NEW=A review added since the last Dining Guide.
UPDATE=A restaurant revisited since the last Dining Guide.
Star reviews are based on at least two visits by the Tribune critic.
* = Good
** = Very Good
*** = Excellent
**** = Outstanding
Fork reviews are based on one visit by a Tribune staffer.
1 fork = Good
2 forks = Very Good
3 forks = One of the best
4 forks = Don’t miss it
Credit card key
A American Express
DC Diners’ Club
DS Discover
M MasterCard
V Visa
Korean
CITY
Soju (3 forks)
1745 W. North Ave.
773-782-9000
The sweet and fiery components of Korean cooking combine perfectly at this stylish spot, on the Wicker Park/Bucktown border.
Recommended: Soju chicken, kimchi bindae duk (vegetable pancake), kalbi, bulgoggi.
Open: Dinner Wed.-Sun.
Entree prices: $7-$19
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: BYOB
WEST
Korea Garden (2 forks)
204 N. Cass Ave., Westmont
630-852-1900
The best way to savor the experience at this unassuming spot is to cook your own dinner on a tabletop grill.
Recommended: Beef and vegetable barbecues, kalbee tang (beef short-rib soup), corn/barley tea.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $5.95-$24.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Reservations: Accepted for large parties
Kosher
Shallots (3 forks)
2324 N. Clark St.
773-755-5205
This restaurant (meat but not dairy, no shellfish, pork or flavored alcohols) is an upscale spot with muted-burgundy decor and fine tableware. Laura Frankel’s cooking is good enough to attract gourmet diners as well as those observing dietary laws. On Saturdays the restaurant opens one hour past sundown and serves a limited grill menu.
Recommended: Salt-cod fritters, foie gras and truffle ravioli, chicken paella, veal medallions, black hat cake.
Open: Dinner Sun.-Thurs., Sat., lunch Mon.-Thurs.
Entree prices: $17.50-$32
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Latin
CITY
Mas **
1670 W. Division St.
773-276-8700
One of the biggest successes of the Latin explosion of 2000, this Wicker Park spot continues to pack in the crowds, as does its sequel, Otro Mas, a bit further north.
Recommended: Ceviche del dia, roasted pork tenderloin, cafe con leche creme brulee.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $16-$25
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Not accepted
Noise: Bring earplugs
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Nacional 27 **
325 W. Huron St.
312-664-2727
Cool as a tropical breeze, Lettuce Entertain You’s nuevo Latino concept features dishes culled from 27 Central American, South American and Caribbean nations though fun and flavor are paramount, rather than strict authenticity. The menu includes a glossary of terms, making ordering far less daunting (waiters also are well-informed). Tables and booths face a central dance floor, which heats up after 10 p.m. on weekends; in the earlier hours, Nacional 27 seems more like a spacious, romantically lit supper club.
Recommended: Arepas, crab fritters, pork adobado, chorizo-crusted mahi mahi, mango flan.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $14-$25
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Restaurante El Salvador (3 forks)
4125 S. Archer Ave.
773-579-0405
The decor may not be much to write home about, but the food certainly is. The restaurant serves up traditional Central American meals, as well as including some standard Mexican dishes on the menu.
Open: Dinner and lunch Tue.-Sun.
Entree prices: $7.95-$12.
Credit cards:: Not accepted
Reservations: Accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair-accessible
Watusi **
1540 W. North Ave.
773-862-1540
A hip hangout with fruity cocktails named for O60s dances and a pan-Latin menu that uses exuberant flavors with pinpoint precision. The place is noisier than most, but fun, and serves a late-night menu (appetizers mostly) from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Recommended: Lobster-conch fritters, grilled octopus, suckling pig, sorbet wave.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $15-$22
Credit cards: A, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking; smoking at bar only.
WEST
Samba Room *
22 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville
630-753-0985
This lively restaurant is part of a nuevo Latino concept that originated in Dallas, but the kitchen product is nothing like you’d expect from a chain. Hefty portions of boldly seasoned food, appealing visuals and good service are pluses; horrific noise levels and ambient cigar smoke are minuses.
Recommended: Grilled mussels, spice-rubbed chicken, pork tenderloin over sweet-potato hash, chile-spiked chocolate cake.
Open: Dinner, lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $11-$24
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Bring earplugs
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Mediterranean
CITY
Caliterra **
Wyndham Chicago Hotel
633 N. St. Clair St.
312-274-4444
What “Cal-Ital” has done for wines (made from Italian grapes grown in California), executive chef John Coletta does for food in this hotel dining room, gleefully mixing Italian and Californian ingredients and styles, creatively interpreting menu definitions and generally having a fine time creating dishes whose uncertain pedigrees are compensated by fine flavor.
Recommended: Grouper cheeks in “cioppino” broth, softshell crabs, duck foie gras, lamb loin, roasted sturgeon, chocolate cannoli.
Open: Dinner, lunch and breakfast Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $18-$35
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
ZouZou Mediterranean Delicatessen (3 forks)
1406 W. Belmont Ave., 773-755-4020
Evocative fare in a no-frills setup is the draw here. Customers order from a menu on the wall, though it’s easier to grab a paper menu from the counter and have a seat, browsing through the various familiar and exotic offerings.
Open: Dinner, lunch Mon.-Sat.
Entree prices: $6.95-$9.50
Credit cards: M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Mexican
CITY
Adobo Grill *
1610 N. Wells St.
312-266-7999
A very popular Mexican restaurant in Old Town, right next door to Second City comedy club, Adobo wows the tourists with its showy, made-to-order tableside-prepared guacamole service and its excellent margaritas. More serious foodies will appreciate the ambitious menu, and the selection of fine sipping tequilas.
Recommended: Guacamole, tortilla soup, snapper Veracruzana, arroz con leche.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., brunch Sun.
Entree prices: $9.95-$17/95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Chilpancingo ***
358 W. Ontario St.
312-266-9525
Geno Bahena’s second restaurant (he also owns Ixcapuzalco) is a more ambitious effort on all fronts: It’s a more formal and luxurious restaurant, is in a pricier neighborhood and offers a broader menu. But at the heart of it all is Bahena’s superior cooking, exemplified by outstanding mole sauces.
Recommended: Tostaditas de seviche, sopa de ajo, chicken breast in mole negro, salmon with peanut salsa, natillas classicas, Cafe Maya Xtabentun.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun.
Entree prices: $14.50-$24.50
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: No smoking; valet parking.
Don Juan on Halsted **
1729 N. Halsted St.
312-981-4000
This sequel to Don Juan in Edison Park is a little more contemporary than the original. Patrick Concannon is a little freer with his nuevo Mexicano cooking here, introducing a menu of small tacos and burritos (all less than $8) for light munching.
Recommended: Crab cake, tuna tartare, chipotle-barbecued lamb shank, chicken with mole poblano, flan.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., brunch Sun.
Entree prices: $12-$20
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Smoking in bar only; valet parking; wheelchair accessible.
El Tapatio (3 forks)
3400 N. Ashland Ave.
773-327-5475
Chicken fajitas, carne asada, combination plates-there are no surprises on this Mexican menu, but rarely are these familiar foods done so well and consistently.
Open: Dinner, lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $7.95-$9.95
Credit cards: A, M, V
Reservations: Not accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Frontera Grill ***
445 N. Clark St.
312-661-1434
Mexican food takes on a whole new dimension at Frontera Grill, where the authentic regional cooking of chef Rick Bayless is unsurpassed, yet marvelously accessible in concept and price. Dining here is especially good with large parties, when sharing adds to the experience. The Saturday brunch is a fine option that isn’t as crowded as evening service. (See also Topolobampo, Frontera’s fine-dining sibling, at the same address.)
Recommended: Enchiladas nortenos, queso fundido, silver salmon with pumpkinseed mole, pork with pasilla sauce.
Open: Dinner, lunch Tue.-Sat.
Entree prices: $9-$22
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
for parties of 5 or more.
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Valet parking; wheelchair accessible (elevator to lower-level restrooms).
Ixcapuzalco **
2919 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-486-7340
Geno Bahena’s first restaurant is a comfortable Logan Square spot named after the chef’s birthplace. The rustic food of Bahena’s youth figures prominently on the menu, which offers a different mole preparation each day.
Recommended: Daily mole dishes matched with chicken, duck breast and fish or quail, softshell crabs, lime-cured marlin.
Open: Dinner, lunch Wed.-Mon.
Entree prices: $13.50-$17
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Maiz (4 forks)
1942 W. Division St.
773-862-1801
Fulfilling the promise of its name, the restaurant’s menu lists mostly dishes made with fresh corn tortillas. But these tortillas come in many guises, including the assorted shapes of tacos, chalupas, sopes, huaraches and tamales.
Recommended: Homemade tortillas, tamales.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sun.
Entree prices: $5-$10
Credit cards: Not accepted
Reservations: Accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Salpicon ***
1252 N. Wells St.
312-988-7811
Priscila Satkoff turns out wonderful regional Mexican cooking-with an emphasis on her native Mexico City-at this Old Town restaurant, decorated with brightly colored walls and furniture, and even brighter colors on the Alejandro Romero paintings. There’s a well-chosen wine list and an impressive list of tequilas, too.
Recommended: Wild mushroom soup, octopus ceviche, shrimp mojo de ajo, tequila-marinated halibut, pollo yucateca, pastel tres leches.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., brunch Sun.
Entree prices: $16-$24
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Topolobampo ***1/2
445 N. Clark St.
312-661-1434
Somewhere in this world there may be a better Mexican restaurant, but until it is discovered, Rick and Deanna Bayless’ breathtaking River North establishment will have to do. The kitchen is ever-instructive in its presentation of stunning regional cuisine. It can take weeks to secure a reservation, but dining here is worth whatever effort is required.
Recommended: Seviche moderna, tequila-cured salmon, garlic soup, stuffed trout, carne asada, lime tart.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sat., lunch Tue.-Fri.
Entree prices: $18-$24
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Valet parking; wheelchair accessible.
WEST
Las Bellas Artes **
112 W. Park Ave., Elmhurst
630-530-7725
This fine-dining outpost is good news for lovers of serious Mexican food in the suburbs. Not cheap, but the $32 prix-fixe dinner (five courses) is a good value.
Recommended: Chorizo pork loin, lamb, black bean soup, chile relleno, mole Amarillo.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sat., brunch Sun.
Entree prices: $15-$25
Credit cards: DS, MC, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
New Rebozo (2 forks)
1116 Madison St., Oak Park
708-445-0370
The menu is inspired by the cooking of owner Jorge Lopez’s mother. Orders may take a while to emerge from the kitchen, but the food is worth the wait.
Recommended: Tortilla soup, mole dishes, enchilada Pancho Villa.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sat., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $9.30-$25
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Accepted for parties of 5 or more.
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Salbute (4 forks)
20 E. 1st St., Hinsdale
630-920-8077
A 55-seat BYOB Mexican restaurant with boldly seasoned food, Salbute is fun, brash and definitely something different.
Recommended: Sea bass with blackberry sauce, chumayel, Salbute (achiote-marinated chicken), monte-bello (portobello mushroom in chipotle-goat cheese sauce).
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sat.
Entree prices: $13.95-$26.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: BYOB; carryout available; wheelchair accessible.
Tierra Grill (4 forks)
525 E. St. Charles Rd., Villa Park
630-941-9923
Sublime Mexican specialties at fast-food prices make this spot a real find. The menu is so varied that it’s best to approach your meal tapas-style by trying lots of different items, including the spectacular desserts. There’s no liquor license, but you can bring wine or beer. Then again, the space is small, so takeout may be the wiser option.
Recommended: Trenzas, Aztec tortilla soup, tres leches cake, chocolate bread pudding.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $3.25-$8.95
Credit cards: A, D, DC, M, V
Reservations: Not accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: No smoking; wheelchair accessible.
NORTH
NEW
Wholly Frijoles Mexican Grill (3 forks)
3908 W. Touhy Ave., Lincolnwood
847-329-9810
Though this restaurant is small, it is genuinely welcoming, comfortable and cozy. It serves up a wide variety of Mexican dishes, including Chihuahua nachos and pollo relleno (two moist chicken breast halves with peppers).
Recommended: Chile relleno, pollo relleno, Chihuahua nachos, grilled steak nachos, mango cheesecake.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sat.
Entree prices: $5.95- $9.95
Reservations: Not accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
NORTHWEST
Hay Caramba (3 forks)
146 S. Euclid Ave., Park Ridge
847-518-0747
Though the menu includes the expected fajitas, tacos and combo plates of less-ambitious restaurants, the emphasis on unusual seafood dishes sets this place apart.
Recommended: Seafood cocktail, appetizer combo, catfish ceviche, carne tampiquena.
Open: Dinner and lunch Tue.-Sat.
Entree prices: $4-$13
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted for parties of 6 or more
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Mexico Uno (3 forks)
61 N. Bothwell St., Palatine
847-358-6856
This restaurant’s name may be Mexico Uno (One), but it should be Mexico Diez (Ten), for all the Gonzalez family members who work in the front and back of the house.
Recommended: Guacamole, caldo de pollo, Birria al Estilo Jalisco (goat-meat stew), carne a la parrilla (skirt steak).
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $4.50-$9.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Not accepted
Other: Carryout available; no smoking in dining room.
SOUTH
Cilantro (2 forks)
18755 Dixie Hwy., Homewood
708-798-3500
There’s a fiesta feeling at this adobe-hacienda-style restaurant, where owner Joe Mendez infuses the cocina Mexicana menu with family favorites.
Recommended: Joe’s Special Nachos, spinach quesadillas, carne con rajas, wood-grilled pollo.
Open: Dinner and lunch Tue.-Sun.
Entree prices: $4.95-$12.95
Credit cards: A, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted for 6 or more on weekends
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; carryout; outdoor patio.
Jalapeno’s “the Hottest Mexican Restaurant” (3 forks)
200 U.S. Hwy. 41, Schererville, Ind.
219-864-8862
The awkward name differentiates this Tex-Mex spot from similar-sounding but unrelated chain restaurants. The authentic, well-prepared food here is a more important differentiation.
Recommended: Pozole soup, sea bass, chicken mole, caramelized banana.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $6-$14
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted Sun.-Thurs.
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Middle Eastern
CITY
Kan Zaman (3 forks)
5204 N. Clark St.
773-506-0191
This Andersonville restaurant has a pretty dining room to go with the accomplished Middle Eastern food.
Recommended: Hummus, falafel, lubia, dolma, stuffed cabbage, house specialty of fresh leeks sauteed in white wine with carrots.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $7.95-$12.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Belly dancing on weekends
Souk ***
1552 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-227-1818
It is rare to find Middle Eastern food so appealingly prepared, in such eye-pleasing surroundings. Souk (the name means “market”) is a lively convergence of Turkish, Lebanese, Afghan and Persian dishes, assembled by a kitchen that uses spices to entice the palate, not overwhelm it. Knowledgeable and confident servers can help neophytes navigate the menu — though you probably could point at a selection with your eyes closed and still do all right.
Recommended: Cold appetizer assortment, shrimp chermoula, couscous Bahri, lahme steak, baklava.
Open: Dinner Tues.-Sun.
Entree prices: $15-$26
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly
recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Pan Asian
CITY
Ben Pao **
52 W. Illinois St.
312-222-1888
This Lettuce Entertain You restaurant is much improved since its early-1996 opening days. The menu is better focused, the cooking more consistent and service professional and communicative. Options include a grazer’s paradise of small dishes, including a handful of satays, and skillfully prepared main courses that range from the traditional to the adventurous. The bilevel dining room, done in black and fiery red, is sleek and soothing.
Recommended: Black pepper scallops, seven flavor beef, sesame chicken.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $7.95-$25.95
redit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking; smoking at bar only.
NEW Diosa Red *
3419 N. Clark St.
773-880-0001
Alan Yuen’s intensely personal Asian restaurant gleefully mixes and matches unrelated elements and still manages to create an agreeable whole. The menu embraces Chinese dumplings, Filipino eggrolls and Japanese bento-box assortments, and Eastern-European waitresses are outfitted in silk Suzy Wong-style dresses. The dramatic, red-drenched decor is offset by bright blue columns and cute blue-shaded lamps.
Recommended: Unagi rolls, Peking duck wontons, shrimp with whiskey sauce, calamensi chicken.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun
Entree prices: $14.95-$24.95
Credit cards: A, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Valet parking; smoking in bar only.
Red Light ***
820 W. Randolph St.
312-733-8880
This pan-Asian concept features a focused, easy-to-navigate menu by chef Paul Wildermuth. There are nibbles galore in addition to a half-dozen or so full-sized entrees, and tasting menus are available for the indecisive. There’s also a late-night menu that kicks in about 11 p.m.
Recommended: Grilled quail, gingered pork dumplings, Taiwanese catfish, Wai Chee duck, creme brulee trio.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $17-$33
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Other: Valet parking; wheelchair accessible.
NORTH
Pacific Rim Kitchen (3 forks)
315 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook
847-714-1888
There may be restaurants that do a better job with Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean or Japanese cuisine, but it is a rare restaurant that can pull off all of the above. Pacific Rim is that place. Plus, its spare, contemporary ambience is a welcome change from the usual B movie, red-and-black decor.
Recommended: Sushi, chicken Don, oyster beef, Zaru-Soba.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $6.95-$15.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Senoya (2 forks)
8750 W. Golf Rd., Niles
847-299-7717
You’ll find the bounty of Asia at this buffet, the creation of B.K. Jeon, a Seoul native. Not surprisingly, Korean items are among the best of the more than two dozen entree items.
Recommended: Sushi platters, braised Korean barbecue beef, Mongolian barbecue beef, boiled shrimp, simmered mussels.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $2.50 (children 2 to 5); $5.95 (6-10); $9.95; $6.95 for lunch buffet.
Credit cards: A, DS, DC, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Wheelchair accessible
SOUTH
NEW Chi Tung (4 forks)
9560 S. Kedzie Ave., Evergreen Park
708-636-8180
When Chi Tung moved around the corner to its present location, the quality of the food remained the same: excellent. The variety is still plentiful and the portions have remained hardy.
Recommended: Sushi, barbecued rib appetizer, beef nom tok, General Tsao’s chicken, moo shu pork.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $2.95 -$9.95
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Recommended on weekends
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Persian/Turkish
CITY
A La Turka (3 forks)
3134 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-935-6447
From its weekend entertainment — a belly dancer gyrates among tables and families crowd the dance floor — to its made-to-share sampler plates, conviviality is served in ample portions here. The Turkish menu is a zesty blend of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences.
Recommended: Karisik meze, karisik izgara, manti, baked eggplant.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $10-$17
Credit cards: DC, M, V
Reservations: Recommended on weekends
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Reza’s **
5255 N. Clark St.
773-561-1898
The interior, all sand-blasted brick, polished oak, mahogany trim and hardwood floors, looks more like a yuppie microbrewery than an ethnic restaurant, but the pungent scent of charcoal grilling lets you know you’ve come to the right place. Copious portions of carefully prepared, prettily presented food are offered at very reasonable prices. Service is all smiles and super-efficient; there’s a very good wine list, too. In River North, a second Reza’s, at 432 W. Ontario St. (which actually is a former microbrewery), is virtually identical.
Recommended: Joujeh kabob, lamb shank in tomato sauce, cornish hen with pomegranate sauce, grilled shrimp, stuffed green pepper, baklava.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $7.95-$17.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended on weekends
Other: Parking lot
Polish
CITY
Lutnia *
5532 W. Belmont Ave.
773-282-5335
An elegant, brightly lit anachronism, where
service is ritualistic and the menu reminiscent of years ago — especially with its emphasis on flamed-tableside entrees and desserts. But you’re better off skipping the flambe act in favor of the straightforward Polish dishes.
Recommended: Pierogi assortment, bigos (hunter’s stew), beef roll, stuffed quail.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sun., lunch Tue.-Fri.
Entree prices: $6-$25
Credit cards: M, V
Reservations: Strongly suggested on weekends
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Tatra Inn (2 forks)
6040 S. Pulaski Rd.
773-582-8313
The main event in this restaurant is the generous buffet of Polish-style food. Almost all of the food is made from scratch — pierogis, cabbage rolls, pastries and all.
Recommended: Steak shish kebab, french-fried shrimp, sauerkraut, potato or fruit-filled pierogis, beef and rice-stuffed cabbage rolls.
Open: Dinner and lunch Tue.-Sun.
Entree prices: $7.50-$12.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended for parties of 6 or more
NORTH
Polo (2 forks)
8801 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles
847-470-8822
Decor is unassuming inside and out, but the tasty, homespun Polish and Eastern European specialties make this place worth a visit.
Recommended: Polo combo plate, roast duck, veal, sweet table including carrot cake.
Open: Dinner and lunch Tue.-Sun.
Entree prices: $6.95-$14.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended for parties of 6 or more
Other: Wheelchair accessible
SOUTH
Paczki Polish-Italian Buffet (1 fork)
11228 S. Harlem Ave., Worth
708-448-1580
The name tells you just what to expect from this culinary intermarriage, whose diverse menu and bargain prices (including the nightly buffet) keep the crowds returning.
Recommended: Cabbage rolls, shrimp scampi, paczki.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $5.50-$13.95; buffet $6.95-$9.95
Credit cards: A, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted for parties of 6 or more
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Russian
CITY
Russian Tea Time **
77 E. Adams St.
312-360-0000
A delightful, handsome and surprisingly sophisticated ethnic gem, Russian Tea Time offers a wide-ranging and authentic menu of dishes from Russia and neighboring republics. Its proximity to Symphony Center has made the cafe a favorite with the pre- and post-concert crowd.
Recommended: Borscht, Azerbaijan mushrooms, samsas (chopped-meat-filled pastries), vereniky (potato-stuffed pasta), pelmeni (chicken-filled tortellini), stuffed and grilled quail.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $15-$27
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Seafood
CITY
Atlantique ***
5101 N. Clark St.
773-275-9191
Featuring twin dining rooms decorated with sea-green wainscotting and a colorful array of papier-mache sea creatures made by a local artist, this impressive Andersonville restaurant offers sophisticated, prettily presented seafood at very reasonable prices-most entrees are $20 or less.
Recommended: Crab cake Napoleon, veal sweetbreads, tuna tartare, bouillabaisse,, Pacific salmon, roasted venison with duck confit.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $16.95-$23.95
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Recommended on weekends
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Smoking in bar only; wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
NEW Avenues ***
The Peninsula Chicago
108 E. Superior St.
312-573-6754
The fanciest seafood restaurant in Chicago and by far the most expensive, Avenues dazzles with its assortment of European fish and chef Gerhard Doll’s distinctive French style. The dining room is a bit staid-looking, but Doll’s plates are strikingly modern and his flavors superb. The business lunch, a three- or two-course repast, is a relative bargain.
Recommended: Quail breast with foie gras, tournedos of langoustines, salt-crusted whole seabass, turbot, bittersweet chocolate cake.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sat., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $26-$43
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Hushed
Other: Valet parking; no smoking.
Blue Point
Oyster Bar *
741 W. Randolph St.
312-207-1222
Wood-shuttered windows and retro signage highlight the look of this circa-1940s East Coast fish house, which takes its oysters very seriously (at least eight varieties featured daily) and does good-to-excellent work on its other offerings.
Recommended: Fresh oysters, crab-stuffed jumbo shrimp, grilled octopus, grilled scallops, chile-glazed halibut, Key lime pie.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $14.95-$39.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Joe’s Crab Shack (2 forks)
745 N. Wells St.
312-664-2722
1461 Butterfield Rd., Downers Grove
630-960-2033
4400 Fox Valley
Center Drive, Aurora
630-236-7370
2000 E. Golf Rd., Schaumburg
847-517-1212
Popular seafood chain attracts attention with colored lights, silk tropical plants and funky decorative touches. Lots of crab on the menu, along with everything from coconut shrimp to pastas. Bargain-priced specials are a big draw.
Recommended: Crab cakes, snow crab, king crab.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $11-$18
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab **
60 E. Grand Ave.
312-379-5637
This half-sibling to the famous Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami is open year-round, even when stone crabs are out of season, which explains the mouthful of a name. Stone crabs are the highlight, of course, but very good prime steaks and decent seafood should keep the crowds happy in the summer months, too.
Recommended: Stone crab claws, shrimp de jonghe, crab cakes, lamb chops, New York strip steak, Key lime pie.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Sat.
Entree prices: $17.95-$39.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Smoking in bar only; valet parking dinner only; wheelchair accessible.
McCormick & Schmick’s **
41 E. Chestnut St.
312-397-9500
A West-Coast-based chain with impeccably fresh seafood and customer-friendly, if quirky, prices, McCormick & Schmick’s Chicago link is handsome and clubby, with just enough Prairie School decor touches to make it look local. The enormous menu reflects the day’s catch, and fresh oysters are a specialty. An early-bird and late-night bar menu offers a handful of dishes at a bargain ($1.95) price.
Recommended: Crab cakes, calamari sausage, cedar-roasted steelhead, cashew-rusted mahi mahi, upside-down apple pie.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $9.95-$39.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Nick’s Fishmarket **
1 First National Plaza
312-621-0200
This venerable Loop seafooder has a casual grill for light dining upstairs, and a pretty, formal dining room below. Up or down, the restaurant’s strengths are excellent fish and shell fish and extremely attentive service.
Recommended: Seared ahi tuna, Dover sole, mahi-mahi, creme brulee.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sat., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $24.95-$47
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Riva *
Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave.
312-644-RIVA
Riva boasts unparalleled views of the lakeshore, flawless creature comforts and an Italian-accented seafood menu. In general, simple dishes outshine the ambitious-sounding ones. Prices may be eye-popping to the unprepared, but there is that great view.
Recommended: Crabcakes, grilled octopus.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $16-$32
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Shaw’s Crab House ***
21 E. Hubbard St.
312-527-2722
Chicago’s best seafood restaurant bears its comfortably aged look gracefully. And week in and week out, the kitchen offers a manageable variety of pristinely fresh seafood, prepared with great care but without great fuss. For dessert, you can’t beat Key lime pie, the best in town. You can find live music frequently in the Blue Crab Lounge.
Recommended: Oysters, blue crab fingers, Dover sole, grilled salmon, N’Awlins spicy shrimp, Key lime pie, pecan pie.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $14.95-$49.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
WEST
Keywester Fish & Pasta House (3 forks)
1975 Glacier Park Rd., Naperville
630-778-8700
Palm trees, manmade lagoons with swans, illuminated geysers — and that’s just the outside of this 500-seat, glitzy seafood shanty, whose menu has predictable Caribbean influences, but also Cajun and straightforward American touches.
Recommended: Rosa del mar, gumbo, blackened tuna, chocolate basket.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $9.95-$32.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Wheelchair accessible
120 Ocean Place **
120 Hale St., Wheaton
630-690-2100
Amid soaring peaked ceilings (the space was once a church, as the stained-glass window testifies) and faux-marble columns, this west-suburban restaurant cranks out terrific seafood. The large menu, which changes daily, offers plenty of variety.
Recommended: Oysters, spicy shrimp, grilled striped bass, pepper-grilled mahi mahi, lime tart, tartufo.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $12.50-$31.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended on weekends
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Parkers’ Ocean Grill **
1000 31st St., Downers Grove
630-960-5701
A strikingly handsome seafood restaurant with mahogany-clad walls, hardwood floors and white linen-topped tables. The globally influenced menu offers few surprises, but most dishes are capably executed, and service is attentive and very well trained.
Recommended: Crab cakes, cedar-roasted sturgeon, cioppino, chocolate gateau.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $17-$35
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; no smoking in dining room; complimentary valet parking.
Philander’s **
1120 Pleasant St., Oak Park
708-848-4250
This long-dormant Oak Park seafooder has improved vastly over the last couple of years; the menu is more ambitious, waiters more professional and the food more consistently interesting. And the bar is still a reliable destination for good live music.
Recommended: Macadamia-crusted shrimp, crab cakes, horseradish-crusted salmon, sauteed snapper, stuffed quail.
Open: Dinner Mon. – Sun.
Entree prices: $14-$28
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking
NORTHWEST
Bob Chinn’s
Crab House **
393 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling
847-520-3633
A visit to this place makes it readily apparent why this is the highest-volume restaurant in the area (and one of the highest in the nation). Bob Chinn serves the freshest possible seafood (his bills of lading are posted for all to see) at very reasonable prices. Cooking isn’t fancy — nearly everything is steamed or grilled — but it suits the ingredients. The sprawling dining room is similarly low on frills, but friendly, expeditious service and quality components are ample compensation.
Recommended: Dungeness crab, fried fish sampler, blue crab claws, cheesecake.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $15.95-$40
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Preferred seating for parties of 5 or more.
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Porter’s Oyster Bar (2 forks)
446 Virginia St., Crystal Lake
815-477-0340
Take a left at the entrance and there’s a string of elegant dining rooms; take a right and there’s a long bar featuring Chicago blues on Fridays and Saturdays and jazz Sundays. Despite slow service, seafood, steaks and sandwiches are pretty good.
Recommended: Oysters Jarlsberg, grilled swordfish, creme brulee.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $13.95-$35.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Other: Wheelchair accessible
SOUTH
Phil Smidt’s (3 forks)
1205 N. Calumet Ave., Hammond, Ind.
800-376-4534
This 450-seat Northern Indiana mainstay has been drawing Chicagoans to its pan-fried perch and frog legs specialties for decades. One taste and you’ll know why.
Recommended: Perch, frog legs, baked salmon, walleye pike, gooseberry pie.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sun., lunch Tue.-Sat.
Entree prices: $11.50-$46.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Soul/Southern
CITY
Army & Lou’s **
422 E. 75th St.
773-483-3100
This place is a South Side treasure. The handsome decor features linen-topped tables and a soothing red-and-cream color scheme. Walls are adorned with African and Haitian art. Yet prices remain low, entrees averaging about $10. Ribs are very good, and the fried chicken is arguably the best in town.
Recommended: Mustard and turnip greens, fried chicken, barbecued ribs, fried catfish, peach cobbler.
Open: Dinner, lunch and breakfast Mon., Wed.-Sun.
Entree prices: $5.95-$19.95.
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended on weekends
Other: Wheelchair accessible; small parking lot adjoins building.
Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop (3 forks)
5225 S. Harper Ave.
773-363-7723
825 Church St., Evanston
847-733-9030
With its weathered trim, motley collection of wooden kitchen chairs and old porcelain-enameled stoves, the Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop could be at home along a Mississippi bayou.
Recommended: Fried green tomatoes, peach-glazed chicken wings, blackened chicken breast salad, New Orleans-style oyster po’boy, gumbo, jambalaya.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $5.95-$10.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Not accepted
Gladys’ Luncheonette (3 forks)
4527 S. Indiana Ave.
773-548-6848
Gladys’ embodies the modern manifestation of traditional African-American cuisine, commonly called “soul food.”
Recommended: Chicken smothered in rich brown gravy, spicy barbecued rib tips, sweet potato pie.
Open: Dinner, lunch and breakfast Tue.-Sun.
Entree prices: $5.50-$7.35
Credit cards: Not accepted
Reservations: Not accepted
Other: Parking lot
NORTHWEST
Biloxi Grill ***
313 E. Liberty St., Wauconda
847-526-2420
The Greenery cofounders David and Catherine Koelling run this rustic charmer on the shore of Bangs Lake, serving regional Southern dishes that have no equal in this part of the world. The main dining room and outdoor deck offer splendid lake views.
Recommended: Sauteed oysters, seafood gumbo, barbecued shrimp, red snapper, berry cobbler.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sun.
Entree prices: $8.95-$23.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended on weekends
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Spanish
CITY
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! ***
2024 N. Halsted St.
773-935-5000
One of the best places in Chicago to sample tapas, in a convivial if noisy atmosphere. A recent menu expansion has added more entree options, including several new versions of paella, but the wide assortment of tapas dishes, ranging in price from $2.95-$7.95, remains the big draw. During the summer, the 89-seat outdoor garden (with retractable canopy) is one of the most popular destinations in the city.
Recommended: Ternera asada, Spanish omelet, paella Valenciana, suckling pig, profiteroles.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $7.95-$15.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Emilio’s Tapas ***
444 W. Fullerton Ave.
773-327-5100
The dining rooms are comfortable and spacious, decorated with lace curtains and colorful tile murals. The menu is virtually identical to that of Emilio Gervilla’s original restaurant in Hillside.
Recommended: Tortilla espanola, stuffed eggplant, grilled seabass with pistachio butter, grilled quail with sherry, pan perdido.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Fri.-Sun.
Entree prices: $6.95-$13.95
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Wheelchair accessible (separate entrance)
WEST
Emilio’s Tapas Bar Restaurant **
4100 W. Roosevelt Rd.,
Hillside 708-547-7177
This small restaurant has a rustic, cozy Spanish atmosphere with wonderful, satisfying food. Emilio’s menu lists more than 18 tapas (Spanish for “little dishes”) along with daily specials.
Recommended: Garlic potato salad, spicy chicken wings, paella, sangria, rice pudding.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $14.50-$18.50
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Accepted; accepted for parties of 6 or more Fri.-Sat.
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Meson Sabika ***
1025 Aurora Ave., Naperville
630-983-3000
312 S. Happ Rd., Northfield
847-784-9300
The name means “house on a hill,” and here you’ll find excellent tapas and other Spanish specialties. The original Naperville location really is a house on a hill; the Northfield spot, which features essentially the same menu, is in Northfield Village Center.
Recommended: Roasted veal with raspberry vinaigrette, Spanish piquillo peppers stuffed with crabmeat, black bean soup.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $5-$12
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Other: Wheelchair accessible
NORTHWEST
La Tasca (3 forks)
25 W. Davis St., Arlington Heights
847-398-2400
Innovative touches and diverse flavors abound in this lively tapas restaurant.
Recommended: Grilled eggplant with seafood salad, champinones rellenos, rice pudding.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Sat.
Entree prices: $3.75-$16.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Steak
CITY
Capital Grille **
633 N. St. Clair St.
312-337-9400
High-quality steakhouse, part of an East Coast chain, whose contemporary clubby decor, polished service, first-class beef (dry aged on the premises), and award-winning wine list have made it instantly popular with local businessmen and conventioneers meaning that reservations are a must.
Recommended: Baby lobster, steak au poivre, veal chop, filet hash (lunch only), Key lime pie.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $16.95-$29.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Valet parking; wheelchair accessible.
Carmichael’s Chicago Steak House **
1052 W. Monroe St.
312-433-0025
Acres-of-oak decor, vintage posters, Prairie-School accents and garter-sleeved waiters give Carmichael’s a generations-old appearance. Despite the touristy look, however, this is a comfortable restaurant with very good Angus Beef steaks.
Recommended: Shrimp de Jonghe, barbecued shrimp, porterhouse al forno, bone-in ribeye, triple pork chop, bourbon bread pudding.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun, lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $15.95-$49.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; complimentary valet parking.
Chicago Chop House ***
60 W. Ontario St.
312-787-7100
Touristy touches like the cornball postcard on each table and the ever-lit, year-round Christmas tree outside seem comfortably in place at this steakhouse, one of the city’s best.
Recommended: Steaks, shrimp de jonghe
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $17.95-$38.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Valet parking
Eli’s the Place for Steak **
215 E. Chicago Ave.
312-642-1393
A Chicago classic, Eli’s offers a quiet, almost stately atmosphere, understated service and superior steaks. And, of course, the cheesecakes are a national treasure. The cocktail lounge is a great place to unwind.
Recommended: Shrimp de jonghe, steaks, sauteed calf liver, potato pancakes, cheesecake.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $18.95-$34
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Gene & Georgetti ***
500 N. Franklin St.
312-527-3718
As an old-fashioned “real guy” steakhouse, this place is unsurpassed. A see-and-be-seen restaurant of another age, Gene & Georgetti attracts a loyal and regular clientele, who come to view the politicians and enjoy the massive, impeccably prepared steaks.
Recommended: Strip steak, lamb chops, calf liver, garbage salad, cheesecake, spumoni.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sat.
Entree prices: $14-$38.75
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Complimentary valet parking; free parking lot one-half block east of restaurant; wheelchair accessible.
Gibsons **
1028 N. Rush St.
312-266-8999
One of the city’s finest steakhouses, as the crowded dining room and even more crowded bar attest. Strengths include an attractive interior, superior beef and knowledgeably opinionated waiters.
Recommended: Chopped liver, spinach salad, onion rings, filet mignon, barbecued ribs, strawberry shortcake, chocolate hazelnut tart.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $21.75-$33
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
The Grill on the Alley
909 N. Michigan Ave.
312-255-9009
Unapologetically old-fashioned, this copy of the original Grill on the Alley in Beverly Hills is as straightforward as they come. Beef and seafood, much of it broiled and simply sauced, dominate the offerings, though there are plenty of salads for lighter eaters. The spacious, 225-seat dining room is clubby and comfortable; white-jacketed waiters are very professional.
Recommended: Dungeness crab cake, broiled sea bass, prime rib, strawberry shortcake.
Open: Dinner, breakfast and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $12.50-$29.75
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Valet parking; wheelchair accessible.
NEW
The Grillroom **
33 W. Monroe St.
312-960-0000
Across the street from the Shubert Theatre and within walking distance of at least four others, The Grillroom is an ideal pre-theater destination (and handy Loop lunch spot) , which is why the menu ranges far beyond most steakhouse staples. But you can’t go wrong with the aged steaks, which are richly flavored and cooked precisely to temperature.
Recommended: Steakhouse wings, ribeye steak, filet mignon, fallen souffle cake.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $9.95-$32.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Valet parking
Harry Caray’s **
33 W. Kinzie St.
312-828-0966
10233 W. Higgins Rd., Rosemont
847-699-1200
Legendary baseball broadcaster Harry Caray died in 1998, but his spirit lives on in this bustling place, an Italian steakhouse with sports-themed decor and an old-fashioned charm personified by white-jacketed, eagerly accommodating service. The award-winning wine list is a distinct plus. The Rosemont location opened in August 1999.
Recommended: Grilled baby octopus, lamb chops oreganato, chicken Vesuvio, Sicilian veal chop, tiramisu.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Sat.
Entree prices: $11.95-$32.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Magnum’s Prime Steakhouse **
225 W. Ontario St.
312-337-8080
777 E. Butterfield Rd., Lombard
630-573-1010
1701 W. Golf Rd., Rolling Meadows
847-952-8555
Despite the macho name, this city steakhouse and its suburban siblings are sophisticated and civilized. Decor is stylish, service is knowing (if a bit by-the-numbers) and steaks are first-rate. Do be prepared to deal with noise.
Recommended: Ribeye steak, lamb chops, veal chop.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sat., lunch (suburbs only) Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $13.95-$85
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Noise: Bring earplugs
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Mike Ditka’s Restaurant *
Tremont Hotel
100 E. Chestnut St.
312-587-8989
The name has changed (previously it was Iron Mike’s Grill), but everything else is the same at the namesake restaurant for former Bears coach Mike Ditka. This is a predictably masculine place with sports-memorabilia decor, second-floor cigar lounge and a menu of steaks and chops. It’s more sophisticated than it sounds, actualy, and the food typically is very good. Steer clear when there’s a big convention in town, though.
Recommended: Oyster shooter, DA pork chop.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., breakfast and lunch Mon.-Sun., brunch Sat., Sun.
Entree prices: $10.89-$32.89
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Millennium **
832 W. Randolph St.
312-455-1400
In the heart of Randolph Street’s convergence of trendy restaurants sits this unabashedly classic steakhouse, which emphasizes prime, house-aged beef.
Recommended: Grilled crab legs, spicy calamari, porterhouse, smoked prime rib, Chocolate Churchill.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sat.; lunch Wed.-Fri.
Entree prices: $15-$29
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended on weekends
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Morton’s of Chicago ***
1050 N. State St.
312-266-4820
You won’t find a better steak than the thick, beefy beauties cooked here. The attractive dining room does a good job of overcoming its windowless basement locale; tables are close together, but it’s a convivial crowd. Civilized touches include excellent service, a very good wine list and classy ambience. The most expensive steakhouse in town, but worth every penny.
Recommended: Steaks, veal chop, baked potato, dessert souffle for two.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $19.95-$32.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Other: Wheelchair accessible; discount parking with validation
The Palm **
Swissotel Chicago
323 E. Wacker Drive
312-616-1000
Big steaks and bigger lobsters, served with utter lack of pretension and fuss, are what you’ll find in this chain’s Chicago chapter, ensconced in snazzy digs, including an outdoor patio.
Recommended: Crab cakes, N.Y. strip steak, lamb chops, lobster, Key lime pie.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $14-$35
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House **
431 N. Dearborn St.
312-321-2725
933 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook
847-498-6889
This large chain’s two Chicago-area outposts can hold their own with the veterans of the local steakhouse scene. Comfortable surroundings and pampering service are perks, and the steaks especially the porterhouse, which is sized for two or three diners are excellent. Appetizers are a bit scrawny, but they’re hardly necessary, as the steaks are humongous.
Recommended: Tenderloin, porterhouse, veal chop, Caesar salad, potatoes au gratin, chocolate mousse cheesecake.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sat., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $14.95-$32.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
NEW
Shula’s Steak House **
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
301 E. North Water St.
312-670-0788
Wyndham Northwest Chicago
400 Park Blvd., Itasca
630-775-1499
The winningest coach in NFL history has a hot streak going with his signature chain, now grown to 15 locations. The menu is printed on a regulation football, the walls are festooned with pictures of Shula’s undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins and the only thing you’ll ever hear on the sound system is Frank Sinatra. But the aged steaks are very good and service is prompt and accommodating. Note: The Itasca location also serves breakfast and lunch (no lunch Sundays).
Recommended: Barbecued shrimp, porterhouse steak, prime rib, chocolate souffle for two.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $18.95-$65.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Validated valet parking; smoking in bar only.
Smith & Wollensky **
318 N. State St.
312-670-9900
This impressive steakhouse sits at the base of Marina City. Part of a New York chain, it offers succulent, aged-on-premises steaks, hefty lobsters dusted with cayenne pepper and a monstrous twice-cooked pork shank. The light-filled dining room is decorated with American art; an outdoor patio overlooks the Chicago River. The downstairs Wollensky’s Grill offers smaller-portioned steaks and keeps late-night hours.
Recommended: Crabcakes, lobster cocktail, Wollensky salad, sirloin steak, Angry Lobster, apple tart.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $17.50-$35
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Tavern on Rush *
1031 N. Rush St.
312-664-9600
Stick to the steaks and you’ll be fine at this always-packed steakhouse, the latest serious restaurant to venture back to the now-booming Rush Street area. The look is traditional steakhouse, and the balcony windows overlooking the street are a clever touch.
Recommended: Pepper-crusted ahi, pizzas, porterhouse steak, NY strip, Key lime pie.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $11.95-$75
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Noise: Conversation-challenged
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
NORTH
Pete Miller’s Steakhouse (3 forks)
1557 Sherman Ave., Evanston
847-328-0399
You’ll find serious steaks and seafood at this handsome restaurant, which has an adjacent jazz lounge.
Recommended: Fried calamari, prime burger (in the amb.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $17-$50
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
WEST
Giannotti’s Steak House (2 forks)
17W400 2 lounge only), bone-in ribeye, rack2nd St., Oakbrook Terrace
630-833-2700
This Italian steakhouse is traditional, comfortable and invariably packed.
Recommended: Stuffed artichoke, pork chops.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sun., Entree prices: $11.95-$27.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Other: Wheelchair accessible
SOUTH
Gino’s Steak House (2 forks)
16299 Wallace Ave., Harvey
708-331-4393
A sibling of Millennium in the city, Gino’s is one of the best steakhouses in the suburbs. Service can be spotty, but the steaks and other dishes transcend minor glitches.
Recommended: Stuffed mushrooms, filet mignon, flourless chocolate cake.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $11.95-$35
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Jack Gibbons Garden (2 forks)
14700 Oak Park Ave., Oak Forest 708-687-2331
Affectionately known simply as Gibbons, this modest-looking steakhouse has been serving superior beef for 75 years.
Recommended: Prime rib, filet mignon, shrimp de jonghe.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $10.95-$22.95
Credit cards: M, V
Reservations: Accepted Sun.-Fri.; accepted for five or more Sat.
Other: Wheelchair accessible; valet parking.
Krapil’s (2 forks)
6600 W. 111th St., Worth
708-448-2012
A rustic-looking, old-fashioned steakhouse where the placemat is also the menu (prices aren’t listed), raffia-covered chianti bottles serve as candlesticks and steaks come in big, bigger and enormous sizes.
Recommended: T-bone steak, strip steak.
Open: Dinner Wed.-Sun.
Entree prices: $9-$59.50
Credit cards: A, M, V
Reservations: Recommended for parties of 6 or more
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Thai
CITY
Arun’s ****
4156 N. Kedzie Ave.
773-539-1909
The finest, most upscale Thai food you’ll ever experience is available at this Northwest Side jewel, a picture-perfect, cleanly elegant space decorated with beautiful artwork. Arun Sampanthavivat’s food is artistically noteworthy, too, beautifully presented and stunning in its complexity and exotic ingredients and flavors. There is no set menu; Arun’s features a Chef’s Design Menu, a multi-course dinner selected by Arun after consulting patrons’ preferences, dietary requirements and spice tolerance. The wine list is small, but every bottle is carefully chosen for its affinity to Thai flavors.
Open: Dinner Tue.-Sun. Entree prices: Prix-fixe dinner $75 (12-course tasting menu).
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Strongly recommended
Other: No smoking; wheelchair accessible.
Mr. Thai: The House of Noodles and Rice (3 forks)
3811 N. Ashland Ave.
773-244-9300
Mr. Thai is an acquaintance worth making. This spiffy, attractive, family-run restaurant has efficient service and nicely turned out dishes.
Open: Dinner, lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $5.25 -$7.
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Thai Classic (2 forks)
3332 N. Clark St.
773-404-2000
This attractive, spotless restaurant, just a few blocks south of Wrigley Field, rises above the crowd of Thai restaurants by virtue of its well-prepared, scrupulously fresh food and its charming, contemporary decor. The restaurant offers a $9.95 buffet from noon-10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Recommended: Golden cups, steamed mussels, tom yum talay, Thai Classic soup, orchid chicken, seafood treasure, coconut ice cream.
Open: Dinner and lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $5.95-$12.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: BYOB; wheelchair accessible.
Thai Pastry (4 forks)
4925 N. Broadway
773-784-5399
The word “Pastry” in the sign for this Thai spot has led quite a few would-be diners to assume this is only a bakery. Yet most of the room is devoted to a restaurant that seats about 50. Flavors are as fresh and bright as could be hoped for, and the restaurant does indeed offer dessert; try the startlingly realistic miniature “fruit” made of sweetened bean paste.
Recommended: Tom yom koong, kuchai, chicken larb.
Open: Dinner, lunch Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $6.95-$17.95
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Recommended on weekends
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
NORTH
Jasmine Thai Cuisine (2 forks)
242 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook
847-205-1414
Unpretentious and intimate, Jasmine blooms with crisp and complex flavors, adroitly using the fresh-picked herbs, fruits, vegetables and meats that are hallmarks of the tropical cuisine of Thailand.
Recommended: Mus Sa Mon beef curry, spicy chicken with lime, Tod Mun seafood rounds, custard.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Fri.
Entree prices: $6.95-$11.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recom-mended for large parties
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Noodle Garden (2 forks)
1241 Chicago Ave.,
Evanston 847-332-2775
The less familiar the dish, the better at this north suburban spot; when in doubt, you’ll get good advice from your waiter.
Recommended: Yellow curry chicken.
Open: Dinner and lunch Tue.-Sun.
Entree prices: $4.95-$10.95
Credit cards: M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Wheelchair accessible; carryout and delivery.
Ruby of Siam (2 forks)
1125 Emerson St.,
Evanston 847-492-1008
Startling, off-the-beaten-track Thai dishes are available here; the trick is sifting through the 117-item menu to find them.
Recommended: Crying Tiger
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Sat.
Entree prices: $7.95-$16.95; $7.75 lunch buffet Mon.-Fri.
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Tasty Thai (2 forks)
Hawthorn Village
Commons, Ill. Hwy. 60 west of Milwaukee Ave.,
Vernon Hills
847-367-1980
A solid, family-run restaurant featuring basic Thai dishes with some interesting twists.
Recommended: Pad Thai.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch buffet Mon.-Sun.
Entree prices: $6.95-$9.95
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Accepted
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Vietnamese
CITY
Le Colonial **
937 N. Rush St.
312-255-0088
A stylish restaurant with colonial-French decor and a dark upstairs bar that draws a young Gold Coast crowd. A user-friendly menu and moderate spicing makes it attractive for newcomers.
Recommended: Whole snapper, beef salad.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Mon.-Sat.
Entree prices: $14-$24
Credit cards: A, DC, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Valet parking, no smoking in dining room.
NEW
Monaco (3 forks)
4941 N. Broadway
773-878-8811
Though this Vietnamese restaurant is small, with only six tables, the power of Monaco resides in its kitchen. It offers more than 160 menu items, with soup accounting for a large portion of the menu. Entrees are huge but inexpensive.
Recommended: Simmered catfish in a clay pot, spicy mussels, Monaco special plate, pho tai nam.
Open: Dinner and lunch Wed.-Mon.
Entree prices: $4.50- $9.95
Credit cards: A, D, M, V
Reservations: Not accepted
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible
Pasteur ***
5525 N. Broadway
773-878-1061
A tropical-cool dining room with sherbet-colored walls, rattan chairs and tropical plants is home to what is arguably Chicago’s finest Vietnamese food. Those who remember Pasteur from its no-frills Sheridan Road days will be especially delighted.
Recommended: Grilled curry beef, spicy calamari salad, dungeness crab, grilled sea scallops with shrimp.
Open: Dinner Mon.-Sun., lunch Wed.-Sun.
Entree prices: $15-$27
Credit cards: A, DC, DS, M, V
Reservations: Recommended
Noise: Conversation-friendly
Other: Wheelchair accessible; parking lot.
