Best Fine Dining in Downers Grove Township

"Chicago’s only three Michelin star restaurant, Alinea has been around almost 15 years and still books up months in advance. The brainchild of acclaimed chef Grant Achatz who became one of the best chefs in the world despite battling tongue cancer, that’s just one of their impressive feats. It was the first restaurant to pioneer the concept of prepaid ticketed reservations, pricing meals on a sliding scale based on date and time (Friday at 7 p.m. would be more expensive than Tuesday at 5 p.m.) in order to show that dining is an experience akin to the theatre."

"We came here with a group of friends and left stuffed and satisfied with the courses that were prepared and presented. There's just something about ..."

"Rooftop restaurants Chicago, Shanghai Terrace | Photocredit: www.peninsula.com/. Set 4 floors up at the five star hotel The Peninsula Chicago, Shanghai Terrace is a offers both a lovely rooftop terrace and a great Chinese restaurant. >Here you find an indoor restaurant with a 1930s supper club décor, and a stylish decorated terrace with dining tables, cabanas and comfy lounge sofas along with cool views of the downtown sky scrapers."

"Shanghai Terrace is located along the Magnificent Mile at Chicago’s premier Peninsula Hotel. This is a great Chicago restaurant for dates, especially during the summer, the outdoor patio features awesome views of the downtown skyline. It’s a pricey spot, but the food is fabulous."

"Like other high-end eateries, Oriole offers both food and drink tasting menus. It’s the latter that sets Oriole apart. Guests can opt for this option and sample beers, wines, and cocktails curated for each course."

"If you want to feel like you’ve secured tickets for the last rocket ship leaving Earth, consider making a reservation at Next. This place is owned by the Alinea folks, but unlike Alinea, Next has three different themed tasting meals every year (e.g. Ancient Rome, Hollywood, and Alinea 2005-2010, because why not). Tickets tend to sell out as soon as they’re released."

"The most forward-thinking restaurant in the country, in my opinion, Next is another ticketed experience from the team behind bucket-list worthy Alinea. Every quarter they completely reconceptualize the space and food from Paris 1906 to Thailand 2020 and even had a whimsical Childhood menu with edible finger paints. The buzz definitely justifies the hype."

"James Beard Award-winning chefJonathon Sawyer’s globally inspired restaurant in the newly renovated Four Seasons Hotel provides all the reasons to get up on a weekend morning. Kickstart your Saturday or Sunday with a glorious bowl of Steel-Cut Oats with Brûléed Banana and cinnamon-peanut brittle or go decadent with the Breakfast Bolognese with a poached egg and crispy breadcrumbs. I’m intrigued by the Teeny Tiny Croissant Cereal served with house-made horchata, but who am I kidding?"

"There are two stories here, and if you come at weekends you’ll be able to dance and drink on both of them. Weeknights are when just the main floor is in action. It’s in the Fulton Market area of town and can get very busy, so we recommend arriving early to grab your place in the line."

"If you want a view that blows all others out of the water, head to Cite, where you can dine on upscale French cuisines while taking in the whole of the city’s skyline from its wrap-around windows. This is one of the best restaurants to visit in Downtown Chicago since you can see the buildings and architecture from every angle up here, including Lake Michigan docks, Navy Pier, and even out into the suburbs if you look hard enough."

"By law, no building in Chicago can be built on the lake side of Lake Shore Drive. However, one developer found a loophole and built Lake Point Tower, one of the tallest residential buildings in the world. Up at the top, on the 70th floor, Cite’ serves up excellent French-inspired American haute cuisine."

"Restaurants Contemporary American Lincoln Square. Chicago has a few far-flung places where chefs have carved out personal enclaves for high-level fine dining. But perhaps none were born with the maturity and finesse of this 34-seat, off-the-beaten-path BYOB from husband and wife Chris and Nina Nugent."

"Devour lamb, beef, chicken, pork, seafood, and veggie kebabs from this Chinese barbecue joint. Most are priced at just a few bucks so sampling an assortment of skewers won’t break the bank. Order pickup here; delivery is available through third party services."

"At this Xi’an-centric spot, order an array of small dishes to share with the table. Start with super thin slices of raw potato, soaking in sour and spicy sauce; hand-stretched noodles with lamb in a gamy broth; and tofu skin with celery in white vinegar sauce. But everyone at the table should order their own lamb flatbread—stuffed with tender, cumin-spiced lamb and tucked into seared, crisp bread (it's the one dish you won't want to share)."

"Focusing on the food from the Shaanxi province in Northern China, this Chinatown spot makes hand-stretched noodles, fried skewers, and delectable flatbread sandwiches filled with meats like cumin lamb and marinated pork. Online ordering is available through Xi’an Cuisine’s site."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Daniel X. O'Neil used under CC BY 2.0. Another outdoor shopping centre on our list is located in Bronzeville, known for being the centre of African-American life and culture. If you are planning to visit this area in August, check out the annual Bud Billiken Parade."

"Source: Photo by Flickr user Haydn Blackey used under CC BY-SA 2.0. Named after the chain’s iconic flagship store in New York, this department store brand is famed for its high-quality designer clothes, accessories and footwear so you’ll have ample chance to pick up something special for you or your loved ones. There are also a range of home goods available, too, should anything catch the eye."

"With ‘his’ and ‘hers’ Saks stores located on opposite sides of North Michigan Avenue, the two specialty stores cater for both men and women. Offering shoppers a hoard of designer labels, Saks Fifth Avenue Chicago lives up to its prestigious reputation."

"Lisa Lubin is an established travel/food writer and photographer, video consultant, three-time Emmy®-award winning TV producer, and travel industry expert. After more than a decade in broadcast television she took a sabbatical and traveled around the world for three years. She has been blogging atLLworldtour.comsince 2006."

"The timeless Chicago hotel has all the fame and historic charm to make your green-eyed followers even more envious of your travels."

"Located in the Lincoln Park itself, the North Pond Nature Sanctuary is yet another one of the animal exhibits that is loved and adored not just by the locals but by the tourists alike. It is believed that the same is around 130-year-old pond nature sanctuary, which in itself is an amazing thing to witness. It is located in the N Lincoln Park W, Chicago, IL 60614, USA and opens when the Lincoln Park Zoo opens as well."