Mentioned by OpenTable Blog
15 Can’t-Miss Spots for Summer Outdoor Dining in Chicago
"A favorite of the late Julia Child and a beloved date spot for a young Barack and Michelle Obama, Le Bouchon has been a sanctuary of sumptuous French fare for a quarter of a century in Chicago. Serving lunch and dinner, the menu is in French and English and includes many of the best traditional dishes: soupe a l'ognion, steak frites, confit de canard and moules frites. Favorites among diners include crisp duck for two, rabbit, escargot, steak frites and bouillabaisse."
"Le Bouchon has served great tasting dishes and customer service since 1993. This classic French bistro transports their diners to Paris. It is also recognized as one of the best French restaurants in the country."
"Restaurants French Rush & Division. You didn't think this upscale French restaurant in the Gold Coast would skimp on desserts, did you?. At Margeaux Brasserie, the last course is a show, with options like a giant chocolate macaron stuffed with fresh raspberries and milk chocolate crémeux or the banana tarte tatin with warm citrus caramel that's poured tableside."
"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)."
"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. Visit Margeaux brasserie and experience classic, French dining at its best. Nestled on the third floor of The Waldorf Astoria Chicago, this restaurant features an exotic menu filled with exquisite food devoted to retaining the classic French vibe while the bar is filled with a dynamic cocktail menu."
"With the look and feel of an authentic Parisian bistro, it’s easy to imagine yourself in the City of Light at Bistrot Zinc. Take a culinary trip overseas with classics like escargot, mussels steamed with white wine, salade Lyonnaise, steak frites, and roasted chicken. On the weekends, start the day off right by cozying up at the zinc-topped bar and ordering sweet or savory crepes for brunch."
"Located in Hyde Park near the University of Chicago campus, la petite folie serves traditional, classically prepared and artfully plated French food. The quaint atmosphere belies its shopping plaza locale but the free and easy parking is a plus. Duck (including the duck breast salad) consistently gets high ratings among regular diners as do the lovely pastries."
"When it comes to a romantic date night, it’s hard to beat a classic French restaurant. La Petite Foliebrings you a piece of Paris in Hyde Park, serving classically prepared French food and an all-French wine list in an elegant space. Dishes reflect the changing seasons, incorporating the best produce available at Chicago’s farmers markets."
"Roots & Culture are all about the emerging talent and growing art community. If you want to find the next ‘big thing’ in the art world, this might be the place to look. By focussing on emerging talent, this place always feels fresh and modern – and the exhibitions are interesting, challenging and spontaneous."
"Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s most popular attractions and is certainly not your average pier. Stretching over 3,000-feet into Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is packed full of entertainment, offering 50-acres of shops, restaurants, parks, and attractions. Enjoy a ride on the Centennial Wheel that stands prominently in the middle of Pier Park, and there’s often live music, art exhibitions, and firework displays throughout the summer."
"Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s most popular attractions, and one of the most popular destinations in the Midwest. While there are fees at many of the attractions at Navy Pier, there are some that are free. One of the best reasons to visit is the view, which is (of course!) free!"
"The first Sunday of every month there’s free admission for kids under 15. There are a few other ways to get discounts, too."
"Carrie Secrist Gallery, established in 1992, focuses on established contemporary artists and artwork by emerging and mid-career artists whose artworks are not just restricted to one particular style. The gallery has featured several paintings of Whitney Bedford, Stephen Eichhorn, Liliana Porter, Michael Robinson and Dannielle Tegeder. Shannon Finley, Diana Guerrero-Maciá, Andrew Holmquist, and Anne Lindberg"
"It is actually the only nonprofit organisation in the USA that is fully devoted to ‘outsider’ art and self taught art. It’s more than just an art gallery or museum – it’s somewhere to come for inspiration, and it’s actually used a lot by art students in the city of Chicago. There are over 1000 works of art here, so plenty to see!"
"Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art features a large number of artworks presenting intuitive and outsider art. They have been featuring various artworks since 1991. Their world-class exhibitions give an opportunity for the public to explore this kind of art."
"Express is an international fashion chain with women’s clothing and men’s clothing for work, play and all kinds of parties. Shop Express for women’s jeans, leggings, dresses, sweaters and shirts, and men’s jeans, suits, graphic tees and polos, plus shoes, jewelry and other accessories..."
"Macku Sushi can satisfy your need for a standard spicy salmon roll, but if you want something more adventurous, try the omakase menu. Chef Macku gets very creative not only with his presentations, but also flavor combinations, such as a spoonful of salmon roe with Pop Rocks. Hopefully you won't befall the same fate as Little Mikey from the Life commercials."
"For those who appreciate art as much as their food, Macku Sushi beckons to you. The elaborate embellishments with onion slices, truffle oil, tomato-mushroom puree, and fried garlic look almost too good to eat. However, you can also choose the less extravagant looking dishes that are also very flavorful."
"Bon Appetit called Macku Sushi one of the top 10 sushi spots in the nation, so there's no doubt the Lincoln Park restaurant is a serious contender when it comes to the best sushi i..."
"Milwaukee Ave. (between Edmunds and 90th streets) in Jefferson Park, the sushi bar is the highest-rated Japanese restaurant in Chicago, boasting four stars out of 206 reviews on Yelp."
"Restaurants Japanese River West/West Town. Although you can order a la carte, the affordable omakase menu at Melvin and Carlo Vizconde's restaurant is the way to go, and includes more food than you can eat—rich oyster and uni shooters doctored up with ponzu sauce and egg yolks disappear in seconds, seared tuna maki adorned with truffled scallions and takoyaki, a fried dough ball with a nugget of octopus inside. While these are all fun, utterly delicious takes on Japanese food, the decadence stops short of overwhelming the great fish in the maki and sashimi."
"Humboldt Park’s Kai Zan is another spot where it’s best to order the omakase menu and trust the sushi chef. This is one of the best places to order uni (sea urchin) which is flown in fresh. Be sure to snag a wooden booth which is designed for ultimate privacy during your meal."