|
|
Thursday
|
|
Mostly sunny. Mild.
|
80°F/
65°F
|
|
Friday
|
|
Isolated tstorms late. More clouds than sun. Mild.
|
80°F/
65°F
|
|
Saturday
|
|
|
Tstorms early. Decreasing cloudiness. Warm.
|
86°F/
69°F
|
|
Sunday
|
|
|
Scattered clouds. Warm.
|
84°F/
71°F
|
|
Monday
|
|
|
Scattered clouds. Warm.
|
80°F/
69°F
|
|
|
EXPLORE CHICAGO | | | | | | | 1723 N Halsted
Chicago,
IL
60614
312-867-0110 | | | | | Description: OLD TOWN. Prepare for sensory overload when you reserve a dinner at this hotspot hailed as one of the best restaurants in the nation. Celebrated chef Grant Achatz, a former apprentice to Thomas Keller (of French Laundry fame), steers willing diners through meals comprised of 12 or 24 tastes of culinary nirvana. Many "courses," each consisting of a single, flavorful bite, are presented on serviceware tailored to a particular dish; in-the-know servers instruct you on how to consume each one. Usual textures, temperatures, and tastes of familiar ingredients are redefined and synthesized in dishes like peach with smoked paprika and carrot, or trout roe with cucumber and coconut. Unexpected platings and presentations are part of the sheer delight of eating in this sleek, minimalist space. A sommelier can suggest the perfect pairings for your gustatory explorations. Twelve-course tasting menu, $135; 24-course tour menu, $195.
|
|
|
| 339 N Dearborn St
Chicago,
IL
60610
312-755-9463 | | | | | Description: RIVER NORTH. Fine food and wines highlight the appeal of this city gem, a favorite of sophisticates. As you scan the fabulous New American menu, notice that each dish is paired with the staff's wine recommendations. At lunch, patrons are wowed by the likes of Niçoise salad with seared ahi tuna and sherry-walnut vinaigrette, and pesto fettuccine with Gulf shrimp. Plan on a leisurely meal the wine list offers many excuses for enjoyment and edification. N.B. A quick lunch option helps folks on the clock.
|
|
|
| 140 E Walton Pl
Chicago,
IL
60611
312-787-2200 | | | | | Description: MAGNIFICENT MILE. This classically elegant restaurant is located in the Drake Hotel and has become a Chicago institution. It's definitely the place to go for old-fashioned pampering and a fresh seafood meal. Order the Dover sole, the coconut shrimp, the baked Chilean sea bass, or the boiled Pacific red snapper. The interior hearkens back to the shipping days of yore, with red-checkered tablecloths, exposed wood beams, weather vanes, and stuffed sailfish. Business dressy attire. Jackets preferred for dinner. Reservations necessary.
|
|
|
| 816 W Armitage Ave
Chicago,
IL
60614
773-248-6228 | | | | | Description: LINCOLN PARK. Presenting ever-changing daily menus, Charlie Trotter's offers an experience you will not soon forget. The highly touted restaurant has received many awards, and the wine list has no rival in the city. The eclectic cuisine offers unusual yet pleasing combinations, letting the purity of the food shine through. Representative dishes include roasted monkfish tail with yellowfoot mushrooms, veal heart with celery root ravioli, and suckling lamb shoulder with aged manchego and garlic. Dinner seatings require reservations, and the smartly-clad staff take professionalism and service seriously. EL: Brown Line to Armitage
|
|
|
| 8989 S Archer Ave
Willow Springs,
IL
60480-1205
708-839-8000 | | | | | Description: WILLOW SPRINGS. Is it better in the suburbs? Before you answer, start with a glass of ruby merlot limited vintage, of course accompanied by a napoleon of earthy mushrooms and smoked duck. Or, try a chilled, crisp chardonnay with curried crab and Maine lobster salad, enlivened with mango and lemon ginger. Next, have grilled ostrich, braised pork shank, duck breast, or sauteed skatewing. Over 700 bottles of wine are on offer, 60 of them are under $30, and 42 are available by the glass. This wonderful restaurant, run by the Courtright husband/wife team, could stand on its own anywhere, city proper or not-so-sleepy suburbs. In December, lunch is served Tuesday through Friday.
|
|
|
| 535 N Wells St
Chicago,
IL
60610
312-755-1790 | | | | | Description: RIVER NORTH. Suzy Crofton has made a name for herself on Chicago's culinary circuit by offering some of the area's most delicately flavored dishes. The understated, posh dining room is small and tranquil with pale gray walls, contemporary art, and gilt accents. The real spectacle is the menu, which offers seasonal dishes like crab cakes with sweet red peppers, Cajun barbecued shrimp atop a mound of sweet potato hay, and barbecued pork loin with Yukon gold mashed potatoes and smoked apple chutney. Absent of trends, the room's quiet luxury and the food speak for themselves. EL: Brown Line to Merchandise Mart
|
|
|
| 868 N Franklin St
Chicago,
IL
60610
312-482-9179 | | | | | Description: RIVER NORTH. Chef Michael Kornick's much-loved eatery is one of the most hip and happening destinations in the city, and it's definitely a place to see and be seen. Delightfully presented and decadently delicious, its contemporary American cuisine features such innovative dishes as venison with onions braised in rich zinfandel and served with apple endive salad, rack of pork with softened cabbage and figs, and homemade pasta tossed with butter and capped with black truffle shavings. Desserts by resident pastry chef Amy Sampson will have you swooning. EL: Brown or Purple Line to Chicago
|
|
|
| 440 W Randolph St
Chicago,
IL
60606
312-575-9900 | | | | | Description: WEST LOOP. Dress for success and make your way to this restaurant, where heads turn and people sit up and take notice. The massive dining room features a 20-foot waterfall and a large, circular granite caviar and champagne bar. The New American menu features fresh seafood and thick cuts of meat, notably lobster, oysters, ahi tuna, veal, and prime-aged steaks. The wine list is hefty, and nine pages showcases wines from across the globe, grouped by varietal, producer, and taste. Reservations are recommended for Ghostbar, an ultra-hip lounge.
|
|
|
| The Café at The Ritz-Carlton160 E Pearson St
Chicago,
IL
60611
312-573-5160 | | | | | Description: STREETERVILLE. This elegant, welcoming cafe offers soothing colors, striped banquettes, and a lovely view of the lobby fountain. As such, it's a charming spot throughout the day. The menu features an abundance of soups, salads, and appetizers; main courses include sautéed whitefish with fingerling potatoes and roasted half chicken with sweet potato wedges and creamed spinach.
|
|
|
| 397 Virginia St
Crystal Lake,
IL
60014
815-356-1776 | | | | | Description: CRYSTAL LAKE. Creative New American cuisine is the fine art of choice at this Crystal Lake favorite that crafts its cuisine out of fresh, seasonal ingredients. Wild game such as ostrich, buffalo, and elk are presented as well as more traditional offerings such as rack of lamb and seafood. Try the vegetarian pasta, the grilled Indiana chicken, or the veal and mushroom meatloaf. An exemplary tapas dinner is available the first and last Thursday of every month. The bar serves wine, microbrewed beer, single malt scotch, and port.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
