Mentioned by OpenTable
Best Contemporary American Restaurants in Chicago / Illinois
"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. Driven by seasonality with menus shifting constantly, you can always count on some of the best bread in the city fresh from the restaurant's own bakery."
"You can be lulled into porky bliss by all the salty-sour-sausagey delights here, but don’t ignore the pristine oysters, clams, and crudo. If you are lucky, the soft-shell crab sandwich will show up as a special.L Mon–Sat (3:30–5:30 p.m.), D nightly."
"Arami‘s cuisine can be something of classic ingredients and forwards thinking procedure, having a focus on quality and freshness. Representing the civilization and maintenance drawn in Western cuisine, Arami prides itself on attracting enjoyment and art. In Arami’s entry is really a torii gate, conventional in Japan to indicate a transition, originally found out shrines."
"Arami is the rare Japanese restaurant that offers a wide ranging menu, yet somehow, expertly maintains the quality of their food. There are sushi, ramen and even robata (charcoal) grilled items on the menu to choose from. Thanks to having two executive chefs, Arami is able to focus both sushi and hot food from the kitchen."
"Always a contender for the top sushi spot in the city, Arami consistently presents what's surely among the best sushi in Chicago. Chef Nelson Vinansaca has garnered acclaim for his..."
"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."
"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"
"Pick up some smoked salmon or fried shrimp at this old-school seafood shack that was a favorite of Anthony Bourdain's."
"King Crab House Chicago is another restaurant in the Chicago area that offers outstanding seafood options. King Crab House Chicago is a seafood staple and is one of the oldest crab houses in the area. Additionally, the restaurant has a diverse menu that will please any guest."
"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mark Miller used under CC BY 3.0. Photo is only for illustrative purposes. Offering a delicious Gaelic touch, Chief O'Neill’s Pub and Restaurant’s All-You-Care-To-Eat weekend buffet is a must try."
"Children of the 80s may still be reeling from the loss of Wendy’s Superbar, but Dave Thomas never had a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar like the Chief does on Sundays."
"Irish owned but utterly American, The Dearborn can be found at the intersection the Theater District, satisfying food and lively ambiance. Pastry Chef Julianna Westgor has a playful style riffing on ice cream truck treats in the summer and warming things up in the winter with adults only hot chocolate and fried banana bread with hazelnut chocolate ganache, malted milk jam and hazelnut crunch ice cream. Her peanut butter chocolate dream is just that and don't leave without someone ordering the gooey butter cake with burnt honey ice cream and orange caramel drizzle."
"The reviews are right, the food was great, the cocktails were great. We left Raised due to poor service and seating and came here. The fish and chips are..."
"Little VillageWhat you’re getting: Fried smelt fishThis family-owned and operated establishment that’s been open since 1917 has been serving medium-breaded and fried shrimp and Great Lakes smelts that can be popped in your mouth with ease, just like French fries. Order with a side of clams and hush puppies..."
"Restaurants Indian West Ridge. Carnivores seem to think that without meat on their plates they’d starve. But this 100 percent vegetarian South Indian spot puts an end to that theory with its famous dosa—a gigantic cumin-, potato- and onion-filled rice and lentil crêpe that comes in a dozen varieties."
"The huge, globally inspired menu of this Albany Park spot is filled with craveable items, like the Buffalo Cauliflower Wings, Fried Mac-and-Cheese Balls, and the Caesar Avocado Wrap. It’s all about vegetarian comfort food here, and there are many vegan (and gluten-free) options as well. Never tried jackfruit, touted as a great meat substitute?"
"With menu sections called, “I’m not really hungry but I’m gonna eat anyway” to “Wrap it up”, “Side chick”, and “It’s Mexico somewhere” you know you’re in for a treat. Location: 3300 W Montrose Ave, Chicago IL 60618"
"Such a sweet respite in the middle of our on-going saga of the pandemic; in the middle of a neighborhood; in the middle of the city (Chicago;) in the mid..."
"The menu offers intriguing choices, such as beef tongue in XO sauce and fried pigeon, alongside satisfying rice casseroles loaded with meats. To-go ordering is available here. View this post on Instagram"
"Golden Bull Restaurant is a Chinese eatery with a modern dining room specializing in Cantonese seafood. Popular menu items include crab rangoon, Mongolian beef, and sesame chicken."
"Tao Chicago opened with great fanfare in 2018, revealing an astonishing reimagining of a circa-1892 landmark in River North. The historic property, with its stone structure and arc..."
"The list of great Chicago parks is long but we’d be remiss if we didn’t include: Washington Park, one of the cities biggest and best parks, which is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe; Ping Tom Memorial Park (originally a railroad yard) in Armour Square; the 55-acre Horner Park in Albany Park; Portage Park; Northerly Island, where many concerts are held in the summer; and Oz Park in Lincoln Park, a kid-friendly sculpture park featuring "The Wizard of Oz" creations."
"Located in the Loop, the recently revamped kid-focused Maggie Daley Park features Chicago’s only outdoor climbing park, a path-like “skating ribbon” in the winter, tennis courts, and picnic spots. Don’t miss the 3-acre play garden. You’ll have to drag kids under 12 off of the imaginative equipment, including an enchanted forest, wave lawn, and an array of slides."
"Indulge in some shopping, veer off a couple blocks to grab an espresso at the beloved Italian market Eataly, or continue to the DuSable Bridge for a fantastic photo-op of the emerald green Chicago River surrounded by sparkling skyscrapers. The most iconic spot in the entire city is just a couple blocks further: Millennium Park, a sprawling downtown green space that’s home to Cloud Gate, more commonly known as ‘The Bean.’ The stainless steel plates reflect the surrounding city skyline which makes for some epic shots–especially if you make it there first thing in the morning before the throngs of tourists arrive. Be sure to walk below Cloud Gate’s 12-foot-high arch to snap some cool perspective pics from underneath."
"Start off your morning with a beautiful cruise down the Chicago River. This cruise only runs during the warmer months (and can be a bit too chilly during the early spring and late fall, even if it is running), so we recommend reserving this attraction for the warmest times of year"