Chicago’s Essential Outdoor Dining Spots

Playful cocktail spot Lilac Tiger has brought fun drinks and top-notch bar fare (think duck fried rice, tandoori honey fried chicken sandwiches, and “poutine” with Korean curry sauce, paneer, and kimchi) to the former home of Indian restaurant Wazwan. Helmed by a trio of hospitality veterans — chef Zubair Mohajir, Arami owner Ty Fujimura, and chef Won Kim (Kimski) — Lilac Tiger is adding a 25-seat patio out front with space for outdoor grilling. Coach House, Mohajir’s upscale tasting menu restaurant, has claimed the back patio for a cocktail-focused section of its own.