Mentioned by Spoon University
The 25 Best Restaurants in Chicago, According to a Local
"A Randolph Street stalwart that dishes out Midwestern-influenced Mediterranean fare with a killer wine list to match. Why we love it: We have to believe that there are very few restaurants in the world that are as consistently special as avec. It's the kind of spot that makes us swell with pride for our dining scene, the kind of place we can't help but flock to even though there are plenty of newcomers to try."
"For those of you who prefer fine dining, this is more of an upscale restaurant experience. Blackbird is a restaurant where you’ll find fantastic mid-western food showcasing farm-to-table ingredients. They offer great choices for meat eaters and vegetarians alike."
"Housed in a light-filled room with high ceilings and hanging ferns, Summer House recreates the magic of Southern California even in the dead of a Chicago winter. Using seasonal and local ingredients, trained chefs create fare that’s inspired by California but with a Midwestern heart. Kids can choose from quesadillas, burgers, grilled cheese, chicken fingers, or the ever-popular Breakfast for Dinner option."
"Never again choose between a chocolate-chip cookie and a Rice Krispie treat. This slightly salty and super-fudgy cookie is studded with chunks of the classic bar. The whole thing is massive, yet you’ll find yourself refusing to share."
"Description: Summer House Santa Monica will transport you to the warmth of California. Try the Avocado Toast with perfectly poached eggs & house made bread!. Location: 1954 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614"
"Behold the denizens of their cookie plate ($9): Two each of Chocolate Chip and Candied Ginger, and a tender and buttery Lemon Bar."
"A second outpost of Midwestern-focused restaurant Land & Lake has taken over the former Passerotto space in Andersonville. On weekends, the daytime menu boasts salads, sandwiches, pastas, and more. To top it off, diners can add bottomless mimosas for $18."
"Be fast to sample some of the amazing signatures dished prepared by a highly skilled gourmet chef. Select one of the sophisticated meals from the food menu and don’t forget to check out the amazing beverage menu filled with thirst-quenching drinks and wine collection selected from the best boutique wine, the perfect food accompaniment. Reserve a table and come and experience the true meaning of fine dining."
"Restaurants Contemporary American River West/West Town. The first thing you'll notice about Temporis is the noise level—or lack thereof. Even when it's filled to capacity, the handsome 20-seat dining room maintains a hushed tone."
"This upscale spot is now offering food for carryout and delivery. You can get a dinner for two (with dishes like short rib with jasmine fried rice and an arugula salad) or order a la carte."
"Just try looking at pictures of food from Temporis and not wanting to try it. These culinary works of art seem too beautiful to destroy but the taste is always worth it."
"Diners who have managed to snag a rare reservation at El Ideas should prepare for anything – if they can even find the restaurant. Directions to the restaurant read, “Turn down the dead-end street; EL ideas is the only business whose windows look out onto the street. There is no signage.” The next line should read, “Good luck."
"Restaurants Ice cream parlors Edgewater. With locations in Edgewater and West Rogers Park, this custard shop is a community staple for families and sugar fiends alike. Guests can get their custard by the cone or dish or have it whipped into a sundae or concrete."
"All Loyola students know that this is the place to get your ice cream fix when school starts. While their custard is amazing on their own, you have to try one of their concretes."
"Evanston & Navy PierAfter relocating to the States from Buenos Aires, cousins Sebastián Koziura and Enrique Schcolnik missed the moments they shared indulging in dulce de leche gelato with their grandmother. Thus, they decided to transport the sweet treat to Chicago with FRIO, a family-owned gelatería featuring Argentine favorites like Sambayon, Malbec Wine with Berries, Tramontana, and, of course, Dulce de Leche. The offerings range far beyond these, though, with up to 36 flavors in the portfolio including hyper seasonal musts like avocado, pumpkin, and white chocolate.How to book: Stop by for counter service or order delivery via GrubHub, DoorDash, or UberEats."
"Must Try: Fragola Camarosa This boutique gelato shop off State Street in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood boasts exotic, European flavors. They serve gelato in ice cream sandwiches, cones, and there are even dishes where the ice cream is scooped and molded into the shape of a rose served with a mouth-watering macaron on top. This popular spot just opened a brand new shop in Water Tower Place making gelato a perfect snack to grab after an afternoon of shopping along the Magnificent Mile."
"This Michael Mina-run brasserie may be inside the luxe Waldorf Astoria hotel, but that doesn’t make it a stuffy affair. Just keep an eye out for the “Chariot de Rosé”—a roving bar cart of rosé hand-picked by the somms. Diners are a mix of done-up travelers and foodies looking for a quiet, civilized meal (though they’re as amped as twenty-somethings at a taco truck to tuck into Michael Mina's classic French preparations)."
"If you're going to create a space reminiscent of a particular time, place and spirit, 1920's Paris would be it. Margeaux Brasserie is Chef Michael Mina's "moveable feast" to double metaphor Hemingway's ode to the city of the 20's. The restaurant's traditional brasserie fare is enlivened by Midwestern ingredients and bonhomie."
"Celebrity chef Michael Mina made his Chicago debut over the summer inside the Waldorf Astoria. His sultry brasserie combines 1920s glam with traditional fare for lavish dining experience. Nibble on duck wings à l'orange and escargots à la bordelaise or indulge in a pristine shellfish tower."