Tag: Dining Reports

On the corner of Wells and Grand, chefs Chris Pandel (Swift & Sons) and Lee Wolen (Alla Vita) delivered Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna in March 2025, part of…

Despite its location on River North’s most notorious nightlife strip, Theory offers an elevated sports bar experience for serious fans who still want to have fun. Opened in…

Chef John Manion’s family moved to São Paulo, Brazil, when he was eight years old. Those formative years as a Midwest transplant in South America shaped his perspective.…

SoulFood Lounge 2, located on Chicago’s South Side, fuses Italian, Mexican, American, and Asian ingredients and flavors with soul food. Chef Quentin Love and Tiffany Abram’s Beverly restaurant…

Soloway Coffee owners Artur and Iryna Yuzvik are continuing to charm the Lincoln Park neighborhood with their new, 26-seat all-day cafe and bakery, Abrah. The menu utilizes homemade…

Book a seat at the counter to watch Fenton and his team in action. Fenton’s conversations with guests and an upbeat Latin soundtrack give the meal the feel…

Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen is a Palestinian restaurant nestled in a strip mall that is always buzzing. Sudki Abdullah opened the restaurant in 1992, and Amer Abdullah, his son,…

On bustling 53rd Street, Virtue stands out. Owner and James Beard Award-winning chef Erick Williams and Emerging Chef award recipient Damarr Brown’s Hyde Park restaurant is an ode…

Tucked into West Town, Lao Peng You is a Chinese spot centered on dumplings and noodles — dishes rooted in memory, ritual, and family. Founded in 2019 by…

“Anything this good is worth the wait,” said co-owner José Correa, as a line of people at this casual Roscoe Village restaurant grows. The family-run restaurant moved to…

Despite its unusual name, Creepies is a charming neo-bistro that feels right at home on West Loop’s Restaurant Row. David and Anna Posey weave French technique with Midwestern…

Arguably of the best Mexican restaurants Chicago has to offer, Istmo celebrates the cuisine of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the Oaxacan region that chef Carlos Muñoz calls home.…

Situated between a muffler shop and a strip mall, No Pasa Nada is the kind of place you could easily miss if not for the aromas of asada…

Emidio Oceguera has managed some of Chicago’s best-known restaurants, including De Cero and Chicago Cut. When he began entertaining the idea of opening his own place, his parents…

Hyde Park’s bustling 53rd Street has long been packed with dining options, but it wasn’t until Cantina Rosa opened in 2024 that the neighborhood finally had a cocktail…

With papel picado hanging from the ceiling and sombreros lining the wall, it’d be easy to write off Manchamanteles as cheesy. But then you taste the food and…

Del Sur Bakery has been one of Chicago’s buzziest 2025 openings, drawing steady lines from morning to midday. Under pastry chef Justin Lerias, the shop blends Filipino heritage…

Led by HaiSous’ Thai Dang, Crying Tiger arrived as one of 2025’s most anticipated openings thanks to the celebrated chef and the backing of powerhouse restaurant group Lettuce…

Monster Ramen stands out in Chicago’s crowded ramen scene with its beef bone broth and a front-row view of the making of the springy noodles that fill each…