Events Newsletters Podcast Subscribe
Events Newsletters
Podcast Subscribe
Ep. 7: Reviewing While High Makes John a Better Critic
Dining & Drinking

The Case for Reviewing While High

By John Kessler
Chicago’s dining critic explains why cannabis makes him better at his job. Read more
Ep. 7: Reviewing While High Makes John a Better Critic
Chicago’s 50 Best Restaurants, Ranked
The Best New Restaurants
Chicago’s 10 Best New Bars, Ranked
We’re Obsessed With the Stuffed Plantain at Mahari
By John Kessler
The flavors, like many at the Hyde Park restaurant, represent the whole African diaspora yet are of a piece. Read more

Sponsored Content
Celebrate National Lambrusco Day with Riunite for a Chance to Win a Year’s Worth of Pizza
Craft an exceptional cocktail with the unrivaled smoothness of Clase Azul Tequila Reposado. Read more
See All

Hot List
The 10 Hottest Restaurants in Chicago Right Now
The 10 Hottest Restaurants in Chicago Right Now: June-July 2025
The 10 Hottest Restaurants in Chicago: May 2025
The 10 Hottest Restaurants in Chicago: April 2025
See All

Reviews
Review: Cafe Yaya is Becoming Our New Standby
Review: Thalaiva’s Spotlights the Southern Soul of India
Review: Il Carciofo Is an Uneven Roman Holiday
Review: You Should Try Cellar Door Provisions Again
See All

Neighborhood Finds
Rendang Republic Offers Indonesian-Chicago Mash-Ups
Why Nine Garden Is Our Shanghai Spot
Taquizas Valdez Makes the Best Mexican Sandwich in Town
Novel Pizza Hits the Sweet and Hot Notes
See All

In The Kitchen
How to Make Crust Fund’s Royko Pizza
How to Make Kumiko’s Potato Salad
How to Make Mirra’s Roti Quesadilla
More In The Kitchen

Latest
We’re Obsessed With the Stuffed Plantain at Mahari
By John Kessler
The flavors, like many at the Hyde Park restaurant, represent the whole African diaspora yet are of a piece. Read more
The Case for Reviewing While High
By John Kessler
Chicago’s dining critic explains why cannabis makes him better at his job. Read more
Ep. 7: Reviewing While High Makes John a Better Critic
John explains how adding a little THC to his dining experience helps him de-stress and focus on the moment. Plus, Amy describes the perfect Filipino food crawl. Read more
Rendang Republic Offers Indonesian-Chicago Mash-Ups
By Amy Cavanaugh
John Avila's counter-service spot in Lake View gives his fan base something to cheer about. Read more
The Four Best Soft Serves
By Lisa Futterman
From spicy sundaes to classic dips, soft serve seems to be everywhere this summer. These are our favorites. Read more