Best Dinner Places to Eat in Crestwood

"Alinea is Chicago’s only three-star Michelin restaurant, but sister restaurants Next and Roister each have a star of their own (and offer takeout); the Alinea Group is the most decorated restaurant group in the city. Founded in 2005 by Chef Grant Achatz and Tock creator Nick Kokonas, Alinea is more of an immersive flavor experience than a conventional restaurant. Which makes it all the more impressive that they have translated their food-art into a take out format."

"Restaurants Contemporary American Lincoln Park. Culinary mastermind Grant Achatz uses his three-Michelin-star restaurant in Lincoln Park as a stage. Sit back and enjoy the show, a well-orchestrated ride that plays with textures, temperatures and notions of “normal” cuisine, while somehow remaining grounded in season, flavor and flawless execution."

"The 21st century pandemic has caused too many restaurants to put up the padlocks, however, some have managed to successfully shift to delivery and take-out exclusively. One of note is the trailblazing Mediterranean restaurant, avec, offering take-out for the first time from classic small dishes such as bacon-wrapped Medjool dates and potato and salted cod brandade with garlic bread and chives to their bestselling "around the world" wine dinners..."

"West LoopThis long-revered Mediterranean-influenced fixture from One Off Hospitality has held it down as one of the area’s go-to date night spots since opening its minimalist doors back in 2003, well before many of us could even define romance. And not much has changed -- the wine list is still spectacular, the chorizo-stuffed medjool dates are still iconic, and a reservation for the intimate front patio is still highly coveted."

"The gist: Newly minted with two Michelin stars, chef Curtis Duffy and business partner Michael Muser create a whimsical prix-fixe that reflects Duffy’s refined, seasonally-driven approach in a gorgeously designed room filled with playful energy that bucks expectations in the best way possible. The food: Now that the dining room has reopened, the Ever Experience comprises eight to 10 (sometimes more) courses featuring colorful compositions like scallop with hon-shimeji mushrooms and ramps, hamachi with finger limes and ginger, and Miyazaki beef with kohlrabi and anchovy. As the seasons change, so do the dishes, so you’re likely to enjoy new preparations and surprises whenever you dine.The cost: Tasting menus $285 per person.How to book: Reserve via Tock."

"Chef Curtis Duffy was a superstar while Grace earnned awards along Randolph Street, and he’s brought that energy a few blocks west to Fulton Market where Ever opened in 2020. The pandemic has forced Ever to be disciplined; Duffy is offering only one tasting menu (vegetarians will be accommodated). But the heavy metal-listening chef remains committed to showing off precise techniques with playful execution."

"Ever, the new venture from Grace’s former chef Curtis Duffy and GM Micheal Muser, promises to offer an experience of a lifetime. The wait is already a month out with reservations starting in October for the 8- to 10-course meal that will last 2 and a half hours and feature proteins from the land and sea as well as seasonal vegetables."

"The eclectic menu deftly combines traditional French and Japanese fare but don't expect any sushi here. For example, you'll find spring rolls filled with goat cheese and chicken, and shiitake mushrooms liven up leek and brie tarts. The menu includes a nice selection of vegetarian options such as crispy pizza and handmade pastas."

"For 30-plus years, Yoshi Katsumura has stayed true to his instincts rather than to fashion. Seafood offerings and a wagyu beef bento box star on the regular menu; daily specials, such as grilled jumbo sea scallops and soft-shell crab tempura, keep things lively.D Tue–Sun."

"Dig into slabs of hickory-smoked baby backs in a sweet sauce and au gratin potatoes rich as Rockefeller. (See ribs.com for Deerfield location.)L & D daily. Wheelchair accessible, child friendly, outdoor dining.$"

"The menu offers intriguing choices, such as beef tongue in XO sauce and fried pigeon, alongside satisfying rice casseroles loaded with meats. To-go ordering is available here. View this post on Instagram"

"Golden Bull Restaurant is a Chinese eatery with a modern dining room specializing in Cantonese seafood. Popular menu items include crab rangoon, Mongolian beef, and sesame chicken."

"Oz Park is an ode to author L Frank Baum’s most famous book, The Wizard of Oz. Baum was a resident of the surrounding Lincoln Park neighborhood back in the 1890s, before it became the established community it is today. Between 1995 and 2007, the Oz Park Advisory Council commissioned sculptures of the book’s characters including the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and Dorothy and Toto."

"OZ Park is a community garden that celebrates a fun-filled “The Wizard of Oz” theme. The park features “Dorothy’s Playlot”, with play equipment for young children to climb, swing, and run. Families can then leisurely enjoy their afternoon among the beautiful flowers in the “Emerald Garden”."

"Tucked away at the edge of Lincoln Park that juts out into Lake Michigan, the Montrose Bird Sanctuary is a 15-acre wooded respite that features a few peaceful mulch-covered hiking trails to stroll through. What was once a site of Army barracks from the ’50s to the ’70s is now one of the best places in the area to spot a few of the tens of thousands of migratory birds from more than 300 different species that reportedly stop for some green space along their trek along the lake. Within the sanctuary, a 150-yard stretch of honeysuckle bushes has been nicknamed “The Magic Hedge,” because it attracts an especially high number of migratory birds."

"UptownThis more laid-back section of Montrose Beach is both a dune habitat and a bird sanctuary, as well as one of the best spots for trail hiking in the city with killer skyline views. If that’s not enough, there’s also a beach bar. And a damn fine beach bar at that."