Mentioned by Valentina's Destinations
11 Irresistible Date Night Restaurants in Chicago
"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."
"Description: Arami, which just reopened after a kitchen fire, is a great spot for both their sushi and hot dishes. Be sure to try the Maguro Spicy Sake under "Speciality Roll," which contains "tuna, torched spicy salmon, jalapeño, cilantro, avocado, ikura, fried shallots and yuzu.". #SpoonFunFact: The restaurant has earned Bib Gourmand designations from the Michelin Guide."
"And none of us would exhibit our robust appetite full-on while a potential lover is across the table. Arami is the perfect eatery where the nigiri and sashimi are as good as it gets. The menu at Arami is far from fancy, but the food is authentic."
"South DeeringWhat you’re getting: Smoked or fried shrimpThis family-owned smoke shack fed hungry day laborers of Chicago’s once-thriving steel industry, and a trip down to the historic waterfront today still offers the quintessential seafood eating experience in a paper bag. The little white box at the base of The Blues Brothers bridge churns out fried and oak-smoked shrimp, salmon, trout, catfish, and sable -- all of which you can eat while gazing out at the river barges from the hood of your car."
"Since 1928, Calumet Fisheries has been smoking the tastiest fish on the South Side. Sitting above the banks of the Calumet River, the no frills shack has used the same natural wood-burning practices for over 60 years. There's no seating—except for the car or bicycle you rode up on—for the goods are usually consumed as soon as they're served."
"Don't miss this James Beard-honored monument to smoked fish on the far South Side, in business since 1948. Get a paper bag of salmon, shrimp, or black cod and be prepared to eat in the car or on the sidewalk. View this post on Instagram"
"Humboldt ParkWhat you’re getting: Shrimp JibaritoThis Humboldt Park joint is on our list of the top 10 shrimp shacks in Chi, and might also be an excellent late-night fried-food contender since you can dine until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. While you should definitely try the massive fried shrimp po-boy, the off-menu Shrimp Jibarito is a sandwich you won’t want to pass up. Crisp, fried plantains with a sauteed shrimp filling are made to order for an impressively balanced jibarito."
"The LoopWhat you’re getting: Taste of Maine sampler (1/2 lobster roll, 1/2 crab roll, 1/2 shrimp roll, and two crab claws with a soda, chips, or slaw and a pickle)Luke’s doesn’t overdo its delicious, lobster-packed rolls with a heavy mayo or celery base, which is what differentiates its chilled sandwich from all the other restaurants hopping on the lobster-roll bandwagon. But why settle for just the traditional lobster roll when you could go big with one of each type of roll it offers, overflowing with lobster, crab, and shrimp, plus two crab claws to boot?"
"Luke’s Lobster City Hall works directly with fishermen to ensure that the seafood is the freshest possible. The culinary staff is known for cooking each menu item to perfection with simple recipes. The restaurant is a seafood counter that specializes in Maine-style lobster rolls with toasted buns, along with clam chowder."
"A Chinatown fixture for over twenty years, Triple Crown is cherished for its commitment to day-long dim sum. That means you can satisfy your cravings for shrimp dumplings, fried sesame balls, and puffy egg custard tarts right at 9:00 am or at 2:00 am, before the restaurant finally closes."
"Le Macaron found on West Armitage Avenue invites guests to experience the best of French cuisine. The coffee shop’s website describes its macarons as the perfect delicacy, original and elegant, and we think they’re 100% correct. Le Macaron does offer some really fun flavors alongside the more traditional choices, though: including bubblegum, violet cassis, gingerbread, and strawberry key lime."
"Restaurants American Lincoln Park. No matter what the forecast looks like outside, this Lincoln Park restaurant from Lettuce Entertain You transports diners to sunny California through a bright and spacious dining room that's dotted with greenery. Choose from avocado toast loaded with tomatoes and scallion mascarpone, chicken tinga tacos with guac, or the charred summer corn elotes that's imbued with jalapeños and queso fresco."
"Normally this place will make you feel like you’re in California, but now they are only offering breakfast delivery options near you on the weekends. You can get drink kits to make Bloody Marys and also their silver dollar pancake party, which is basically a charcuterie board for pancakes."
"Located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Summer House is the perfect place to escape the city to feel like soaking up the sunny vibes of the West Coast. The setting features..."
"We like going to Stan’s when we want a lot of variety or a donut that sounds like it was created by an eight-year-old. For example, they have a caramel marshmallow, Cap’n crunch, and our personal favorite, the biscoff (a.k.a. cookie butter-filled) pocket. If you don’t feel like feeding your inner child, consider ordering something like their pretzel-glazed or the pistachio old fashioned."
"In addition to a wide array of donuts (everything from Glazed to Nutella Banana Pockets), Stan’s Donuts also serves up gelato, shakes and Intelligentsia coffee. Stop by to take in the fun, retro vibe and order one of their most popular creations – Lemon Pistachio Old Fashioned."
"Stan's Donuts has quickly become a Chicago icon with decadent flavored donuts, cookies and delicious beverages. They are currently open every day for takeout and delivery."
"From the jump more than a dozen years ago, urbanbelly has been serving flavorful Asian fast-casual food and it only gets better. Led by award-winning Chef Bill Kim and Cornerstone Restaurant Group, the menu lists signature dumplings, bowls and specialties such as the gluten-free and dairy free Coconut Curry Pho and Kim's signature ramen. Order slippery dumplings (stuffed with Korean BBQ beef, chicken red curry or edamame) by the piece and pair 'em with something crispy like Thai fried chicken or Togarashi fries."
"Bill Kim is best known for his modern interpretations of ramen, dumplings, and Latin-Asian fusion, but one menu item equally worthy of adoration is his soft-serve ice cream. The dessert has been a fixture at Belly Shack since day one, but my favorite version is the PB&J soft-serve at Urban Belly. The velvety, slightly sweet soft-serve is heaped into a tall cup striated with ample doses of crunchy peanut butter and huckleberry jelly."
"Located in Avondale (and hence, a bit out of the way for those traveling without a car), Urban Belly offers a small number of seats in a surprisingly chic space. The most expensive noodle dishes – ramen with pork belly and udon with shrimp – are $13. Dumpling and rice plates like lamb and brandy or short rib and scallion are $7-8 each."
"Ethan Lim’s tiny West Side restaurant was gaining steam before the pandemic for delicious sandwiches that used pan-Asian ingredients. Hermosa still popular but the chef has introduced a reservation-only dinner service and tasting menu that skews more Cambodian but supplies plenty of surprises. This is a unique dining experience limited to parties of two and four that provides proper pandemic isolation."
"Popular Canadian import, Kinton Ramen, had a successful launch in Fulton Market and witnesses a steady flow of noodlers. The chain debuted a second Chicago location in Wicker Park in December 2019. Dubbing itself the "Ultimate Japanese Ramen Experience," Kinton Ramen aims for an authentic culinary trip to Japan via executive chef Aki Urata's commitment to serving the highest quality broth and noodles."
"The Roman Catholic Parish on West Adam Street is one of the few buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This church is considered a cornerstone of Irish Culture in Chicago, where God’s grace is demonstrated- amidst the bustle. It is also an important landmark that preserves history."
"Address: 700 W Adams StSaturday Mass Times: 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, and 5:00pmA/C: YesCost: $1,500.00Parishioner?. NoTime for photos after: 20 minutesCan you bring your own priest?. Yes, they suggest you reach out to a priest you think of first."
"A National Historic Landmark, this South Loop church suffered a devastating fire in 1900, so the congregation hired architects Howard Van Doren Shaw and Frederic Clay Bartlett to rebuild the building in the then-popular Arts and Crafts style. Over the years, the church welcomed many famous Chicago families including the Pullmans, Blackstones, and Armours. Open Saturday, October, 19, from 10 a.m."