irazu

”Garlicky deep-fried yuca from the popular Costa Rican restaurant Irazu...”  More

Isabella's Estiatorio

”In the suburb of Geneva, English-born Irish chef Sean Eastwood cooks Mediterranean food like a native. On his menu: dishes...”  More

Japonais

”Soho, a lychee liqueur made from the fruit indigenous to southern China, sweetens up the lychee martini (white rum and...”  More

Jet Vodka Lounge

”In the center of Chicago, the Jet Vodka Lounge takes its sleek design cues from Boeing's 777, with servers dressed...”  More

Kevin

L2O

”With a focus on seafood from around the globe, the menu comes with a fish glossary to help diners navigate...”  More

La Tache

”At La Tache, Blackbird alum Dale Levitski likes to tweak the classics....”  More

Laurent Gras

Le Lan

”This French-Vietnamese joint venture between revered local chefs Roland Liccioni and Arun Sampanthavivat at first struck some people in Chicago...”  More

Les Armures

”Try fondue at Geneva's Les Armures, a venerated institution that serves up the smoothest, most flavorful rendition....”  More

Les Deux Autres

”After the departure of Michael and Thomas Lachowicz, the two namesake 'fat guys' who ran Les Deux Gros (formerly in...”  More

Lincolntown Gyros

”For late-night cravings, the grilled chicken on a pita with feta at Lincolntown Gyros...”  More

Marche

”The buzziest place on this stretch off the Loop—known for big, jumpin' restaurants such as the French Marché and the...”  More

Meiji

”The restaurant is also known for its unusual rolls, like the eel-and-jalapeño-tempura roll, topped with strawberries....”  More

Mercat a la Planxa

Meritage Café & Wine Bar

”Lobster and turkey crépinette Troy Graves’s Picasso to a traditional cook’s stick-figure sketch: medallions of turkey tucked into an airy...”  More

Merlo on Maple

”This more formal offshoot of Merlo Ristorante has been received just as warmly as the original, thanks to co-owner Giampaolo...”  More

Mirai Sushi

”You'll learn more about sake only by sampling different types. Here, a few of our favorite sources in the United...”  More

MK The Restaurant

Morkes Chocolates

”Morkes hand-dips more than 250,000 Red Delicious, Granny Smith, and Michigan Jonathans each fall....”  More

Murphy's Red Hots

”Bill Murphy has mastered every detail of the authentic red hot: a perfectly cooked Vienna Beef dog...”  More

Mystic Celt

”Order a plate of bangers and mash along with a Guinness at the Irish pub Mystic Celt....”  More

Nacional 27

”Skip the traditional turkey and stuffing and celebrate Nochebuena Latin-style at Nacional 27, Second City's ceviche bar and salsa club...”  More

NoMI

”Chef Christophe David's Four Story Hill Farm milk-fed veal chop for two, with truffled polenta, cipollini onions and asparagus....”  More

Noodles

”An F&W Best New Chef 2000, Noodles upgrades department-store food. ...”  More

North Pond

”Bruce Sherman, an F&W Best New Chef 2003, creates elegant, delightful French-American recipes. ...”  More

Old Town Brasserie

Osteria di Tramonto

”This bistro in the suburban Westin hotel on Chicago’s North Shore inspires its customers to criminal activity: 'Guests steal our...”  More

Pasticceria Natalina

Podhalanka Polksa Restauracja

Portillo's

Potbelly Sandwich Works

”The hot Italian sandwich (provolone, pepperoni, salami, capocollo, mortadella) at Potbelly Sandwich Works...”  More

Prairie Grass Café

”Chef Sarah Stegner made her name at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago. At her new restaurant, she's teamed up with a fellow...”  More

Primehouse

”Chef David Burke prepares whimsical beef dishes at all of his restaurants, including the new David Burke's Primehouse in Chicago...”  More

Quartino

”With mismatched wooden tables, shelves groaning with freshly baked artisanal bread, and walls covered in subway tiles, Quartino is a...”  More

Red Light

”The buzziest place on this stretch off the Loop—known for big, jumpin' restaurants such as the French Marché and the...”  More

Reza's

”The area's booming restaurant scene includes Reza's, a boisterous Persian restaurant, and the contemporary American Tomboy....”  More

Rise

”Jalapeño-dusted Mexican maki is just one of the inventive sushi rolls prepared at Rise, a mod Japanese joint with a...”  More

R. J. Grunts

Rockit Bar & Grill

”Nightlife duo Billy Dec and Brad Young update a 1900's lamp factory in the River North neighborhood....”  More

Salpicón

”Priscila Satkoff cooks authentic Mexican food while her husband, Vince Satkoff, oversees the list of 100 premium tequilas....”  More

Saltaus

”Small-plate dishes, like wild-mushroom dumplings and rack of lamb with date puree, are the specialty at this new restaurant from...”  More

Shanghai Terrace

”In the recently enlarged kitchen, old-school Asian chefs stir-fry peanut-flecked kung pao scallops while the more experimental cooks working alongside...”  More

Sol de Mexico

Southport Grocery & Café

”The citrus-stuffed French toast with blueberry compote at the Southport Grocery & Café can satisfy any sweet tooth....”  More

Spacca Napoli

”The city's newest Neapolitan has a wood-burning oven hand-built by Italian artisans....”  More

Superdawg Drive-in

”The 12-foot-tall fiberglass hot dog couple on the roof is an homage to founders Maurie and Flaurie Berman, high school...”  More

Sushi Samba Rio

”The new Sushi Samba in Chicago offers its own spy experience: There's a transparent glass wall separating the ladies' and...”  More

Svea

”Want more tastes of Sweden? Go for the meatballs and lingonberries at the equally popular (and good) Svea....”  More

Sweet Mandy B's

”C is for... all the candy-coated confections that have suddenly become the main course at cafés across the country....”  More

Table Fifty-Two

Tank Sushi

”Other new businesses, most notably a handful of excellent restaurants, are now thriving here, including Bistro Campagne, Tank Sushi, Acqualina...”  More

Thyme Cafe

”Fans of John Bubala's terrific Thyme greeted this Wicker Park offshoot with cheers. The place is much more grown-up than...”  More

Tomboy

”The area's booming restaurant scene includes Reza's, a boisterous Persian restaurant, and the contemporary American Tomboy....”  More

Topolobampo

Topolobampo

Tramonto's Steak & Seafood

”Starting next month in Wheeling, Illinois, Rick Tramonto will offer grass-fed beef. ...”  More

Tru

Tsuki

”In this cool industrial space, Hemmi bends the rules with creations such as spicy tuna maki with pine nuts, pistachios...”  More

Vermilion

”Chef Maneet Chauhan makes Indian-Latin fusion seem like an obvious (and brilliant) idea. Dishes like mint paneer fritters with chipotle...”  More

Wiener’s Circle

”This no-frills hot dog stand serves some of the city’s crispest fries....”  More

Wishbone

Wolfy’s

”You can get every breed of dog here, but the real star is the Char-Polish, a well-seasoned all-beef sausage with...”  More

X/O Chicago

”This newcomer is lighting up Lakeview with flights of Cognac and Scotch, accompanied by well-conceived small plates such as five-spice...”  More