The Publican's bounty: pork rinds, charcuterie, oysters, and frites.

 

There may be less green in your wallet this year, but there’s plenty of green at restaurants. The chefs at Perennial head across the street to snatch up produce from the Green City Market. The tiny Mana Food Bar goes all-veggie in Wicker Park, while Mado butchers its own animals and serves them on sustainable bamboo tables in Bucktown. And the whole building housing Randy Zweiban’s Province is certified green, perfect for his organic and biodynamic menu. But it all comes together at the eco-friendly, locally minded, and utterly delicious best new restaurant of 2009, The Publican, where a team of smart restaurateurs redefine fine dining in a modern beer hall/pork nirvana. Here, our 22 picks for Chicago’s top new spots: Call it the green party.

BIG JONES »
5347 N. Clark St.
773-275-5725

C-HOUSE »
Affinia Chicago, 166 E. Superior St.
312-523-0923

EVE »
Best New Dessert
840 N. Wabash Ave.
312-266-3383

GLEN PRAIRIE »
Crowne Plaza
Glen Ellyn–Lombard
1250 Roosevelt Rd., Glen Ellyn
630-613-1250

GRAHAM ELLIOT »
217 W. Huron St.
312-624-9975

L2O »
Best New Chef
2300 N. Lincoln Park West
773-868-0002

MADO »
1647 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-342-2340

MANA FOOD BAR »
1742 W. Division St.
773-342-1742

MERCAT A LA PLANXA »
Blackstone Hotel
638 S. Michigan Ave.
312-765-0524

MEXIQUE »
1529 W. Chicago Ave.
312-850-0288

MIXTECO GRILL »
1601 W. Montrose Ave.
773-868-1601

PARK 52 »
5201 S. Harper Ave.
773-241-5200

PERENNIAL »
1800 N. Lincoln Ave.
312-981-7070

PICCOLO SOGNO »
464 N. Halsted St.
312-421-0077

PROVINCE »
161 N. Jefferson St.
312-669-9900

THE PUBLICAN »
Best New Restaurant
837 W. Fulton Market
312-733-9555

SUGARTOAD »
2139 CityGate Ln., Naperville
630-778-8623

SUNDA »
Best New Dish
110 W. Illinois St.
312-644-0500

TOCCO »
1266 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-687-8895

TOPAZ »
780 Village Center Dr., Burr Ridge
630-654-1616

URBANBELLY »
3053 N. California Ave.
773-583-0500

VEERASWAY »
844 W. Randolph St.
312-491-0844