14 restaurants in Chicago, editor-picked for monday dinner. Open on monday, the day most kitchens go dark. All restaurants in Chicago.
Alinea ★ 4.9
lincoln-park · 1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Hours: Mon-Fri 17:00-22:00; Sat 17:00-22:00; Sun closed
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.
Tip: Book the Gallery flow if you want the full theatre; Salon is the quieter, three-course-less option.
Elske ★ 4.6
west-loop · 1350 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
Hours: Mon 17:30-21:00; Thu 17:30-21:00; Fri 17:30-22:00; Sat 17:00-22:00; Sun 17:00-21:00; Tue-Wed closed
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.
Tip: The Aquavit pairings are the room's secret weapon. Ask Anna for the by-the-glass walk.
The Publican ★ 4.6
west-loop · 837 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00-14:00; Sun-Thu 16:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 16:00-22:00; Sat-Sun 09:00-14:00
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.
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.
Bavette's Bar & Boeuf ★ 4.6
river-north · 218 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
Hours: Sun 15:00-22:30; Mon-Thu 16:00-22:30; Fri-Sat 15:00-23:00
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.
Tip: Book at 21:00 on a weeknight if you want the back booths. The earlier seating is mostly business dinners.
avec ★ 4.5
west-loop · 615 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00-14:00; Sun-Thu 15:30-22:00; Fri-Sat 15:30-23:00; Sat-Sun 10:00-14:00
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.
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 ★ 4.5
logan-square · 2537 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647
Hours: Wed-Mon 09:00-15:00; Wed-Mon 16:30-22:00; Tue closed
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.
Tip: Brunch is walk-up only on weekends; aim for 09:30 to skip the worst of the queue.
Boka ★ 4.5
lincoln-park · 1729 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Hours: Mon-Sat 17:00-22:00; Sun 16:00-21:00
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.
Tip: Book the garden room in summer. It is one of the prettiest outdoor dining rooms in the city.
Girl & the Goat ★ 4.5
west-loop · 809 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
Hours: Sun-Thu 16:30-22:00; Fri-Sat 16:30-23:00; Sun 10:00-14:00
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.
Tip: If 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 ★ 4.4
avondale · 3361 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Hours: Mon-Thu 11:00-20:30; Fri-Sat 11:00-21:00; Sun 11:00-20:30
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.
Tip: Order online from your phone before you walk in. The counter line is twice as long as the screen-pickup one most evenings.
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse ★ 4.4
gold-coast · 1028 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611
Hours: Daily 11:00-00:00
Gibsons in Chicago is the Rush Street steakhouse since 1989 with its own USDA Prime stamp, packed nightly with politicians, athletes and conference traffic.
Tip: The cake slices are large enough for four. Order one for the table and ask for four forks.
Big Jones ★ 4.3
andersonville · 5347 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
Hours: Mon-Thu 11:00-15:00; Mon-Thu 16:30-20:30; Fri 11:00-15:00; Fri 16:30-21:30; Sat 10:00-15:00; Sat 16:30-21:30; Sun 10:00-15:00; Sun 16:30-20:30
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.
Tip: Sunday brunch tables go on the books two weeks out. The bar takes walk-ups if you arrive at 11:00.
Gene & Georgetti ★ 4.3
river-north · 500 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654
Hours: Sun-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00
Gene & Georgetti in Chicago is the 1941 Italian-American steakhouse under the elevated tracks at Franklin and Illinois, opened by Michelotti and Federighi.
Tip: Ask 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 ★ 4.3
river-north · 66 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
Hours: Mon-Thu 16:00-21:00; Fri 16:00-22:00; Sat 15:00-22:00; Sun 15:00-21:00
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.
Tip: Sit at the bar if you cannot land a booth. The bar menu is the same and the cocktails arrive faster.
Ramen-san ★ 4.0
river-north · 59 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
Hours: Mon-Wed 11:00-23:00; Thu 11:00-00:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-01:00; Sun 11:00-23:00
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.
Tip: Lunch is faster than dinner. The 12:30 rush clears by 13:15.