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A couple of decades ago, when Rick Bayless and his wife, Deann, opened Frontera Grill, River North was still seen as a dicey part of town. In fact, anything west of Michigan Avenue was suspect. How times change. Now the mammoth Chicago Merchandise Mart anchors River North, where art and design trades patronize the area's hot spots, including Slurping Turtle, Gilt Bar, and Paris Club Bistro & Bar, as well as its refined restaurants, such as mk, Naha, and Topolobampo. Meanwhile the nearby Near North district, home to shopping's Magnificent Mile and the residential Gold Coast, specializes in upscale restaurants that suit the clientele like a bespoke suit. The Magnificent Mile is the land of posh hotels (Sofitel and Park Hyatt) and their sleek dining rooms (Café des Architectes and NoMI Kitchen, respectively), as well as stand-alone stars like TRU, Spiaggia, and Les Nomades. Head north on Wells Street to Old Town, or expect to spend a fair bit on dinner.
A Spanish expat from Galicia runs this tapas restaurant beloved by visiting Spaniards, local families, dating couples, and bargain chowhounds for the selection of shareable classic and creative small plates, most for under $10 and featuring a range of meat, seafood, and veggie options. This is a loud and boisterous spot, so be prepared for conviviality—but sometimes on weekends waits can stretch to hours.
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