Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Lisle

"Believe the hype and secure tickets—yes, tickets—well in advance. Chicago's most exciting restaurant demands an adventurous spirit and a serious...Read More"

"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 ..."

"West LoopWhen this West Loop pioneer opened back in 2003, the elegant yet approachable eatery quickly made a name for itself thanks to sleek communal tables, a forward-thinking wine list, and, most importantly, the juiciest medjool date dish the Midwest had ever encountered. Plump dates undergo the full hog treatment here, plied with spiced chorizo sausage before being wrapped in a thick slab of bacon, fired until crisp and crackling, and doused in a warm piquillo pepper tomato sauce that practically demands a hunk of good, freshly baked bread. Don’t think, just order.How to book: Reserve via Tock or order take-out and delivery via DoorDash, GrubHub, and Caviar."

"End your evening with dinner at Avec, an adorable, modern and warm spot where you can dine tapas-style. You absolutely must order the chorizo-stuffed dates. Holy moly, they are incredible!!!. You can thank me later."

"Go to this Euro-style wine bar when you're feeling gregarious; the rather stark space has seating for only 48 people, and it's a tight fit....Read More"

"Also on the sands of North Avenue Beach, the resort-inspired Shore Club feels like an island getaway without leaving the city. Offering three different spaces — the Patio, the Oasis, and the Restaurant — the Shore Club’s menu features Mediterranean-inspired shared plates and plenty of summer-y cocktails. In the exclusive Oasis area, reserve a private cabana where you can lounge in a daybed while enjoying personalized bottle service."

"A small plates spot owned and managed by James Beard Award-winner Shawn McClain, Green Zebra offers Chicago vegetarians an upscale and unforgettable dining experience. The moss-colored, Asian-tinged house of Zen presents a menu of seasonal dishes prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, ranging from organic duck egg with smoked potato puree and woods mushroom paté with garlic scape mostarda to blistered shishito peppers, Iroquois white corn grits, and squash risotto. Diners can choose from a prix fixe experience or an extensive a la carte menu, but shouldn’t miss the signature poached hen egg with smoked potato purée and parsley with country sourdough."

"The local chain’s newest location in the South Loop features impressive views of the surrounding skyline, but you’ll probably be too busy staring at the house-made mozzarella to notice. It pops up throughout the menu in salads, apps (hello, mozzarella sticks) and, most importantly, on more than a dozen varieties of pizza, each of which is made with Roots’ signature tangy-sweet malted dough."

"Restaurants Pizza East Village. There's no need for a kids' menu when the little ones can eat just like Mom and Dad. Housemade mozzarella sticks are a favorite with the littles, and they can watch as the chefs prepare their pizza through a special viewing window."

"Although Roots offers a kids’ menu, little ones will be just as happy to dig in alongside parents in the sweeter crust of Quad City-style pizzas and super stretchy housemade mozzarella sticks. The pizza-viewing window is always a hit and the backroom makes a great place for a birthday party."

"Chef Joe Flamm serves what he calls “Adriatic drinking food” at Rose Mary, which is the cuisine we didn’t know we needed until right now. Croatian and Italian influences abound in dishes like tortellini djuvec, which mingles the pasta shape you know with the Balkan rice dish you may not. As for that drinking we mentioned: take your pick from a trio of spritzes, spirit-free cocktails, or a cold, refreshing Italian or Croatian beer."

"The long-awaited Fulton Market restaurant helmed by Top Chef winner Joe Flamm, combining his passions for Italian and Croatian cooking. Why we love it: Flamm describes the offerings at Rose Mary as "Adriatic drinking food," and we agree with this assessment. Dishes like Gnocchi with beef cheek, pork ribs and tuna crudo pair perfectly with the glasses of organic wine and cocktails that incorporate Eastern European spirits."

"Joe Flamm’s dream is finally here, as the the former Spiaggia chef and Top Chef winner opened his first restaurant alongside the owners of flashy West Loop steakhouse BLVD. Flamm merges his prowess of handmade Italian pastas with Croatian techniques blending Old and New Worlds to creating something unique. Reservations are recommended because this might the most difficult table in town."

"Named for Marchesa Luisa Casati, an Italian muse and patron of the arts renowned for hosting parties teaming with interesting people, food, wine and song - this is your romantic sweet spot. The Main Salon is inspired by the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice or dine in The Apartment modeled after a Parisian pied-a-terre. Start with European cheese and charcuterie, caviar service or medallions of foie gras for moments of sheer decadence."

"Chez Moi serves a traditional French menu prepared by a French Chef. The restaurant’s menu is created by Chef Dominique who has a passion for sharing French cuisine. In addition, he cooked and trained under great culinary chefs."

"Chez Moi is a traditional French Bistro located on Halsted in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago that is small and rarely crowded, making it a local favorite."

"Chef Amanda Salas brings the yummy to this industrial-chic West Loop brunch spot with extensive outdoor patio space. This is let’s-get-down-to-business elevated bar food, like the BLT & E breakfast sammy, a brioche bun stuffed with bacon-onion jam, sunny egg, chipotle mayo, arugula and tomato. Corned beef H*A*S*H* is rife with roasted potatoes and caramelized onions and topped with poached eggs and a stoneground mustard sauce."

"West LoopTouted as Chicago’s largest outdoor patio at 14,000-square-feet, this multilevel West Loop drinking deck is never a bad idea on a sunny day. A whimsical collection of mural-adorned shipping containers plays host to a variety of bars, cabanas, and food stations dishing up signature cocktails from large-format “water coolers” to frozé alongside refined pub grub seven days a week.How to book: Reserve via OpenTable"

"People dine and drink at Recess, a West Loop restaurant with one of the biggest patios in Chicago, on June 3, 2021. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune). Meant to hark back to the carefree days of school-sanctioned fun time, Recess is a sprawling West Loop space with a structure composed of shipping containers."

"Great service and an excellent environment; Logan square is a nice slice of heaven on earth. The employees and staff are always friendly and attentive, a..."

"The early bird not only gets the worm, it also gets the breakfast deal at Cozy Corner. Stop in between 6 a.m."