Alinea in Chicago is Grant Achatz's three-Michelin-star tasting menu at 1723 N Halsted, the dining room that codified American modernist fine dining since 2005.
Signature: Edible balloon, Painted-tablecloth dessert
Order: Whichever course needs your two hands; the kitchen is unsentimental about it.
Tip: Book the Gallery flow if you want the full theatre; Salon is the quieter, three-course-less option.
Boka in Chicago is Lee Wolen's Michelin-starred dining room beside Alinea on Halsted, with a quiet garden courtyard and a roast-chicken-for-two worth the table.
Signature: Roasted chicken for two, Garganelli pasta
Order: The roasted chicken for two, brined two days; it leaves the kitchen carved.
Tip: Book the garden room in summer. It is one of the prettiest outdoor dining rooms in the city.
Lou Malnati's in Chicago is the Lincoln Park branch of the deep-dish chain founded 1971 by Lou (Rudy Malnati Sr.'s son), butter-crust pies with The Lou as flagship.
Signature: Chicago deep-dish pizza, The Lou (spinach, mushroom, tomato)
Order: The Lou with sausage, plus a small Malnati Salad first, with sweet vinaigrette.
Tip: Order the pizza when you sit; baking takes 45 minutes. Otherwise you wait twice.
Pequod's Pizza in Chicago is the Lincoln Park pan-pizza institution on Clybourn since 1971, the caramelised cheese ring around the crust copied across the city.
Signature: Caramelised-crust pan pizza, Sausage and mushroom
Order: Medium pan pizza, sausage and mushroom, with extra cheese around the rim.
Tip: Walk in at 16:30 to beat the queue; tables fill before the kitchen opens for dinner service.
Pat's Pizza in Chicago is the Lincoln Park tavern-cut thin room on Lincoln Avenue since 1950, with the cracker-crust pies locals send out-of-town visitors to first.
Signature: Tavern-cut thin, Pat's Special with everything
Order: Medium Pat's Special, party-cut; the meatball sandwich as a backup.
Tip: Delivery is the locals' move. The dining room is small, the carryout window quick.
The Wieners Circle in Chicago is the Lincoln Park late-night hot dog counter on Clark Street, open since 1983, famous for the staff-and-customer banter past 02:00.
Signature: Char dog, Chocolate milkshake
Order: Char dog with everything; cheese fries on the side. A chocolate milkshake to walk home.
Tip: The shouting is the show. If you are not up for the banter, the daytime queue is exactly the same dog without the audience.