42 Grams 4662 N. Broadway New American $203.68 Chef-owner: Jake Bickelhaupt Dining Guide listing Website Less kooky than Elizabeth and less affordable than EL Ideas—and more polished than both—42 Grams acquits itself well as Chicago’s latest upscale dinner party restaurant. You and seven others sit at a deep stainless steel countertop abutting the … Read more
Brindille 534 N. Clark St. 312-595-1616 French $70 to $80 Chef-partner: Carrie Nahabedian Dining Guide listing Website While this boîte didn’t wow us when it opened last April, Carrie Nahabedian (Naha) stayed the course, and Brindille has matured into a destination for French cuisine in style and comfort. From soothing decor to tables … Read more
Cicchetti 671 N. St. Clair St. 312-642-1800 Italian $40 to $50 Executive chef: Michael Sheerin Dining Guide listing Website This sharp venetian-inspired osteria from Dan Rosenthal (Trattoria No. 10) suffered the unfortunate luck of opening at the same time as Nico Osteria, a higher-profile restaurant similar in concept and vibe. But with Michael … Read more
Kinmont 419 W. Superior St. 312-915-0011 Seafood $55 to $65 Chef: Duncan Biddulph Dining Guide listing Website Stifled yawns greeted the first news of an entirely sustainable seafood restaurant opening in River North. Even knowing the brain trust from Element Collective (Chris Dexter, Chris Freeman, Jared Van Camp, and John Warken) was behind … Read more
Mott St. 1401 N. Ashland Ave. 773-687-9977 Contemporary $30 to $40 Chef-partner: Edward Kim Dining Guide listing Edward Kim’s adventurous ode to a night market somewhere between Bangkok and Seoul—and follow-up to Ruxbin, his beloved BYO down the street—wins the award for this year’s most idiosyncratic opening. Crab brain fried rice? Kimchi empanadas … Read more
The Winchester 1001 N. Winchester Ave. 773-698-8703 American $25 to $35 Chef: Greg Bastien Dining Guide listing Website Former Sepia general manager Chris Pappas and the Dawson designer Dan Sheehy teamed up to create possibly the best neighborhood spot in the city: perky room, sweet staff, ridiculously inexpensive, open all day. And Greg … Read more
Travelle The Langham, 330 N. Wabash Ave. 312-923-7705 Mediterranean $50 to $60 Chef: Tim Graham Dining Guide listing Website And so, hotel dining. Not the trending newbies accessible through a street-level revolving door, but bona fide Hotel Restaurants that require an elevator to whisk you upstairs, where a gracious host awaits. Such is … Read more
The Radler 2375 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-276-0270 German $20 to $30 Chef-partner: Nathan Sears Dining Guide listing Website Gone are the days of German cuisine as a target of “wurst”-related jokes. In 2013, Deutschland scored more restaurants in the Michelin Guide than any country outside of France. So when Vie veterans Nathan Sears … Read more
Chop Shop 2033 W. North Ave. 773 537-4440 American $35 to $45 Dining Guide listing Website Joshua Marrelli A restaurant that doubles as a craft beer bar, triples as a gourmet butcher shop, and quadruples as a party and music space? This evokes images of couples canoodling over oysters and pints of Lagunitas … Read more
Baffo 44 E. Grand Ave. 312-521-8701 Italian $60 to $70 Chef: Eli Anderson Dining Guide listing Website If Eataly, with its clogged aisles of giddy tourists, is Disneyland for food fans, then Baffo, the 65-seat white-tableclothed pasteria downstairs, is the refined counterpart that Euro Disney was meant to be. You’re in for laid-back … Read more
