14 editor picks in Chicago.
14 restaurants in Chicago, editor-picked for restaurants open monday. Open on monday, the day most kitchens go dark. All restaurants in Chicago.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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