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Chicago Magazine
  • News & Issues
  • Dining & Drinking
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  • Style & Shopping
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  • 1 / 10
    Only Brendan Sodikoff would put Strawberry Jell-O Surprise on a River North salad bar.
    354 W. Hubbard St., 312-888-9195 Website

    Photo: Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune
  • 2 / 10
    That’s three for Melman in the Belden-Stratford. But, hey, there’s still room in the lobby for a bar, a cart, a vending machine, something.
    Belden-Stratford, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, 773-868-0002 Website

    Photo: Jeff Marini
  • 3 / 10
    The new West Loop fave for GNO.
    Critic’s Notes Despite being the oldest person in the room, I felt totally comfortable and welcome. I would come back in a heart beat for the grilled octopus. —Penny Pollack
    1140 W. Madison St., 312-243-2097 Website

    Photo: Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune
  • 4 / 10
    And you thought bakeries had peaked in Lake View.
    Critic’s Notes This place is a party. It’s awfully cute—lots of free samples, a few café tables, super friendly staff, and Lake View couples and families out in force. Arguably too much buttercream frosting on the cupcakes. Didn’t seem to be a deal breaker for anyone but me. —PP
    3243 N. Broadway, 773-868-4574 Website

    Photo: Kris Andrae
  • 5 / 10
    Too crowded? It says “Micro Bakery” right on the sign.
    2928 N. Broadway Website

    Photo: Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune
  • 6 / 10
    Cured fishes and a schmear bar put Lake View on a roll—make that a bagel.
    Critic’s Notes I did hear some complaints about getting an open-faced bagel for $8 … the fish is really what you go for, though. Beautifully cured with really thoughtful, impeccably placed accompaniments. —Maggie Hennessy
    2819 N. Southport Ave., 773-899-4711 Website

    Photo: E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune
  • 7 / 10
    Back to basics, and no one’s complaining.
    Critic’s Notes There’s a lot to love here, but some of it gets spoiled by sidewalk smokers. —PP
    1510 E. Hintz Rd., Arlington Heights, 224-347-1010 Website

    Photo: Jeff Marini
  • 8 / 10
    A menu with more buzzwords—“seasonal,” “monthly,” “farmer,” “non-GMO”—than dumplings.
    Critic’s Notes Many of the organic-minded dumplings at Hyde Park’s earnest but misguided spot range from playful misfires (the “tamale” stuffed with slow-roasted chicken, coriander, cumin, and salsa roja) to cosmic calamities (the “corndog” stuffed with a farm-to-table hot dog, bun, and sauerkraut). But the soup dumplings are pretty good. —Jeff Ruby
    1321 E. 57th St., 312-219-6544 Website

    Photo: Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune
  • 9 / 10
    Skewered tidbits cooked over Kishu binchotan charcoal from Japan. In case you were wondering.
    932 W. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights, 847-262-5914 Website

    Photo: Nagle Photography
  • 10 / 10
    A ’cue spot with Mexican flair. Queue up.
    1967 N. Halsted St., 312-460-3200 Website

    Photo: Neil Burger
The 10 Hottest Restaurants in Chicago Right Now

Chicago’s most buzzed-about restaurants in April

By Penny Pollack
April 4, 2016, 9:38 am
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