Chicago's Best Restaurants Restaurants near WhirlyBall restaurant

avec River North

From One Off Hospitality, the restaurant group that brought you such Chicago classics as Blackbird, Publican and avec, comes avec River North, specializing in sophisticated yet casual Mediterranean-influenced cuisine

Piccolo Sogno

On Chicago’s near north side, Piccolo Sogno is the “little dream” of Chef Tony Priolo, whose goal has been to serve the very finest in rustic Italian cuisine, using locally...

Esme

One of the most exciting restaurants to open in Chicago since the pandemic hit, Esme brings together art and food in a combiantion that as lovely to look at as it is delicious to eat.

Adorn

Adorn at the Four Seasons is a lively new restaurant from James Beard award-winning Chef Jonathon Sawyer, serving exceptional food and full of surprises.

Portillo's Hot Dogs / Barnelli's Pasta Bowl

The restaurant chain launched in 1963 out of the founder's trailer. And now he boasts more than 48 units all over the country, including Alaska. Portillo's is most famous for fast food made to order, including hot dogs, fried chicken sandwiches and burgers. The chain has also developed a cult following for its chocolate cake AND chocolate cake milk shake.

Momotaro

Three levels of spectacular modern Japanese dining can be experienced at this sprawling West Loop project from Boka Restaurant Group (Boka, GT Fish & Oyster, Girl and the Goat). The top level is for private dining, the main level is designated for the full dining experience, and the lower-level izakaya

avec

An instant success when it debuted in 2003, avec is the second restaurant from One Off Hospitality, the group behind Blackbird, Publican, The Violet Hour, Big Star and Nico Osteria. The restaurant, specializes in Mediterranean-inspired small plate dishes, vino and beer.

Marchesa

Kathryn Sullivan Alvera (Narcisse, Domaine and Prosecco) and partner Jason Clark are behind this sleek, multi-level River North establishment with a vintage Parisian vibe.

Alinea

James Beard Award winner Grant Achatz, who won the coveted "Outstanding Chef Award" in 2008, is one of the city's most acclaimed chefs. His unique, cutting-edge cuisine, full of twists and turns, comes with equally remarkable service, and an extremely high price.

Le Colonial - Chicago

Le Colonial, with locations in New York and San Francisco, also boasts a popular outpost in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. After more than 20 years in its original space on Rush Street,

Dear Margaret

Dear Margaret in Lakeview offers a type of “ethnic” cuisine rarely seen in Chicago: French-Canadian, the food of French immigrants who settled in the Great White North and brought their love of food with them

Andros Taverna

Many Greek restaurants serve basically the same food; not so at Andros Taverna, where Chef Doug Psaltis serves contemporary Mediterranean food inspired by the classic taverns of Greece, as well as a few items prepared using family recipes.

Margeaux Brasserie

One of the country's foremost celebrity chefs is finally in Chicago, as Michael Mina marks his local debut with this French stunner. Adjoined by a casual French patisserie called Petit Margeaux, this elegant brasserie on the third floor of the Waldorf Astoria Chicago hotel features all the upscale stylings one would expect of a Parisian parlor.

Armitage Alehouse

In Lincoln Park, Armitage Alehouse captures the vibe of a London pub with a wood-burning fireplace, a piano player, and select ales and cocktails.