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You think of Chicago as a city that has a lively culinary scene with everything from world renowned fine dining to the unforseen hidden gem serving delicious and flavourful dishes. The best restaurants in Chicago are such a range of delicious dining experiences that whether you are a local or a visitor to the Windy City, you are sure to find a local experience right for you. Chicago’s best restaurants never disappoint, with deep-dish pizza, contemporary American cuisine, and global flavors.
You’re looking for an exceptional place to eat, and there’s no need to look further. In this blog, we will lead you through the top 10 best restaurants in Chicago, and we will give you an insight into the vast amount of culinary delights that Chicago has to offer. So let’s get into the best of Chicago.
10. The Purple Pig—Magificent Mile
The Purple Pig is probably one of the best Chicago restaurants set along the bustling Magnificent Mile, featuring Mediterranean-inspired dishes and an extensive wine list. They call this trendy spot a fun, casual place to share a lot of small plates.
It’s all charcuterie boards and rich, delicious things like roasted bone marrow and crispy pig ears—The Purple Pig’s menu. Signature dishes include a mashup of meats, cheese, and Mediterranean flavors that foodies really need to check out as a place to eat. Complete with good food and drinks and lively dining, The Purple Pig is one of the best restaurants in Chicago that you should try.
9. Oriole-West Loop
There’s no doubt to be found in the ranks of the best restaurants in Chicago at Oriole for those who are willing to shuck out the cash for fine dining. Oriole, home of a Michelin-starred tasting menu, is located in Chicago’s trendy West Loop neighborhood. High-quality ingredients plus thoughtful pairings plus innovative techniques = each dish taking a leap up a new level.
Oriole’s tasting menu changes with each new day, so you will always have something new to taste. From delicate appetizers to rich, multicourse entrees, the menu is a handpicked assembly of contemporary American cuisine featuring artistry. Oriole is one of the best restaurants in Chicago in which you can dine with luxury and then forget about it!
8. Girl & The Goat—West Loop
Another one of the best restaurants in Chicago in the bold-flavored and inventive dishes category is Girl & The Goat in Chicago’s West Loop. Chef Stephanie Izard led this restaurant into international fame for being so inventive within its global cuisine, melding multiple international influences and ingredients.
Girl & The Goat’s menu features wood-fired oysters, crispy pork shank, and roasted goat, each with a little twist. The restaurant beams with liveliness, upon which it boasts a comprehensive drink menu employing craft cocktails and local brews, which is popular with both home locals and those who visit. Girl & The Goat is one of the best Chicago’s restaurants if you’re looking for a place where you can consistently be satisfied with taste and creativity.
7. Alinea-Lincoln Park
If you’re looking for an avant-garde dining experience, Alinea is probably one of the best restaurants in Chicago (if not the country). Renaissance expertly earned one Michelin star for its innovative cuisine, and Alinea, consistently rated as one of the top fine-dining establishments in the world, has had Michelin stars for its work. Chef Grant Achatz invites diners to dine with the sculptor of the corrupt food: he creates a theatrical, multi-course tasting menu expressly intended to reinvent conventions of food and create spectacle on the plate.
You get an immersive experience, which is part artistry, part experience, and part flavor. Alinea is definitely one of Chicago’s best restaurants, with its molecular gastronomy, interactive elements, and beautifully plated food.
6. Multiple Locations, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
Lou Malnati Chicago Deep Dish Pizza is one of the best Chicago classic Chicago deep dish restaurants in which you can indulge in this iconic dish as it’s one of the best. Lou Malnati’s Pizza is known for its buttery crust, rich tomato sauce, and gooey cheese, prompting it to weave its way onto the ranks of Chicago’s best pizzerias.
Whatever your reason to visit Chicago (and Lou Malnati’s for deep dish is a must), whether you are a local or first timer there, Lou Malnati’s pizzeria really is a place where you need to eat. Multiple locations around the city ensure there’s a convenient location to find that Chicago bread and place a slice of one of its best dishes. For a Chicago-style pizza taste, Lou Malnati’s is one of the best restaurants in Chicago to have that taste.
5. The Aviary—West Loop
The best restaurants in Chicago to visit are for those who enjoy a high-end cocktail experience from places such as The Aviary in the West Loop. In a world where already high technology and equipment have become commonplace in the bar, this upscale cocktail lounge redefines the art of mixology, with guests experiencing a creative and immersive drinking experience. These innovative cocktails come in odd-shaped glasses or are presented in a way that you wouldn’t entirely expect cocktails to be presented, making a cocktail a unique experience.
The Aviary is sleek and modern with a warm atmosphere and an intimate yet upscale feel for those wanting to experience expert mixers and small bites. The Aviary is one of the best restaurants in Chicago if you’re looking for one of the best restaurants in Chicago that offers a good night out.
4. Smyth-West Loop
Another Michelin-starred gem in the West Loop, Smyth is also one of Chicago’s best restaurants for excellent fine dining. Run by the chefs, John and Karen Shields, the restaurant features locally sourced, seasonal flavors served on a menu. Beautifully presented, each dish is an experience (reference the tasting menu, which is full of the best of modern American cuisine).
Smyth is as intimate as a setting can get, and its top-tier service is unmatched in Chicago. If you’re in the market for an upscale setting with cutting-edge food, Smyth is one of the best restaurants in Chicago to avoid.
3. Fulton Market District/Brooklyn’s East Village
The Publican is one of Chicago’s best restaurants if you’re looking to enjoy some good, heavy craft beer and hearty food. Based in Chicago’s Fulton Market District, this artichoke’s domain is pork, seafood, and farm-to-table style. The publican is all about feeling comfortable, served with sophistication, and focusing on the ingredients from all around.
With its communal seating and busy atmosphere, the restaurant is a comfortable, but elevated, place for groups to dine, or casually. The Publican is one of the best restaurants in Chicago if you’re looking for a great meal with a pint of craft beer… or if you’re just looking for great people.
2. A Signature Room at the 95th Magnificent Mile
One of the very best restaurants in Chicago for a meal with a view is The Signature Room at the 95th. This upscale restaurant delivers a fine dining experience with floor-to-ceiling, 360-view windows from the 95th floor of the John Hancock Center.
Contemporary American dishes are found on the menu of The Signature Room and chosen for their freshness and classic flavors. Great food paired with a stellar view would make this one of the best Chicago restaurants to book if you want a romantic dinner, special occasion, or memorable evening out.
1. Next: West Loop
Next, a Chef Grant Achatz dining experience tops our list of Chicago’s best restaurants, as the man who created Alinea also does. Next stands apart because its menu shifts periodically, meaning guests who come back can switch between themes, seasons, or even regions. However, for each menu, each theme is picked without fail, carefully combining to craft an unforgettably unique experience.
From giving Next a menu based on the cuisine of a certain country to even giving Next a futuristic dining experience, Next doesn’t guarantee that your meal is just a dinner but an immersive adventure. No matter how old and tired an idea seems, a restaurant will constantly be pushed to find new ways to adapt it, which puts the restaurant firmly at the top of the list of the best restaurants in Chicago.
Conclusion
Variety in cuisine is one of the finest things about Chicago’s culinary scene, and you’re sure to find something that will please your palate, with everything from a deep-dish pizza to a Michelin-starred tasting menu. Delicious Chicago food is something, but Chicago’s best restaurants take it one step further by serving up wonderful dining experiences that truly speak to the city’s dynamic vibe. I mean, between Alinea and Lou Malnati’s, there is no lack of anywhere to ingest a gastronomic experience for the ages.
From these top 10 best restaurants in Chicago, each has its own take on cuisine, which together shows that Chicago can have both tradition and innovation. This makes getting into these restaurants even more appealing, so whether you’re local or visiting, be sure to eat at some of these awesome restaurants to experience some of the best food that Chicago has to offer.
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FAQs
- What must-try dishes are in Chicago?
In Chicago, you must try Chicago deep dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches, and hot dogs at local eateries. - Do reservations necessary at these restaurants?
Definitely, most of the best restaurants in Chicago, let alone Michelin stars, highly suggest gathering reservations before hand. - How best to visit Chicago’s top restaurants?
Weekdays are the best time to visit, with weekends being busier, so you’re better off coming for dinner if at all possible. - Why is Chicago’s food scene so special?
Chicago’s food scene is defined by diversity, from many different cultures, and a focus on innovative dining experiences.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.