Packages: Chicago’s Best New Restaurants

Five new spots where the food is worth waiting (and waiting) in line for

  Gogi 6240 N. California Ave. 773-274-6669 Korean $30 to $40 Chef: Chris Kim Website   Anyone who’s into Korean barbecue will likely remain loyal to his go- to place. But Gogi, the brainchild of a former rock promoter named Pete Cho and his mother, Stella, entered the debate with a friendly, modern approach that … Read more

Tanta Best Meat Dish Rib eye a lo pobre Wet-aged beef in chorrillana sauce topped with a fried egg Kinmont Best Appetizer Salmon tartare A fine dice mixed with kicky condiments and ready to spread on housemade crisps Travelle Best Dessert Nutella baklava Delicate phyllo filled with Nutella ganache and chopped walnuts The Radler Best … 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

How many of this year’s best new restaurants have you been to? Use this checklist to count, then share your results on Twitter or Facebook. Or, print this PDF and take the list with you.

Five more to watch for

  Beatrix Aloft, 519 N. Clark St. 312-284-1377 American $35 to $45 Chef-partners: John Chiakulas, Rita Dever, Susan Weaver Dining Guide listing Website   The current line on Lettuce Entertain You is that the restaurant group has recaptured the hip reputation it once enjoyed. Most attribute the renaissance to the offspring of its chairman, Rich … Read more

  Stella Barra Pizzeria 1954 N. Halsted St. 773-634-4101 Pizza $20 to $30 Dining Guide listing Website   Jeff Mahin Jeff Mahin, the Lettuce Entertain You chef who practically perfected the doughnut at Do-Rite, works similar magic on crust at this sleek artisanal pizza parlor, a sibling of the two in Southern California. He and … Read more

  A10 1462 E. 53rd St. 773-288-1010 Italian/French $30 to $40 Chef-owner: Matthias Merges Dining Guide listing Website   Matthias Merges (Yusho, Billy Sunday), Charlie Trotter’s right-hand man for 14 years, opened A10 on November 5, the same day his mentor died. In doing so, he simultaneously paid tribute to Trotter and stepped outside the … 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