The restaurants worth a reservation in Chicago, from neighbourhood bistros to the new classics.
The restaurants worth the trip in Chicago. bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
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.
OrderWhichever course needs your two hands; the kitchen is unsentimental about it.
TipBook the Gallery flow if you want the full theatre; Salon is the quieter, three-course-less option.
Smyth in Chicago is John and Karen Shields's two-Michelin-star tasting menu on Ada Street, with produce from their own farm 90 minutes south of the city.
OrderThe yolk in sea-buckthorn vinegar; it has been on the menu since 2016 for a reason.
TipThe companion bar downstairs, The Loyalist, runs an excellent burger if you can't land the upstairs seats.
Oriole in Chicago is Noah Sandoval's two-Michelin-star room on Walnut Street in the West Loop, a quiet 28-seat tasting menu with a strong caviar service.
OrderThe opening caviar course; the kitchen treats it as the focal pivot, not a bookend.
TipThe wine pairings are unusually well-judged at the German-and-Austrian end. Ask for them by region, not by tier.
Ever in Chicago is Curtis Duffy's two-Michelin-star Fulton Market tasting menu, opened 2020 after Duffy left Grace, with rigorous service and quiet plating.
OrderThe foie gras course; it is the dish that follows Duffy across his career.
TipSit at the chef's counter if it is on offer at booking. The view of the pass is the room's best seat.
Elske in Chicago is David and Anna Posey's Danish-influenced Michelin-starred Randolph Street kitchen, a married chef-team plate with restraint and clean.
OrderThe duck-liver tart, an opening course that has stayed on the menu since 2016.
TipThe Aquavit pairings are the room's secret weapon. Ask Anna for the by-the-glass walk.
Kasama in Chicago is Tim Flores and Genie Kwon's Filipino bakery by day, Michelin-starred tasting menu by night, in the Ukrainian Village on Winchester.
OrderThe morning ube cruffin, which sells out by 10:30 most weekends.
TipThe bakery has no reservations; the tasting menu books out 60 days ahead. Treat them as two different visits.
The Publican in Chicago is Paul Kahan's Fulton Market mead-hall, opened 2008, anchored by the heritage pork chop and a daily oyster list of 20 to 30.
OrderPublican-style pork chop for the table, with one of the ham flights.
TipThe walk-in counter at the bar is first-come, first-served and turns over fast. Aim for 17:30 if you cannot book.
avec in Chicago is the cedar-walled Mediterranean wine bar next to Blackbird's old space, with the dates-wrapped-in-bacon plate that has run since 2003.
OrderThe chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates; on the menu since opening for good reason.
TipThe communal seating means a walk-up at 17:00 usually beats waiting for a table. Bring a friend who likes elbows.
Lula Cafe in Chicago is Jason Hammel's 1999 Logan Square dining room and breakfast counter, anchored by a Monday farm-dinner menu the neighbourhood books out.
OrderMonday's farm dinner if you can book it; brown-butter pasta with sage on walk-in nights.
TipBrunch is walk-up only on weekends; aim for 09:30 to skip the worst of the queue.
Honey Butter Fried Chicken in Chicago is the Avondale counter from Christine Cikowski and Joshua Kulp, with the honey-butter biscuit that named the place.
OrderTwo-piece dark plate with the honey butter biscuit and the corn salad.
TipOrder online from your phone before you walk in. The counter line is twice as long as the screen-pickup one most evenings.
Big Jones in Chicago is Paul Fehribach's Andersonville Southern kitchen on Clark Street, with shrimp-and-grits and buttermilk biscuits that anchor the brunch.
OrderButtermilk biscuit with sorghum butter, plus the shrimp and grits.
TipSunday brunch tables go on the books two weeks out. The bar takes walk-ups if you arrive at 11:00.
Monteverde in Chicago is Sarah Grueneberg's Italian dining room on Madison Street in the West Loop, a pasta-led menu with all the dough rolled in the open.
OrderThe cacio whey pepe; the kitchen ferments its own pecorino whey for the sauce.
TipSit at the pasta-counter seats if they're on offer. The kitchen rolls dough at eye level.
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.
OrderThe roasted chicken for two, brined two days; it leaves the kitchen carved.
TipBook the garden room in summer. It is one of the prettiest outdoor dining rooms in the city.
Girl & the Goat in Chicago is Stephanie Izard's Randolph Street wood-fire kitchen since 2010, with the pig face plate that came back when Bravo's Top Chef.
OrderThe wood-fire pig face; the green beans with cashews and fish sauce vinaigrette.
TipIf the dining room is fully booked, walk up to the bar at 17:00 for the same menu and no wait most weeknights.
Bavette's Bar & Boeuf in Chicago is the dimly-lit River North steakhouse on Kinzie, French bistro paintings overhead, with a bone-in ribeye that anchors.
OrderThe bone-in ribeye with hash browns; the lobster gnocchi for non-beef eaters.
TipBook at 21:00 on a weeknight if you want the back booths. The earlier seating is mostly business dinners.
Gibsons in Chicago is the Rush Street steakhouse since 1989 with its own USDA Prime stamp, packed nightly with politicians, athletes and conference traffic.
OrderThe Chicago Cut, a 22-ounce bone-in ribeye. The au jus is on by default.
TipThe cake slices are large enough for four. Order one for the table and ask for four forks.
Gene & Georgetti in Chicago is the 1941 Italian-American steakhouse under the elevated tracks at Franklin and Illinois, opened by Michelotti and Federighi.
OrderThe Garbage Salad; the bone-in ribeye; a Negroni at the bar before sitting down.
TipAsk for one of the back-room booths under the photo wall. The lighting is the same warm gold it has been for eighty years.
RPM Steak in Chicago is the marble-and-leather River North steakhouse on Kinzie from the Melman family of Lettuce Entertain You, with A5 Wagyu sliders.
OrderA5 Wagyu sliders to start, the dry-aged ribeye for two, popovers as the side.
TipSit at the bar if you cannot land a booth. The bar menu is the same and the cocktails arrive faster.
Topolobampo in Chicago is Rick Bayless's Michelin-starred Mexican fine-dining room beside Frontera on Clark, with regional menus that rotate every six weeks.
OrderWhichever mole is on the current tasting menu; Bayless has been cooking them in Chicago since 1989.
TipReservations open 60 days out and the Friday slot goes in an hour. Set a calendar alarm.
Frontera Grill in Chicago is Rick Bayless's 1987 Clark Street Mexican dining room beside Topolobampo, the kitchen that brought regional Mexican.
OrderCarne asada with handmade tortillas; the cochinita pibil if the Yucatan menu is running.
TipWalk in at 17:00 on a weekday for the bar; the booths fill by 18:30 most nights.
Daisies in Chicago is Joe Frillman's Logan Square pasta-and-vegetable dining room on Milwaukee Avenue, with grain and produce sourced directly from Illinois.
OrderCavatelli with whatever ragu is current; the focaccia first, while you wait.
TipBrunch is the underrated meal here. The same pasta program with eggs and patio seating in summer.
Ramen-san in Chicago is Lettuce Entertain You's River North ramen room on Hubbard, with a tonkotsu base and a spicy garlic bowl that pulls the regulars back.
OrderThe spicy garlic ramen; the chashu pork bun on the side.
TipLunch is faster than dinner. The 12:30 rush clears by 13:15.
Smoque BBQ in Chicago is the Irving Park no-frills counter on Pulaski Road since 2006, with brisket and St Louis ribs smoked over apple and hickory in-house.
OrderA sliced brisket plate with the St Louis ribs split. Half-rack rather than full.
TipClosed Mondays. Closes at 21:00 sharp and meat sells out from 19:30 on weekends.
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