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1 / 10
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Hope you speak Thai. It’s about to become Chicago’s first language. 953 W. Fulton Market; 312-226-0858. PLUS: Jeff Ruby's thoughts on the new menu » | Penny Pollack on why Ruby's wrong »
Photograph: Penny Pollack -
2 / 10
PERENNIAL VIRANT
Any city snob who whined about hiking out to the burbs for Paul Virant’s cooking: Here you go. 1800 N. Lincoln Ave.; 312-981-7070. Read our review »
Photograph: Penny Pollack -
3 / 10
ROOTS HANDMADE PIZZA
Pizza, hot dogs, beer. Outdoor seating. Say, do you think Roots will be packed all summer? 1924 W. Chicago Ave.; 773-645-4949
Photograph: Courtesy of Roots Handmade Pizza -
4 / 10
GT FISH & OYSTER
In this locavore moment, how did oysters get to be the hottest food in the grid? 531 N. Wells St.; 312-929-3501. Read our review »
Photograph: Anna Knott -
5 / 10
THE BURGER PHILOSOPHY
This Edgewater revelation is like a Five Guys that went to grad school. 1541 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.; 773-944-0373
Photograph: Courtesy of The Burger Philosophy -
6 / 10
FISH BAR
There’s no crisp pork belly, no pulled pork, and no anything wrapped in prosciutto. Apparently, you can have a hit without pork. 2956 N. Sheffield Ave.; 773-687-8177
Photograph: Courtesy of Fish Bar -
7 / 10
RUSTIC HOUSE
Leave it to Jason Paskewitz to muscle in between Alinea and Charlie Trotter’s—with highfalutin rotisserie, no less. 1967 N. Halsted St.; 312-929-3227. Brows pics of the halibut, gnocchi, and other dishes from Rustic House in our photo-blog, What Penny Eats »
Photograph: Courtesy of Rustic House -
8 / 10
BITE CAFE
There’s no better music venue/restaurant combination right now than Bite and the adjoining Empty Bottle. 1039 N. Western Ave.; 773-395-2483. Bite Cafe is our pick for our favorite new BYO in the Best of Chicago 2011 list. See other winners in dining here »
Photograph: Anna Knott -
9 / 10
PAZZI DI PIZZA
Proving once again that Neapolitan pizza made in an imported wood-burning oven by a pizzaiolo is America’s food. 105 S. York St., Elmhurst; 630-279-2323
Photograph: Courtesy of Pazzi di Pizza -
10 / 10
THE BEDFORD
Striking space, gorgeous crowd. If only the menu held the same allure. 1612 W. Division St.; 773-235-8800. Read about nightlife writer Amalie Drury's night out at The Bedford »
Photograph: Anna Knott