Armitage Alehouse

In Lincoln Park, Armitage Alehouse captures the vibe of a London pub with a wood-burning fireplace, a piano player, and select ales and cocktails.

Ever

Ever has been one of the most anticipated restaurant to open mid-2020. Michael Muser and Chef Curtis Duffey were the team behind Grace, one of only two Chicago-based Michelin three-star restaurants, and when that magnificent restaurant closed, Muser and Duffy started concepting Ever.

Momotaro

Three levels of spectacular modern Japanese dining can be experienced at this sprawling West Loop project from Boka Restaurant Group (Boka, GT Fish & Oyster, Girl and the Goat). The top level is for private dining, the main level is designated for the full dining experience, and the lower-level izakaya

Nisos Prime

Nisos Prime is a "Mediterranean steakhouse," which almost seems a contradiction in terms because the Mediterranean diet, as it's usually understood, contains very little if any red meat. What Nisos...

Esme

One of the most exciting restaurants to open in Chicago since the pandemic hit, Esme brings together art and food in a combiantion that as lovely to look at as it is delicious to eat.

Seville

Seville is the latest from chef/restaurateur Fabio Viviani (Siena Tavern, Bar Siena, Prime & Provisions, and others).

Alinea

James Beard Award winner Grant Achatz, who won the coveted "Outstanding Chef Award" in 2008, is one of the city's most acclaimed chefs. His unique, cutting-edge cuisine, full of twists and turns, comes with equally remarkable service, and an extremely high price.

Andros Taverna

Many Greek restaurants serve basically the same food; not so at Andros Taverna, where Chef Doug Psaltis serves contemporary Mediterranean food inspired by the classic taverns of Greece, as well as a few items prepared using family recipes.

avec

An instant success when it debuted in 2003, avec is the second restaurant from One Off Hospitality, the group behind Blackbird, Publican, The Violet Hour, Big Star and Nico Osteria....

Fonda

Michael Lachowicz, the French-forward chef behind casual Aboyer and high-end George Trois, surprises us with Fonda, a beautiful Mexican restaurant in Evanston.

Piccolo Sogno

On Chicago’s near north side, Piccolo Sogno is the “little dream” of Chef Tony Priolo, whose goal has been to serve the very finest in rustic Italian cuisine, using locally...

CornerStone Cafe

Word on the street is that CornerStone Cafe is the best place in Chicago to get breakfast.

Cariño

Cariño is a fine-dining Mexican restaurant with a tasting menu, which makes it relatively rare in Chicago.

Jiang Niu BBQ House

Jiang Niu BBQ House offers Korean grilled meat and other traditional dishes to those who already know and love the food as well as those who may never have had it before. It’s accessible, but still appealing to those seeking authenticity or perhaps just a little something out of the ordinary.

Curfew

On the website, Curfew describes itself as an American tavern...but that designation seems very unfair. Curfew is a lot more than just a place to go for drinks; their menu of delectable edibles is broad and deep.

Le Select

Le Select is the result of a working union between Danny Rose, an born-in-Chicago chef with restaurants in New York, and the BOKA Group, one of the most consistently successful restaurant groups in the city.

Café by the River

Café by the River offers another innovative dining experience from Chef José Andrés, who adds to his already formidable restaurant group this classic American coffee shop and café with Spanish...

Kayao

Kayao in Old Town serves Peruvian ceviche, seafood, and a smattering of Nikkei dishes.

Maypole

Maypole is one of the newest additions to the Wheaton dining scene...and it is very special.

Ichi by Torino

With Ichi by Torino, traditional and casual Japanese cuisine comes to Wilmette.

The X Pot

With locations in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, The X Pot is opening in Chicago to offer a new kind of "dinner and show" experience .

Lirica

Lirica in the Sable hotel on Navy Pier presents a largely Spanish-inspired menu of well-executed dishes..

Lure Fishbar

With locations in New York City, South Beach and now Chicago, Lure Fishbar lays out a spectacularly broad and deep selection of fish and seafood.

Spirit Elephant

Spirit Elephant is one of several breakthrough vegan restaurants in Chicago, offering food that will appeal to both omnivores and carnivores.

Monarch & Lion

Pubs are sprouting up like mushrooms all over Chicago, and Monarch & Lion is one of the very best.

Alla Vita

In late 2021, with a string of hit restaurants -- Girl & The Goat, Swift & Sons, and many, many others -- The Boka Group opened Alla Vita, a venture into a place serving traditional Italian red sauce dishes...with many creative innovations.

Kyuramen

Kyuramen, as the name implies, is a place for ramen, with locations across the country and around the world.

Bar Siena

Working off the success of Siena Tavern, DineAmic Group opened a two-story, 8,000-square-foot spin-off concept in the West Loop. Top Chef fan favorite and partner Fabio Viviani helms the culinary...

Ramova Grill & Taproom

The original Ramova Grill opened in 1929; in 2012,it closed; in 2024, it was reborn as Ramova Grill & Taproom.

Briny Swine

Born in Edisto Beach, South Carolina (see video), Briny Swine has come to Chicago, trailing the scent of beautifully barbecued meat (the swine) and freshly shucked oysters (that's the brine).

Vinci

Opened in 1991, Vinci is known for its rustic, traditional Italian fare, from signature polenta to house-made pastas.

The Graceful Ordinary

The Graceful Ordinary in St. Charles is described on their site as “a traditional tavern with a fresh twist: new, and yet familiar, which also describes our menu; prepared on an open hearth, we call it ‘rustic refined.’”

Anelya

Anelya is the latest effort from husband/wife team of Johnny Clark and Beverly Kim (Parachute, Wherewithall), who now serve up a menu of Ukranian classics.

Kapitan Peranakan cuisine

Ever had Peranakan cuisine? Probably not, but now you can eat this distinctive Asian food at Kapitan, which opened at the very end of 2020.

Yao Yao

Named a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant in late 2023, Yao Yao's signature dishes are pickled fish.

River North Bistro

Sometimes you just need a pleasant place for breakfast, lunch or a casual dinner; River North Bistro is that place.

Bar Mar by Jose Andres

The Bazaar and Bar Mar by José Andrés come to Chicago through the efforts of Michelin-starred chef José Andrés and his ThinkFoodGroup team. With ingenious cuisine and innovative cocktails, Bar...

Lilac Tiger

Lilac Tiger in Wicker Park looks like a dive bar, but it's actually a cool new South Asian restaurant.

Johnny Delmonico's

Johnny Delmonico's is a great American steakhouse in the classic tradition.

Eden in Chicago

Eden in Chicago (sometimes called just Eden) has relocated from Lake St. under the El to Roscoe Village, and the new place is beautiful.

Monarch and Lion

Chicagoans like pubs and, recently, our city has seen a lot of pubs opening up: Monarch and Lion is the newest entrant, and it promises to be one of the best.

Pompette

Billed as “Buck Town’s newest all-day neighborhood café and wine spot,” Pompette stands out in one of Chicago's most competitive, and undeniably hip, neighborhoods.

Bistro Monadnock

Bistro Monadnock is the newest in a line of French restaurants to open in the city in the past few years.

Wiener's Circle

By day, The Weiner's Circle is a routine hot dog stand, known for chardogs, charburgers and cheese fries, but late at night on the weekend, after the bars close, it becomes a raucous madhouse where the staff and customers hurl abuse at each other.

Daisy's Po' Boy and Tavern

Chef Erick Williams, owner of Virtue, Mustard Seed and Daisy's Po' Boy and Tavern is on fire, opening restaurants that consistently win local and national acclaim.

Don Bucio's Taqueria

Carne asada, tacos al pastor, birria, and other meat-centric dishes are a big part of what has made Mexican food a favorite; but you won't find any of that at Don Bucio's Taqueria.

Gaijin

Open mid-November 2019, Paul Virant’s Gaijin specializes in okonomiyaki, a kind of soft Japanese pancake, adorned with multiple toppings, including pork belly and octopus, and for dessert, kakigori, a shaved ice confection with syrups and ice cream buried in the center. ki.

Tlayudas Oaxaca Grill

Tlayudas Oaxaca Grill in Albany Park specializes in the tlayuda, a flat corn meal disk spread with beans and covered with many different toppings, popular in Oaxaca, Mexico, and sometimes called “the Mexican pizza.”

Chef Bill Kim's Pizza & Parm Shop

Chef Bill Kim, one of Chicago’s most revered chefs, made a name for himself at the Asian-influenced Urban Belly; now, Chef Kim is trying his hand at pizza, Detroit style, at his Chef Bill Kim’s Pizza & Parm Shop, with locations in Chicago and Oak Brook.

Lady May

Describing itself as an "elevated but never pretentious, libations driven eatery with coastal southern charm," Lady May promises to be both a fun and a delicious place to visit.

Coquette

Pink and Parisian are two words that describe Coquette, the latest offering from Bonhomme Hospitality Group (Celeste, Disco, Porto and many others).

Big Star Mariscos

Big Star Mariscos joins other One Off Hospitality restaurants and bars -- including The Publican and Violet Hour -- specializing in South of the Border seafood.

Guinness Open Gate Brewery

Guinness Open Gate Brewery is where River North, West Loop and River West come together, and it's becoming the place where people from these uber-hip neighborhoods and all over Chicagoland come together to hoist a beverage and have a bite.

Soul & Smoke -- Rockwell on the River

With hugely popular barbecue operations in Evanston and TimeOut Market, Soul & Smoke has opened perhaps its most picturesque location: Rockwell on the River in Chicago.

Kindling

Kindling offers live-fire cooking in Willis Tower, a Chicago landmark (that most locals still refer to as Sears Tower).

Pops for Champagne

The city's first-ever lounge dedicated to sparkling wine and Champagne continues to set the standards. The venue seamlessly pairs vino with a menu of smart small plates and raw bar items.

Labriola Ristorante & Cafe

On Chicago’s Near North Side, in an area that boasts what is likely Chicago’s (i.e., the world’s) richest selection of restaurants serving deep dish pizza, Labriola Ristorante & Café stands...

Akahoshi Ramen

Japanese cuisine is known for its elegant simplicity, and the newly opened Akahoshi Ramen follows that basic, elemental approach with a restaurant that's tightly focused on one classic Japanese food: ramen.

Margeaux Brasserie

One of the country's foremost celebrity chefs is finally in Chicago, as Michael Mina marks his local debut with this French stunner. Adjoined by a casual French patisserie called Petit Margeaux, this elegant brasserie on the third floor of the Waldorf Astoria Chicago hotel features all the upscale stylings one would expect of a Parisian parlor.

La Serre

La Serre is the latest from DineAmic Hospitality, which also is the restaurant group behind Bar Siena, Fioretta, and Lyra.

Wake n' Bacon

One of the newest restaurants in Chicago’s growing CBD-forward dining community, Wake n’ Bacon serves a breakfast, lunch and dinner (provided you eat early) of novel sweet and savory dishes.

Yococho

In a city like Chicago, it might seem like another Japanese restaurant is simply redundant; but Yococho is a Japanese restaurant with a difference.

Bar Goa

Goa is a city on the southwestern coast of India; it's a former Portuguese territory, and the food at Goa restaurant in Chicago reflects a blend of Indian and Portuguese culinary traditions.

Regalia

Regalia in Edgewater bills itself as "Traditional Italian with a Modern Twist."

sifr

Middle Eastern cuisine is generally viewed as heart-healthy and delicious, and sifr is one of the newest restaurants offering good-for-you and good-tasting food of the Middle East.

Nisos Mediterranean

"Nisos" means "island" in Greek, and the intent of owner Brad Parker and chef Avgaria Stapaki is to make your entry into Nisos Mediterranean feel just like you stepped off...

Café Sofie

Café Sophie is a well-curated market and café, perfect for picking up specialty items or having a special breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Thattu

There are many restaurants in Chicago serving regional Indian cuisine; Thattu is perhaps the first to focus on the food of Kerala in southern India.

Pomeroy

Pomeroy is inspired by the great bistros and cafes of France.

Le Colonial - Chicago

Le Colonial, with locations in New York and San Francisco, also boasts a popular outpost in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. After more than 20 years in its original space on Rush Street,

Maman Zari

Maman Zari announces that it offers a "Persian culinary experience," a rarity in Chicago.

Dear Margaret

Dear Margaret in Lakeview offers a type of “ethnic” cuisine rarely seen in Chicago: French-Canadian, the food of French immigrants who settled in the Great White North and brought their love of food with them

Girl and the Goat

"Top Chef" winner Stephanie Izard teamed up with restaurateurs Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz to open a casual yet trendy eatery in the West Loop in July 2010.

Khmai Cambodian Fine Dining

Khmai Cambodian Fine Dining is one of the few places serving Cambodian food in the Midwest, and they do a wonderful job of it.

Bokuchan

Avondale’s Bokuchan, Chicago’s first dedicated Japanese curry shop, opened recently for takeout and delivery only, and the food is designed to travel well without everything sloshing together. It’s that kind of thoughtfulness that sets Bokuchan apart.

Loaf Lounge

Loaf Lounge in Avondale is a counter-service, casual place, serving up outstanding sandwiches and baked goods.

Brasserie by C & C

About twelve years ago, Cookies & Carnitas opened in Edgewater and made a name for itself serving the eponymous foods and creating a neighborhood spot that garnered excellent reviews and neighborhood love.

Adorn

Adorn at the Four Seasons is a lively new restaurant from James Beard award-winning Chef Jonathon Sawyer, serving exceptional food and full of surprises.

Adobo Grill (Old Town)

Beginning with a choice of dozens of tequilas and tableside guacamole, these lively restaurants feature carefully researched regional dishes from all over Mexico, creatively prepared by Freddy Sanchez

Bistronomic, 840 N. Wabash Ave.

Paris-born chef Martial Noguier is behind this award-winning bistro showcasing the best from his homeland. Bistronomic is one of the trendy Gold Coast neighborhood's most sophisticated, under-the-radar restaurants in an area teeming with such gems.

Jook Sing

Jook Sing is a West Town bar and restaurant inspired by the night markets of Southeast Asian countries like China, Korea, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

Indienne

When visiting Indienne, you can leave your preconceived notions of Indian cuisine at the door.

Vinny's Clam Bar

Vinny's Clam Bar goes for the vibe of an old-timey clam shack, only one with excellent seafood all around and a very good bar.

Adoro Fusion Kitchen + Bar

Chicago loves Mexican restaurants, and we have a lot of them; Adoro Fusion Kitchen + Bar is one of the newest.

Roux

Charlie McKenna, perhaps best known for his north side barbecue restaurant Lillie's Q, is bringing his magic to Hyde Park with Roux.

Bombola

Bombola is yet another exotic restaurant offering from the Bonhomme Hospitality Group, joining their many fine dining and drinking establishments like Porto, Bordel, and Beatnik.

Omakase Shoji

In a city with what seems like hundreds of sushi restaurants, Omakase Shoji stands above the crowd.

Coco Pazzo

Tuscan-inspired dishes such as wood-roasted rack of pork and salmon highlight the menu at this River North favorite, which also offers a a well-rounded, Wine Spectator Award-wining, Italian wine list...

Costera Cocina Tulum

Costera Cocina Tulum, as the name implies, is coastal cooking in the style of Tulum, a city on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula.

Selva

Billing itself as a "secluded sanctuary on top of The Emily Hotel," Selva is where you want to be on a summer night.

El Solazo

El Solazo, a family-owned Mexican restaurant in Archer Heights, is the sister restaurant to La Josie on Randolph Restaurant Row in the West Loop.

Goose Island Salt Shed Pub

A brewpub with a riverfront patio sounds like a place that will make a lot of Chicagoans happy.

Vistro Prime

Executive Chef/Owner Virant -- the man behind Vistro Prime -- is an author and canning expert, and his food can be enjoyed at Vie, Gaijin...and now Vistro Prime.

Mart Anthony's

Mart Anthony's is your home for authentic Italian cooking. We have been serving traditional Italian food to the Chicagoland community since 1981.

Mable's Table

Now open in Bucktown's former, longstanding Jane's space, Mable's Table is an homage to moms from chef Anthony Reyes. In a world where fast-casual restaurants are dominating the dining landscape,

Bambola

Bambola is a recent addition to the Bonhomme Hospitality Group's restaurant portfolio, joining others like Porto, Beatnik, Bordel, Disco and Celeste.

Land & Lake Ravenswood

Land & Lake in Ravenswood is the newest location for a restaurant group that has proven itself in Andersonville and in the Loop on Wacker Drive.

Dearly Beloved

Dearly Beloved is a "cocktail restaurant," and it's delivering exceptional drinks and food, both prepared with great creativity and finesse.

Flour Power

During the pandemic, restaurants opened with an eye toward weathering the health crisis with business models designed to keep customers and staff safe in these worst of times; Flour Power is built around the concept of pasta for take-out, though it has the indoor space that will open up when the pandemic passes..

Zentli

"Zentli" means "corn" in Nahuatl, the ancient language of the Aztec, and corn is used in just about every dish served at Zentli.

Argot

Argot is a new place for French bistro food in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Helmand

One of the big advantages of living in, or visiting, Chicago, is that the diverse population means there will be restaurants that serve food many of us have never had before: Helmand serves the food of Afghanistan, which is not well-known in the U.S.

Provare

Provare balances -- beautifully -- between Italian and Creole culinary traditions, drawing a little from each to create dishes with big flavors.

UMMO

There's been more than a little buzz about UMMO, the new Italian restaurant opening in the Hubbard Street party zone.

The Violet Hour

An obsession with customized ice, no cell phones and low-key sounds is this stylish speakeasy's claim to fame. Also its dedication to a well-crafted cocktail, whether classic or contemporary.

Angelina Ristorante

Loyal neighborhood clientele flock to the warm, yellow-hued dining room for the Sunday champagne brunch and weeknight specials such as Tuesday's three-course prix-fixe menu and Wednesday's Neighborhood Night 20% off your bill. - Metromix

Pizano's Pizza

My father, Rudy Malnati Sr. opened his first restaurant, Pizzeria Uno, in 1943. Located in Chicago, he featured “Deep Dish Pizza”, an innovative creation that made a meal of pizza,...

FARE

They say breakfast is the "most important meal of the day," and if you have breakfast at FARE, that maxim will most definitely prove true.

Alpana

Alpana is the namesake restaurant of Alpana Singh, former host of "Check, Please!" and the youngest woman and first Asian American to become a Master Sommelier.

Frontera Grill

Description: Rick Bayless' famed restaurant brings its guests Mexico one plate at a time. Frontera Grill uses organic and custom-grown ingredients to bring diners bold flavors and immediate freshness in every dish

Little Goat

Stephanie Izard's contemporary diner concept opened late December 2012. It's part of the BOKA Restaurant Group and includes artisan coffee and bread service

Kappy's Restaurant & Pancake House - Morton Grove

Diner-style eatery serving pancakes, crêpes & waffles plus American fare & global entrees.

GoodFunk

Goodfunk is the latest offering from Bonhomme Hospitality, which also brought to Chicago signature dining and drinking establishments like Porto, Bambola, Kashmir and Coquette.

Roberto's Ristorante & Pizzeria

Pizzas, authentic Italian cuisine and seafood are the specialties at Roberto's.

Gretel

Gretel, a name that conjures a fairytale from our collective childhoods, offers the kind of comfort food designed to make you feel good in even the worst of times.

Kashmir

Do you like to drink and dance with beautiful people? Yes?! Then Kashmir is for you.

Petite Vie

Chef Paul Virant made his mark with Vie, the celebrated farm-to-table restaurant in Western Springs.

Big Star Wrigleyville

A hit the first day it opened in Wicker Park, Big Star is finally getting an outpost. The second location is set to open spring 2018 in Wrigleyville, just across...

Tetto Chicago

Chicago winters get a bad rap, and maybe some of that is deserved, so when it's warm out, Chicagoans flock to sidewalk cafes and rooftop bars, like the new one at Tetto Chicago.

APart Pizza

...Apart serves awesome thin crust pizza – perhaps the best in Chicago – Chicago Tribune

Pizzeria Due

Chicago pizza institution with an old-time feel baking deep-dish crusts laden with cheese & sauce.

Land & Lake Andersonville

Land & Lake Andersonville is the casual, cool place to go for breakfast/brunch and dinner in Andersonville.

Schwa

Michael Carlson's acclaimed, tiny BYOB offers creative three- and nine-course degustation menus.

Parkers' Restaurant & Bar

At Parkers’ call it gourmet comfort, we dish up sumptuous cuisine and serve it in an atmosphere that is free of pretension and loaded with ease. Dine with us for lunch or dinner and you’ll find the west side’s most compelling selection of

Big Star

Bustling and bursting with energy, bourbon, beer and tacos, Big Star in Wicker Park is one of the all-star restaurants operated by Chicago Chef Paul Kahan (Blackbird, Publican, and others)...

Autre Monde Cafe & Spirits

Minimalist space serving seasonal Mediterranean dinner menu, artisanal wines & small-batch spirits.

Pazzo's - 311 S. Wacker

Our chefs are encouraged to personalize their menus to meet the needs and desires of their guests. Like their European inspirations, Pazzo's are intended to be as much a part of their communities as they are dining destinations. Located in one of Chicago's most beautiful buildings. Pazzo's at 311 offers a spectacular atrium setting with private rooms, contemporary menu and impeccable service. Specializing in weddings and private events, this is the most unique, best kept secret in Chicago.

Ace Bakery

Ace Bakery has been baking custom-made cakes for four generations. Today, the bakery serves over 25,000 party cakes a year.

Bagel Restaurant & Deli - Chicago

Jewish deli/diner with an extensive menu that includes faves like bagels, blintzes & matzo balls.

3 Little Pigs

At Humboldt Park's 3 Little Pigs, chef Henry Cai serves up "untraditionally authentic Chinese American food."

Athenian Room

LOCATED IN THE HEART OF LINCOLN PARK FOR THE PAST 38 YEARS, GREAT GREEK/AMERICAN FOOD FOR GREAT PRICES

Sayat Nova

Sayat Nova dishes are meant to be shared, enjoyed, savored. Grilled meats are our specialty. Vegetarian options are plentiful.

Palmer Place Restaurant and Bier Garten

Comfortable site for American bar chow, burgers & a variety of beers, with rooftop & patio seating.

Lou Mitchell's

Iconic diner that's been serving hearty breakfasts & lunches since 1923.

Blue Door Farmstand

Blue Door Farmstand is where you want to go when what you're looking for is a vegetable-centered meal in a homey, undeniably comfortable atmosphere.

Soulé

Soulé is the first fine dining restaurant of its kind to locate in south Lawndale...in the past fifty years.

Nora

Gone are the days when hotel restaurants were an after-thought; Nora, the restaurant in the St. Clair, is the centerpiece of this classic Chicago hotel.

Allen Brothers

Allen Brothers has supplied prime beef to the top steakhouses in America for generations. Home cooks can order the same quality meat through the company's catalog.

Dee's

Since it’s opening in 1983, Dee’s Mandarin and Sushi Lounge has served the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Dee’s is now open for only carry out and delivery.

Les Nomades

The legendary French restaurant opened in 1970 and continues to thrive in Streeterville as one of the top destinations for fine dining. It's housed in a turn-of-the-century brownstone with the original woodwork and wood-burning fireplaces.

Mesa Urbana

Mesa Urbana, located in a peaceful Lincoln Park neighborhood, brings together world cuisines -- French, Asian, Mediterranean, India and Latin American -- with a menu of outstanding dishes that honor culinary traditions while innovating on traditional dishes with tasteful creativity.

The Fifty/50

This casual watering hole boasts three levels, two full bars and 19 flatscreen TVs. The menu includes house-smoked barbecue, f

The Albion Manor

The Albion Manor and The Parlour are a new one-two dining and drinking punch that will knock you out with outstanding British pub food and marvelous cocktails.

Libertad

Manny's Coffee Shop & Deli - South Loop

Even Barack Obama eats at Manny's! This venerable cafeteria has been serving big corned-beef sandwiches and hearty entrees since 1942.

Athena Greek Restaurant

Located at the heart of downtown Chicago, Athena Greek Restaurant was established in 1997. Since our beginning, we've strived to provide our customers with excellent quality Greek cuisine. In an effort to guide our Patrons through a journey full of flavors, Athena has become the medium between the ancient Greek tradition and the modern western world.

Il Milanese Ristorante

Most of us are familiar with the pizza of Naples and the Bolognese sauce from Bologna, but the food of Milan has yet to make its presence felt in Chicago; Il Mil Ristorante is going to change all that.

Uncle Julio's Hacienda - Chicago

Tex-Mex chain serving mesquite-grilled fare & margarita-sangria swirls in a hacienda-style space.

Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba

It’s been about 35 years since Café Ba-Ba-Reeba opened in Chicago and in doing so kicked off the tapas trend that’s become common in many restaurants, some of which are not even Spanish. Now, Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba is opening a little further north, serving another community with the Spanish food that goes way beyond the tapas the Café helped popularize.

Black Dog Gelato

Already popular at farmers markets and restaurants like Girl and the Goat around town, Black Dog Gelato opened a storefront in June 2010 in Ukrainian Village.

Tree House

A place named “Tree House” has got to be fun, right? Right! Fun and food is exactly what you’ll find at Tree House, a restaurant that plans to strike the perfect “balance between a nostalgic, family-oriented restaurant, and a bar with exciting nightlife.”

Big Kids

Chef Ryan Pfeiffer, formerly of the legendary and now shuttered Blackbird, is reaching back to the comfort foods of his childhood: sandwiches. Heads up: some of these sandwiches are rather unusual.

Alinea

James Beard Award winner Grant Achatz, who won the coveted "Outstanding Chef Award" in 2008, is one of the city's most acclaimed chefs. His unique, cutting-edge cuisine, full of twists and turns, comes with equally remarkable service, and an extremely high price.

Pat's Pizza

"It was originally established in 1950 at 3114 N. Sheffield Ave. by my father, Nick Pianetto, Sr. My name is Nick. My son's name is Nick. My nephew's name is Nick. My grandson's name is Nick. My nephew's son's name is Nick, and my dog's name is Nikko."

Ørkenoy

Ørkenoy in Humboldt Park is part of a new generation of Chicago restaurants: recently opened in the Kimball Arts Center, this artist-influenced casual operation opened in mid-September, 2020, with a carryout window and a dining area, the better to serve us all during the pandemic.

Oceanique

Oceanique is an eclectic seafood restaurant in the French-American style. Oceanique continues to garner acclaim as one of the Chicago area's finest restaurants. Since 1993, Oceanique has been ranked as the number one seafood restaurant in the Chicago metropolitan area by the prestigious Zagat Guide.

Biaggi's Restaurante Italiano-Naperville

Chain outpost serving a large menu of Italian fare plus specialty cocktails in a laid-back setting.

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine

The food at Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine looks so, so good: colorful, glistening, approachable.

EL Ideas

Former MeatyBalls food truck owner Phillip Foss opened a ballsy, six-seater in the heart of Pilsen to explore the food he really wants to cook. To snag a hard-to-get reservation, email reservations@ELideas.com.

Tala House

You want a casual place to hang out with your buds and not blow a whole paycheck? Fala House.

Coalfire Pizza

With two locations in West Town and Lakeview, Coalfire serves an American spin on traditional Neapolitan-style pizza. Its signature: a thin crust emerging slightly charred and bubbly from an 800-degree oven fueled by clean burning coal.

Devon Seafood -Oakbrook Terrace

Devon Seafood Grill is an upscale seafood restaurant offering simply-prepared fresh fish, premium steaks, an impressive wine cellar and handcrafted cocktails.

Mel's Craft BBQ

Mel's Craft BBQ is creating quite a stir in the (admittedly relatively small) world of barbecue in Chicagoland.

Gino's East - River North

Grafitti-covered, tourist-filled flagship location of a venerable Chicago pizza chain known for its deep-dish pizzas

Pelago

Located in Chicago’s Gold Coast just steps off Michigan Avenue and surrounded by the most prestigious stores and residences, PELAGO is quietly nestled in the Hotel Raffaello. With years of experience in hospitality, their staff will be ‘at your service’ seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

Wherewithall

Chef/owners Johnny Clark and Beverly Kim describe their restaurant Wherewithall as “contemporary American with a menu that reflects Chicago’s evolving diversity.”

Edwardo's Natural Pizza

Don't let "natural" put you off — this is great pizza! Arguably the best stuffed pizza in Chicagoland.

Sable Kitchen & Bar

This New American gastro-lounge is located on the first floor of the Palomar Hotel and the kitchen is overseen by Executive Chef Lawrence Letrero.

Logan Square Kitchen

Logan Square Kitchen advocates for food entrepreneurs and our food system. We teach food safety classes and provide technical assistance to the food industry.

Elia

Elia means "olive tree" in Greek, and it's also the name of a new modern Mediterranean restaurant in Chicago's Wicker Park.

Sepia

Sepia’s approach to modern American cuisine is unpretentious and understated. There are three areas in which to dine: in the main dining room, a circular, semi-private dining section for about 14, and the spacious front-room lounge.

Tapas Gitana

Popular neighborhood haunt offering variety of Spanish small plates & paella plus an outdoor patio.

Steingold's

Steingold’s in North Center has been a leader of the deli avant garde, a “newish” kind of delicatessen that features traditional menu items – pastrami, matzoh ball soup, bagels – with a twenty-first century twist.

Café Ba-Ba-Reeba

Chicago's first tapas bar is still going strong. Drop in for sherry and a pre-theater nibble at happy hour or stay for a wide variety of tapas or larger meals, including paella. A variety of special events, such as flamenco dancing and art talks, feature regularly.

Uproar

It’s not easy opening a bar or a restaurant during an international pandemic, but Uproar is proving that with the right high-quality comfort food, a restaurant can weather any storm.

Duran European Sandwiches Cafe

Vie Restaurant

A destination spot in Western Springs for finely crafted American cuisine with an emphasis on locally grown ingredients, Vie is owned by acclaimed chef Paul Virant.

Weather Mark Tavern

The nautically themed bar is a neighborhood favorite in the South Loop. You'll find typical American fare on the menu, including burgers, sandwiches and pastas.

The Publican

This homage to beer, pork and fish from chefs Paul Kahan and Brian Huston proffers hand-selected, sustainably harvested fish and seafood as well as

O'Brien's Riverwalk Cafe

Enjoy a fine dining experience on the Chicago River!

Obrien's Riverwalk Café is located at 45 East Riverwalk South (Along the South side of the Chicago River At Wabash and Wacker).

Pink Monkey

Upscale adult entertainment nightclub is in the heart of downtown.

Kasama

In Ukrainian Village, Kasama is a modern Filipino restaurant with an onsite bakery, offering freshly made products you won’t find anywhere else in the city of Chicago.

Nia

Featuring Mediterranian-style small plates and drinks, with highlights such as the Nia Sangria (berry flavored), several cocktails made with fresh juices and a bold, very gold interior. The 50-seater Nia is housed in a former alterations shop, an all-new space with state-of-the-art equipment.

Mordecai

Matthias Merges' brings to Chicago's northside one of the most exciting bars and restaurants in the city.

Mizrahi Grill

The Highland Park deli prides itself on meat that has been farm raised and hormone free. The venue also holds claims that it has passed thorough inspections to be deemed Kosher. Many of the recipes found at Mizrahi Grill have been passed down through generations.

Doc B's Fresh Kitchen

Doc B's Fresh Kitchen is just what the doctor ordered. The Gold Coast restaurant traffics is "fresh-casual" cuisine, with menus offered morning through night featuring the freshest ingredients in wholesome preparations.

PB&J

PB&J. No, that’s not just a reference to every kid’s favorite sandwich; it’s the name of a bar in the West Loop that’s offering up Pizza, Beer and a Juke Box loaded with killer tunes.

Butcher & the Burger

An innovative dining concept that places a modern spin on the old-fashioned butcher shop. At this 30-seat, counter-service restaurant, Al Sternweiler combines his love of burgers with a desire to provide diners with access to prime cuts of locally sourced meats to take home, prepared dishes and an outstanding selection of burgers to be served in-house.

Oakville Grill & Cellar

From Lettuce Entertain You, Chicago's premier restaurant group, comes Oakville Grill & Cellar, bringing a new level of restaurant dining to Chicago's Fulton Market neighborhood.

Yasotorn

This comfortable Southeast Asian restaurant serves warming – yet light and tropical – dishes from Thailand

goosefoot

Former Les Nomades Executive Chef Chris Nugent breaks out on his own with this neighborhood-friendly offering in Lincoln Square. The restaurant’s focus is high-quality seasonal ingredients, and guests choose from the eight-course or 12-course menus.

Izakaya at Momotaro

An izakaya is a traditional type of Japanese bar, with food designed to pair well with beer and sake.

Hinoki Sushiko

Hinoki Susiko is an intimate, two-level restaurant with two distinctly different rooms, serving extremely high-quality sushi and other Japanese cooked items.