Food and drink
Deep-dish pizza, hot dogs, fine dining and the daily specials.
Chicago's Best Burgers
This is the Midwest - meat and potatoes are kind of a "thing" here. Burgers and fries? Just a variation on a theme.
Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Chicago
As anyone who has given up meat (for any length of time) knows, eating out when meat is off the menu can be challenging.
Farmer's Markets in Chicago
Summer in Chicago means farmers markets, and these aren't just for locals stocking up on fresh veggies, fruit, breads and other groceries for the week.
How to Get a Reservation at NEXT
Shortly after Schwa opened, a little joke about the BYOB gastronomic restaurant starting floating around. Getting a reservation there was compared to trying to win back an ex-girlfriend.
Eat This: El Filet at Tango Sur
Chicago is known for having impeccable steakhouses, but dining at these downtown meat palaces comes with a high price tags.
Eat This: Mon Ami Gabi
Mon Ami Gabi is one of the dozens of restaurants owned by the Lettuce Entertain You Group; there's also an outpost in the Paris hotel in Las Vegas .
Eat This: Longman & Eagle
Situated in an unassuming square grey building on the quiet corner of Kedzie and Schubert (just across from the Blue Line stop) in Logan Square, Longman & Eagle doesn't look like much at first…
Food Cart Dining in Chicago
Portland and Austin have entire street corners and parking lots devoted to food carts. In Los Angeles, they roam the streets selling tacos and tamales.
Michelin Starred Restaurants in Chicago
Last week, the Michelin guide unveiled its star ratings for Chicago restaurants. Only 23 restaurants got stars, and a total of 30 stars were given out among the recipients.
Eat This: Girl and The Goat
Fans of Bravo's Top Chef show know Stephanie Izard as the winner of season four of the reality show/cooking competition, while many Chicagoans have long known her as a talented local chef.
Drink This: Brunch at Eve
No, the above is not a typo. I really am recommending brunch as a libation. But this isn't just any brunch, it's one Chicago's best "drunken brunches" - a bottomless mimosa-fest of food, fun and…
Eat This: Mitch's Special Rolls at Toro Sushi
There are countless sushi spots in Chicago. Dozens of them are located close to downtown and offer an upscale atmosphere. Plenty of them are even popular with locals.
Drink This: Kit Kat Martinis
The Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club , located in the Boystown section of Lakeview, is a bit of a mixed bag.
Eat This: Organic Maple- Caramelized Bacon Gelato at Paciugo
Located in Chicago's bustling Lakeview neighborhood (at Melrose and Broadway), Paciugo is a newcomer to the city's already full ice-cream and gelato scene.
Drink This: Speakeasy-Style Cocktails at The Violet Hour
There’s no place quite like The Violet Hour in the city of Chicago. Modeled on the speakeasies of old, it’s not your typical bar.
Eat This: Quail Egg Truffle Ravioli at Schwa
Getting a reservation at Schwa isn't easy. The dining room seats only a handful of people, and generally it's not sat to capacity, which means only a dozen or so people have the privilege of dining…
Drink This: Cesar's "Killer" Margaritas
Chicago is no stranger to swanky cocktails. While the city isn't credited with being the birthplace of classic drinks like the martini, manhattan or tom collins, it's always been a high-class…
Eat This: The Scallop Motoyaki at Bonsoiree
Chicago offers thousands of options for hungry visitors. The percentage of those restaurants offering high-quality, inventive food using fresh ingredients prepared in unusual ways is slightly less.
Chicago's Best Ice Cream
In case you haven't noticed, it's hot in Chicago in summer. But here's one delicious way to cool down - enjoy some refreshing ice cream.
What to Eat at Green City Market
No summer Saturday (or Wednesday) morning is complete for me without a trip to the Green City Market in Lincoln Park.
The Best Outdoor Dining Spots in Chicago
There's just something about eating outside in Chicago in the summer. Whether your view is of the city below, of the Chicago River, or just of the throngs of people rushing by, it seems that eating…
How to Plan the Perfect Summer Picnic in Chicago
Picnicking is an excellent way to save money on dining costs while traveling, as well as a relaxing way to observe daily life in a city while still eating quickly so you can get on with your…
Chicago Fine Dining: Tru
For over 10 years, Tru has been considered one of Chicago's top restaurants for fine dining.
The Best Downtown Dining Options in Chicago
There are excellent restaurants to be found all over Chicago, in a range of prices and cuisines.
Daily Food and Drink Specials in Chicago
Because of Chicago's slightly wacky liquor laws, there's actually no such thing as "happy hour" in the city, at least not in the traditional sense.
Friday Food and Drink Specials in Chicago
Friday is undoubtedly the most popular day of the work-week for Chicagoans to go out to eat or drink, and there's a surprising number of deals and discounts available on this day to start your…
Thursday Food and Drink Specials in Chicago
You'll find fewer food and drink deals in Chicago on Thursday than you will earlier in the week; most establishments aren't as desperate for business on Thursdays, as it's already a more popular day.
Wednesday Food and Drink Specials in Chicago
As the work-week pushes on, many Chicagoans need a "hump day" pick-me up. Luckily, there are plenty of pubs, bars and restaurants that offer dining deals and discounts midweek.
Tuesday Food and Drink Specials in Chicago
Like Monday , Tuesday in Chicago also sees a good share of excellent food and drink specials.
Where to Eat Near the Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry does have two onsite restaurants. The Brain Food Court offers pizzas, salads and sandwiches.
Monday Food and Drink Specials in Chicago
Monday is a great day for food and drink specials in Chicago. Most people are still recovering from the weekend and so Monday is traditionally a slower day for many establishments.
Where to Eat and Drink Near Wrigley Field
Most people attending a game at Wrigley Field tend to make a day of it, starting with pre-game meals and drinks and ending with a few more (usually consolation) drinks after the game ends.
Put Chicago-Style Pizza to the Test in Rome
As residents of the city that created deep-dish pizza , many Chicagoans believe their city has the best pizza on the planet.
How to Find Free and Super Cheap Food and Drinks in Chicago
Chicago is a city where you can go out dressed to the nines, indulge in a lavish meal, see a world class show, sip fancy cocktails with a view and generally live the high life.
Dining Around the World in Chicago: The Best Restaurants for Foreign Cuisine
One of the best aspects of the Chicago dining scene - aside from BYOB restaurants and all the phenomenal chefs the city is home to - is the abundance of international options available at every price…
Breweries and Brewpubs in Chicago
The city of Chicago may have been slow to the micro-brew game, but she's certainly catching up.
Best Brunch Spots in Chicago
Brunch in Chicago isn't just a late breakfast on Sunday morning, it's a whole ritual that involves good company, creative dishes, and often copious amounts of mimosas and bloody marys.
They Aren't Just Hot Dogs: Tips for Visiting Hot Doug's
The very first time I went to Hot Doug's , "Chicago's Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium", I was standing in a long line that snaked out of the building and around the corner when a car…
Deep Dish (or Thin Crust) Pizza in Chicago
Deep-dish pizza is nearly synonymous with Chicago. New Yorkers love to engage in the New York vs.
Chicago-style Hot Dogs
When people think of traditional Chicago foods, two things come to mind: deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs.
Dining on a Budget in Chicago
Eating cheaply in Chicago is easy. While the city has more than it's share of pricey places to indulge on creatively crafted multi-course tasting menus and delightful delicacies from around the…
The Complete Guide to BYOB Restaurants in Chicago
Dining in Chicago, as in any major city, can be expensive. At a "nicer" place, you can figure on anywhere from $20 to $50 for an a la carte entree, and $100 to $150 (or even much more) per person for…
Eight Chicago Restaurants Worth a Splurge
Sometimes an expensive meal is just worth it - both worth the price and worth the nights spent eating rice and beans in order to replace the money spent.