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American BarbecueIrving Park
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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New AmericanLincoln Park
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.
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Modern AmericanWest Loop
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.
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Modern AmericanWest Loop
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.
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Modern AmericanWest Loop
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.
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Modern NordicWest Loop
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.