TOP 5
First-date spots
For making an impression, but not a commitment.
Cafe Matou
1846 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-384-8911
One of the best neighborhood restaurants around, with a warm and inviting interior and a beyond-the-basics bistro menu.
Cebu
7329 Lemont Rd., Downers Grove
630-663-8803
This fun, intro-level Filipino restaurant is very inexpensive, but pretty enough to be a date destination.
Club Lucky
1824 W. Wabansia St.
773-227-2300
This retro-hip Bucktown veteran is still a great place for creative martinis and reliable Italian-American food.
Emperor’s Choice
2238 S. Wentworth Ave.
312-225-8800
One of the best restaurants in Chinatown, boasting a seafood-heavy menu and pretty, low-key surroundings.
Gibsons Steakhouse
1028 N. Rush St.
312-266-8999
Find out if he/she prefers steaks well-done before you invest any more in the relationship.
TOP 5
Holiday teas
Ideal respites during shopping season.
Drake Hotel
140 E. Walton St.
312-787-2200
Formal tea is a daily feature at this classic Michigan Avenue hotel. During the holidays, tea service takes on an even more festive tone.
Hotel Burnham
1 W. Washington St.
312-368-1900
Located in the hotel’s Atwood Cafe, the Toyland Tea service is something even kids can enjoy. There’s tea for adults, hot chocolate for kids and a complimentary keepsake photo.
The Peninsula Chicago
108 E. Superior St.
312-337-2888
The newest hotel along the Magnificent Mile offers afternoon tea, with live music, in the lobby.
Ritz-Carlton Chicago
160 E. Pearson St.
312-573-5154
Choose from the traditional tea or the all-sweets tea. Note: During peak holiday times, tea service is not available on Saturdays.
Villa Kula
4518 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-728-3114
This Lincoln Square restaurant offers formal afternoon tea every day (closed Tuesdays), but with a full lunch and dinner menu, tea is available just about any time of day.
TOP 5
Surprise sushi
Lesser-known places for making maki.
Bistro Nami
439 W. Ogden Ave., Clarendon Hills
630-230-0100
Tucked into a strip mall, this recently opened spot offers a half-French, half-Japanese menu with a sizable sushi selection.
Blue Fin
1952 W. North Ave.
773-394-7373
Sandwiched between its better-known neighbors D’Vine and Cafe Absinthe, this Bucktown sushi specialist is worth seeking out; at press time, it was still BYOB.
NoMI
800 N. Michigan Ave.
312-239-4030
Sandro Gamba gets plaudits for his French-accented International menu, which includes daily sushi and sashimi specials.
Shaw’s Crab House
21 E. Hubbard St.
312-527-2722
Known as an East Coast-style seafood house, Shaw’s recently added about five maki rolls to its menu.
Silk Mandarin and Sushi Restaurant
4 E. Phillip Rd., Vernon Hills
847-680-1760
A few years ago, this classic Chinese restaurant in the northwest suburbs expanded its offerings by adding a sushi bar, which proved to be a popular move.
TOP 5
Kid-friendly
Where the whole brood is welcome.
Crawdaddy Bayou
412 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling
847-520-4800
Kids will love this Cajun/Creole restaurant’s theatrical decor, which includes a re-creation of a Louisiana swamp.
Flatlander’s
200 Village Green, Lincolnshire
847-821-1234
From discounted kids menus to special shortened-height buffet tables, this Midwest-American restaurant goes all out to make families feel welcome.
Joe’s Be-Bop Caf & Jazz Emporium
600 E. Grand Ave.
312-595-5299
If you’re taking the kids to Navy Pier, this casual barbecue specialist is the perfect lunchtime stop. And there’s live music at dinner.
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
921 Pasquinelli Dr., Westmont
630-455-9846
Seafood with a Cajun accent is the specialty of this chain, which has a location in Arlington Heights, too.
Twisted Spoke
501 N. Ogden Ave.
312-666-1500
The crowd gets a little too grown up later in the evening, but for lunch and early dinner, older kids will like the fanciful biker-bar decor and the hefty burgers.
TOP 5
Loop pre-theater
Where to go before the show.
Everest
440 S. LaSalle St.
312-663-8920
Easily overlooked as a pre-theater choice, this four-star Loop restaurant offers an early-bird menu and complimentary valet parking.
The Grillroom
33 W. Monroe St.
312-960-0000
Across the street from the Shubert Theatre, this steakhouse has plenty of menu choices and a strong by-the-glass wine selection.
Ina’s
1235 W. Randolph St.
312-226-8227
Not terribly close to Loop theaters, but worth mentioning because dinner service begins at 4:45 p.m.
Petterino’s
150 N. Dearborn St.
312-422-0150
You can get from the dining room of this classic American restaurant to the lobby of the Goodman Theater without stepping outdoors. It’s close to two other theaters, too.
Rhapsody
65 E. Adams St.
312-786-9911
Part of Symphony Center, this fine-dining restaurant is a good choice for a pre-theater dinner or post-concert dessert.
TOP 5
Veggie-friendly
Where carnivores and herbivores can coexist.
Indian Garden
6020 Cass Ave., Westmont
630-769-9662
Indian cuisine abounds with vegetarian choices, and this restaurant, with city and Schaumburg locations as well, is a fine choice.
Noon O Kabab
4661 N. Kedzie Ave.
773-279-8899
Grilled meats are the specialties of this Iranian restaurant, but it also serves vegetable stews, hummus and other meatless items.
Ras Dashen
5846 N. Broadway
773-506-9601
There’s lamb, chicken, beef and fish on the menu of this Ethiopian restaurant, but there are more than a dozen vegetarian dishes as well.
Red Light
820 W. Randolph St.
312-733-8880
This first-rate pan-Asian restaurant offers plenty of meatless options, plus a $45 vegan tasting menu for the meat-, egg- and dairy-free gourmet.
Wishbone
1001 W. Washington St.
312-850-2663
This funky Southern restaurant (which also has a Lakeview location) has plenty of sausage and other meaty items, but also Hoppin’ John and other vegetarian options.
