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 wood.
Signature dishes: Duck-liver tart, Smoked beets with brown butter
Must order: The duck-liver tart, an opening course that has stayed on the menu since 2016.
Tip: The Aquavit pairings are the room's secret weapon. Ask Anna for the by-the-glass walk.
Address: 1350 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
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 varieties.
Signature: Heritage pork chop, Country ham, Oysters
Order: Publican-style pork chop for the table, with one of the ham flights.
Tip: The 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.
Signature: Chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates, Wood-oven flatbreads
Order: The chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates; on the menu since opening for good reason.
Tip: The communal seating means a walk-up at 17:00 usually beats waiting for a table. Bring a friend who likes elbows.
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.
Signature: Filipino breakfast plate, Lechon
Order: The morning ube cruffin, which sells out by 10:30 most weekends.
Tip: The 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 varieties.
Signature: Heritage pork chop, Country ham, Oysters
Order: Publican-style pork chop for the table, with one of the ham flights.
Tip: The 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.
Signature: Chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates, Wood-oven flatbreads
Order: The chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates; on the menu since opening for good reason.
Tip: The 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 fast.
Signature: Farm dinner Monday, Pasta with brown butter
Order: Monday's farm dinner if you can book it; brown-butter pasta with sage on walk-in nights.
Tip: Brunch 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.
Signature: Fried chicken with honey butter, Sides board
Order: Two-piece dark plate with the honey butter biscuit and the corn salad.
Tip: Order 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 menu.
Signature: Buttermilk biscuit, Shrimp and grits, Fried chicken
Order: Buttermilk biscuit with sorghum butter, plus the shrimp and grits.
Tip: Sunday brunch tables go on the books two weeks out. The bar takes walk-ups if you arrive at 11:00.
