Best of Chicago

40+ restaurants I love in the Windy City.

Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio

Last week (or was it the week before?) I wrote about a weekend spent shopping in Chicago, and I mentioned some places to eat.

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People wanted some clarity and a fuller list. So with apologies galore to anyone I missed, places I love that I forgot about—the lack of inclusion is an oversight on my part and I alone am to blame. Also, many people know I love premium Japanese eateries and any Chinese food and you won’t find a lot here for that because when I go to Chicago, it’s not what I eat. There are some superb restaurants of all kinds here, I just haven’t been or haven’t been recently enough. I hate these lists because invariably I tick off a friend, but here it goes…

40+ Great Places to Eat in Chicago

Pequod’s Pizza. Delicious.

Pequod’s: My favorite tavern to enjoy a quasi–Chicago style pizza. That says a lot coming from a New Yorker.

Oriole: Noah Sandoval is one of the most underrated, least-talked-about superstar chefs in America—despite a two-star Michelin restaurant that is a mind-blower.

Ever: The latest from the award-winning Curtis Duffy. Prepare for greatness. Worth EVERy penny too. See what I did there?

Bar Mar/Jaleo/Bazaar Meat: I love José Andrés’ food and he is my friend, but go eat at Bazaar Meat and then talk to me. I think it’s the best "meat restaurant" in America.