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Sure, this city has great architecture, museums, and sports venues. But at its heart, Chicago is really a food town. This is evident in the priority that good eating takes, no matter the occasion. Rain or shine, locals will wait in a line that snakes around the corner for dolled-up doughnuts at Doughnut Vault. They’ll reserve part of their paychecks to dine at inventive Alinea. And they love to talk about their most recent meal—just ask.
It's no wonder that outdoor festivals are often centered on food, from Taste of Chicago in summer, which packs the grounds at Grant Park, to smaller celebrations, like the German-American fest in Lincoln Square, a mini-Oktoberfest in fall.
Although the city has always had options on the extreme ends of the spectrum—from the hole-in-the wall Italian beef sandwich shops to the special-occasion spots—it's now easier to find eateries in the middle that serve seasonal menus with a farm-to-table mantra. For the budget conscious, it's also a great time to dine: some talented chefs aren't bothering to wait for a liquor license, opening BYOB spots turning out polished fare (just try Ruxbin in West Town).
Expect to see more Chicago chefs open casual concepts—Rick Bayless, Paul Kahan, and Michael Kornick have a head start with their respective sandwich, taco, and burger spots. Yet the goal remains the same: to feed a populace that knows good food and isn't willing to accept anything less than the best. In the following pages, you'll find our top picks, from quick bites to multicourse meals, in the city's best dining neighborhoods.
Regularly named among the city's best wine bars, this Roscoe Village staple has a delightful patio for alfresco sipping and snacking. Chef Stephen Dunne's vino-friendly menu of New American plates pairs deliciously with a vast wine list that has plenty of by-the-glass options. Stop in during happy hour for some excellent pricing on oysters, wines on tap, and a special "spritz" menu.
The Wildfire kitchen's wood-burning oven is visible from the dining room at this cozy supper club-style steak house that plays a soundtrack of vintage jazz. No culinary innovations here, just exceptional cuts of meat and top-quality seafood.
You can eavesdrop on advertising types who do the after-five mix-and-mingle at this spot on the ground floor of the Leo Burnett Building. When it comes to the menu, there's no shortage of choices: fish and shellfish entrées come in various preparations, from grilled to seared to baked. Classic surf-and-turf combinations like Atlantic cold-water lobster tail and filet mignon mingle alongside Asian-inspired dishes like lemongrass shrimp and yellowfin tuna sashimi. The restaurant, with its marble, granite, and beautifully set woodwork, is an inviting space to relax, and the multilevel dining room provides plenty of eye candy, plus glimpses of the Chicago River beyond. A local jazz trio performs on Tuesday through Saturday evenings.
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