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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.
Although the steaks at this cozy brasserie are executed to perfection (you can also buy them to take away from the on-site butcher counter), this isn't just another Chicago steak house. Chefs Brian Ahern and Jamie Finnegan are informed by classical French training and many of the most memorable dishes are anchored not by beef but fresh seasonal produce. The cocktails are darned good too.
Chicago movers and shakers mingle with conventioneers at Gibsons, a lively, homegrown, Gold Coast steak house renowned for overwhelming portions, good service, and celebrity spotting. Generous prime steaks and chops are the focus of the menu, but there are plenty of fish options, too. Save room for the excellent desserts and be prepared to share, since the portions could feed a table of four.
Famed Cubs announcer Harry Caray died in 1998, but his legend lives on as fans continue to pour into the namesake restaurant—where Harry frequently held court—for Italian-American specialties, prime steaks and chops, and ice-cold martinis. If you're looking for a classic Chicago spot to catch a game, the generally thronged bar serves items off the restaurant menu. You can also follow the summer crowds to Navy Pier and the Harry Caray's outpost there.
This high-end, innovative take on the traditional steak house is a natural fit for the Gold Coast. Chef Danny Grant crafts decadent dishes that appeal to high rollers, groups of friends, and date nights. Select a cut of steak or seafood cooked in the wood-fired hearth, or try the $200 “I Don't Give a F*@k” menu for a tour of the restaurant’s top dishes without having to make any decisions.
The specialty at the Loop location of Morton's, one of Chicago's premiere steak houses, is a 14-ounce (or more) taste of heaven for meat lovers. Excellent service and a solid wine list add to the principal attraction: beautiful, hefty steaks cooked to perfection. Non–meat eaters aren’t left out of the fun, thanks to notable seafood offerings and plenty of salads.
Cuts of all-natural Black Angus beef, dry-aged in-house, are the star of the show at this expansive steak house. The 1920s-inspired decor is upscale but not oppressive, and the menu checks all the classic steak house boxes, from a well-curated wine list to classic sides and rich desserts.
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