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ItalianWest Loop
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.
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Modern AmericanLincoln Park
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.
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New AmericanWest Loop
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.
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SteakhouseRiver North
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.
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New AmericanGold Coast
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.
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ItalianRiver North
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.