Mentioned by Valentina's Destinations
11 Irresistible Date Night Restaurants in Chicago
"The Publican has become a part of the fabric of Fulton Market highlighting farm-to-table fare long before it was a culinary catch-phrase. Among the first to open in the uncharted meatpacking district in 2008, its star has not dimmed and The Publican is now serving lunch, Monday - Friday from 11:30 a.m."
"Traditional Japanese cuisine meets forward-thinking fare at this six-time Bib Gourmand award-winning restaurant, where two kitchens work together to offer eaters a comprehensive dining experience. For a front-row vantage point of the team’s handiwork, grab a seat at the sushi counter. It’s here where guests can watch as their plates are prepped, from tuna tartare with pickled Asian pear and black tobiko, to the beloved trio maki roll, complete with tuna, salmon, hamachi, cilantro, and chili oil."
"Serving some of the city's best sushi, this warm, cozy room in West Town seems to encourage you to stay for hours, sipping sake and Japanese whisky. Start with appetizers like the chrunchy chicken karaage or the decadent roasted bone marrow served with ribeye tarare before moving on to sashimi, nagiri and maki selections. You'll find everything from bluefin tuna to Alaskan king crab on the menu, along with speciality items that can be accompanited by optional caviar supplements."
"Arami is an elegant restaurant with a unique modern design for its interior. Its bright and vibrant setting and delicious menu options are some of the reasons why the restaurant is always packed with hungry foodies. Arami is a gem on the Chicago Ave strip."
"Calumet Fisheries is seafood that offers a barebones approach to serving some of the best-fried seafood platters in town. They are among the few who still use a smoker and the seafood is fresh and smoked on-site with natural wood in their smokehouses. There are no artificial flavors used and the smoked fish has first been marinated in brine overnight then smoked with special oak logs."
"Calumet Fisheries gives customers a glimpse at a long-forgotten piece of Chicago on the city’s South Side, just seven minutes from the Indiana border and east of the Chicago Skyway. Enjoy precious smoked salmon, trout, and shrimp — the small smokehouse is right outside the restaurant. Each morsel is delicate and sweet."
"The upscale Gale Street Inn serves some of Chicago’s finest ribs, along with other mouth-watering American eats. Try the “Pullman Burger,” savor some of their delicious jambalaya, or, if you can’t decide and want a bit of everything, order the “Porkapalooza,” which includes a generous sampling of all their pork options (along with their famous ribs) and the jambalaya. The Gale Street Inn originally opened as a tavern in 1963, just across the street from where it is located now."
"LakeviewWhat you’re getting: Fish tacosThis seafood joint has weekly dine-in specials like $2 Tuesday (think fried pollock tacos with cabbage, pico de gallo salsa, and spicy mayo, paired with lobster bisque and Miller Lites/Bud Lights for just $2 apiece) and an all-you-can-eat fish fry on Fridays for $10.95. The seafood and buns are flown in from Boston daily, plus you can grab fresh seafood from the market for later."
"Albany ParkWhat you’re getting: Clamwich with meaty fried clams and ramp pestoBy turning one fish case into a dining bar and adding some tables, Bill Dugan has been running an “occasional” restaurant out of his Fishguy seafood shop for years now. In addition to plenty of fresh seafood options by the pound to-go, customers can dine-in with pan-roasted Cape Cod mussels, a fried clam-packed sandwich, fish tacos, “really big shrimp” in an anisette and crab butter sauce, and a killer Cape Breton lobster roll for lunch."
"LakeviewWhat you’re getting: Baby Spanish octopus a la plancha with spicy red pepper coulisWith quirky touches to emulate (or mock) a fish shack, DMK’s seafood outpost dishes up ocean classics with a modern twist. From standard oyster po-boys and lobster rolls, to perfect pieces of rainbow trout and sweet, buttery shrimp, and fennel-and-chili-spiced octopus a la plancha, it serves it all wild caught. With “sea sippers” like the “Three Hour Tour,” a double-rum, guava, and lime concoction, you’ll need at least three hours of imbibing on the patio."
"A post shared by Fish Bar Chicago 🐟 (@fishbarchicago) on Sep 26, 2018 at 3:04pm PDT. As the name suggests, this casual restaurant on North Sheffield Avenue offers a wide range of fish dishes and manages to fuse the New Orleans approach of grills and gumbo to a New England aesthetic that includes lobster, crab and much more besides. A diverse menu includes Faroe Island tuna steak and steamed mussels, while the basics are also well covered - check out the spiced shrimp on a bed of grits as a snack option."
"The Fish Bar is a shack style establishment with a focus on sustainable fish and seafood menu items that are as fresh as you can get. The chef Michael Kornick is a James Beard-nominated professional with 5 of these prestigious recognitions to his credit. Menu items include both East and West coast raw oysters, Oyster Po’ boys, Maine Lobster rolls, gumbo, Octopus a la plancha, and a variety of craft beers and sea sippers."
"Hunkered down across from Grant Park, this 110,000-ton granite-and-limestone behemoth was an instant star when it debuted in 1899, and…"
"This funky corner spot delivers dishes that are fast, filling and affordably priced. They’ve been featured on the Food Network favorite Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and their well-lit interior and overstuffed menu means you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in the best restaurants in Chicago. BIG & Littles | 1310 N."
"Must-Try: Japanese Beef Taco ($3.29) or Soft Shell Crab Po Boy ($7.99). The flavors are BIG and the prices are little at BIG and Little’s. This hole-in-the-wall turned multi-location across Chicago knows how to serve up tacos, burgers, po’boys, and sandwiches."
"Beyond Burgers & Fried Fish, this quick-serve spot was featured on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives & Chicago's Best along with multiply other TV appearances.Order Online for Pickup or Delivery @ bigandlittleschicago.com"
"Loving Heart is a charming café on Montrose Avenue that serves 100% vegan and plant-based fare. The friendly eatery offers a menu of freshly prepared seasonal cuisine made from locally sourced organic ingredients such as potato and kale soup, a selection of burgers and wraps, rice and grain bowls, and sharing plates of nachos and summer rolls. The Green Deva Salad is a house favorite and features organic spinach and romaine lettuce, avocado, red bell pepper, cilantro, seaweed, roasted peanuts, and homemade green ginger pesto."
"One of the most conscientious and best restaurants in Chicago, Loving Heart embraces the modern model of a conscientious vegan eatery by using ingredients that are 80% USDA-certified organic to create a guilt-free, sustainable dining environment. There are wraps, burgers, salads and bowls, or try a weekly meal to make the shift to plant-based less of a hassle. Loving Heart | 838 W."
"Loving Heart offers nothing but vegan cuisine|© Loving Heart. This postage-stamp-size café is 100 percent vegan. Using organic products, the kitchen transforms simple ingredients into wheat wraps rolled with sweet potatoes and black beans and summer rolls jammed with ginger pesto, avocado, spinach, seaweed and roasted peanuts."
"Quesadilla serves up authentic Mexican food made vegetarian. Their tinga made with soy chicken is super flavorful and tasty in a super burrito, huarache, quesadilla, or taco. And when they said super burrito, they mean super."
"You'll be delighted to enjoy your favorite authentic Mexican cuisine with a focus on vegetarian diets here. Delicious and healthy, you won't eat Mexican food the same way again."