Chicago’s Top 10 : Places to Eat

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Unless stated, all restaurants accept credit cards, recommend reservations, and are open for lunch and dinner.


  1. Charlie Trotter’s

    One
    of Chicago’s top gourmet eateries, and one of the nation’s best,
    Charlie Trotter’s serves the exquisite and rarefied fare of its
    eponymous chef. The menu changes daily but expect creations such as
    venison loin with semolina cake, braised kale, and Niçoise olive boudin. Reservations must be made many weeks in advance though a last-minute call often turns up a table due to cancellations .

  2. Ambria

    With
    its Art Nouveau detailing, cozy leather banquettes, and dark woods,
    Ambria is among the city’s most romantic dining options. And the dining
    experience matches the style here as chef Gabino Soltelino prepares
    contemporary French meals with a sophisticated understatement. Service
    is formal and the sommelier is one of the best in Chicago .

  3. Gibson’s Steakhouse

    Boisterous
    and convivial, Gibson’s exudes a good time. A regular crowd of
    politicians, sports figures, and conventioneers packs the place nightly.
    The steakhouse fare is in every way a match to the atmosphere – big and
    bold. Huge lobster tails vie for attention with large slabs of beef. A
    reservation is critical, but for a more casual, walk-in experience try
    the burgers next door at Hugo’s Frog Bar.

    • 1028 N. Rush St.

    • 312 266 8999




    Gibson’s Steakhouse

  4. Blackbird

    Foodies
    and the fashion set both agree on Blackbird, an eatery that sports
    minimalist decor and shoves the tables so close together that
    eavesdropping becomes part of the experience. Chef Paul Kahan generates
    the buzz, preparing sophisticated American dishes with French leanings.
    Menus change seasonally but reservations are perennially a must.

    • 619 W. Randolph St.

    • 312 715 0708

    • Lunch 11.30am–2pm Mon–Fri, closed Sun




    Blackbird

  5. North Pond Café

    Hidden
    from the road in leafy Lincoln Park, North Pond is a treasure – once
    you find it. Lodged in an Arts-and-Crafts-style building, the café
    offers a seasonal menu with an emphasis on produce sourced in the
    Midwest. Though dinner is the star, lunches of sandwiches, soups, and
    salads are equally creative and well presented .

  6. Spring

    Spring
    brings the sort of fine cooking you’d expect only to find downtown out
    to Northside’s bohemian Wicker Park. Occupying a former bathhouse, the
    sunken feng-shui-inspired interior makes for a chic gourmet experience.
    The menu features seafood prepared with Asian and French influences and a
    light approach.

    • 2039 W. North Ave.

    • 1 773 395 7100

    • Dinner only, closed Mon

  7. Mia Francesca

    The
    hearty, rustic fare of Rome and its surrounding regions distinguishes
    Mia Francesca from the Italian pack. Large portions and reasonable
    prices help draw legions of fans to this Wrigleyville rave. A former
    candy shop, the storefront eatery is casual but stylish with
    paper-topped tables and black-and-white photos of rural life on the
    walls. Lines form early and often .

  8. Frontera Grill

    Signature
    restaurant of chef Rick Bayless, Frontera Grill is credited with
    bringing authentic regional Mexican food – rather than Tex-Mex taco fare
    – stateside. Chili-roasted salsas and rich moles
    accompany grilled meats and delicious seafood. Since reservations are
    only available for parties of more than six, seats in the colorful, folk
    art-filled room go early as smaller groups try to avoid disappointment .

  9. Pizzeria Uno

    Uno’s
    has been baking deep dish pizza since 1943 – about as long as
    Chicagoans have debated whose pie is best. Its version comes several
    inches deep, filled with cheese and toppings of your choice, truly a
    meal in one slice. The smallish Victorian brownstone strains under
    demand, sending the overflow down the street to its spin-off Pizzeria
    Due. Uno’s individual pizza served at lunchtime is a bargain.

    • 29 E. Ohio St.

    • 312 321 1000


    • $

  10. Lou Mitchell’s

    A
    classic diner in the Loop where the waitresses call you “Honey” and the
    coffee is bottomless, Lou Mitchell’s has been around since 1923. Its
    trek-worthy meal is breakfast, highlighted by double-yolk eggs and
    homemade hash browns served in a skillet. Tables turn quickly and the
    staff doles out free donuts and candy to those waiting on line with good
    cheer.

    • 565 W. Jackson Blvd

    • 312 939 3111

    • No credit cards

    • No dinner




    Lou Mitchell’s