Chicago, The Windy City, has been a major destination for vacationers, those seeking a city vibe not like any other, for anyone seeking a diverse offering of culture, museums, sports and entertainment. And then there is the food. Chicago blows through the competition when it comes to amazing culinary experience for all types. Burgers, Michelin-star restaurants, DEEP DISH PIZZA that sets the standard for the genre. Enjoy this collection of Yelp recommendations for the City By The Lake.
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The Purple Pig
Experience the joy of nose-to-tail eating at The Purple Pig. From the mains to desserts, they have you covered. It's also a good place to discover new flavors and share new things with your loved ones. It's a good place to feel invited.
Comment Review: This place was truly one of my favorite food experiences in Chicago. I had high expectations from what I'd heard from others and it did not disappoint.
The atmosphere was nice, nothing special but it almost makes the food even more special.
We got the papas bravas from the brunch menu and the pork belly on it was insane. I'll definitely be coming back for that. The ravioli with bone marrow also blew me away and my bf said it's the best ravioli he's ever had. He also really liked the beets and the beef tartare was so fun, smoke presentation and all! The cheesecake was fun and nice that it was so light after everything else. Lastly the espresso martini was just okay but it complemented everything else.
The service was incredible; everyone was so nice and very attentive at all times. We'll definitely be back.
Click here to know more about The Purple Pig
Girl & The Goat
If you want an unforgettable dining experience in Chicago, Girl & The Goat might be your perfect restaurant! They have globally inspired dishes with bold and nice flavors. The restaurant has a friendly and vibrant-trendy vibe, which is a good sign for a night out as well. You can enjoy decadent desserts and excellent cocktails.
Comment Review: The restaurant serves share plates; we were a party of three and the server recommended about six share plates which was ultimately the perfect amount. Speaking of, the server was fantastic! He was very knowledgeable, engaged with us, and also made sure we were taken care of. There were also several staff members walking around and making sure our water glasses were filled.
We ordered the following items: Roasted Beets, Sauteed Green Beans, Hamachi Poke, Chili-Sichuan Basted Bass, Goat Empanadas, Roasted Pig Face, and the Citrus Sundae and Miso Butterscotch Budino for dessert.
First of all, TERRIFIC food. The roasted beets also have yuzu kosho in it, giving it a nice little kick of spicy flavor. Sauteed green beans were some of the best I've ever had and the fish sauce vinaigrette paired really well with the cashews. I'm a huge seafood person and enjoyed both fish dishes. I've had a lot of hamachi over the course of my life in a variety of ways (source: born and raised in Hawaii), and I was pleasantly surprised by the hamachi poke. It's made with goat crema, brown goat butter, and kumquat, but the flavor was new to me! I thought our server was being dramatic when he said the chili-sichuan basted bass was life-changing and you know what? I take that back because he was 100% correct! The spiced almond and marcona butter gave that extra nuttiness to the chili oil and fish. It was salty but SO. GOOD. Goat empanadas were solid. It came with two empanadas, but we requested it be cut in half as there were three of us. The empanada dough was perfectly flaky! Roasted Pig Face was also absolutely delicious. I loved the sunny side egg on top of it, as well as the potato sticks beneath the pig. As for dessert? The citrus sundae was good, but the Miso Butterscotch Budino was the shining star here. Honestly, this is my first trip to Chicago and I already want to come back if it means I get to experience this all over again.
The ambiance in here is trendy. It's dimly lit and there's a lot of warm lighting in the restaurant. I really enjoyed this but my friends pulled out their cellphones so they could use the flashlight to read the menus. There's an open kitchen concept and you can see everything going on as the staff prepares your food. Also, the servers have shirts with the cutest goat puns ever ("Welcome to the love goat", "Goat-ten Tag", and "Chicagoat" were some of my favorites).
I highly recommend you make a reservation; you can do so through OpenTable. My friends made our reservation a few weeks prior as we would only be in Chicago for a few days and I'm so happy we came. They do have a couple of chef tables where you can watch all the food being made, so if you're looking for a date night option, make that reservation!!
Click here to know more about the Girl & The Goat
Cindy's Rooftop
If you love skylines and city lights or just find peace and comfort with good food and overlooking views, Cindy's Rooftop is the place for you! The Instagram-worthy view is stunning, and you can enjoy brunch and after-dinner drinks in this restaurant. The price you'll pay will surely be worth it!
Comment Review: I've been hearing about Cindy's for quite some time, mostly due to its incredible view and drinks, so I decided to make a reservation for my husband's birthday dinner. The experience lived up to the hype! The view was impressive, offering a great vantage point of Millennium Park's Christmas tree, the Bean, and the ice rink, though it did get a little crowded at times.
As for the food, it was absolutely delicious. We started with the salmon and green berg lettuce salad, which turned out to be one of my favorite dishes of the night. The salmon was perfectly cooked--flaky and tender--and the salad was delightfully crispy with a harmonious blend of flavors that complemented the fish beautifully. We also ordered a baked potato on the side, which was a real treat. It had just the right amount of melted cheese and was baked to perfection, soft on the inside and crisp on the outside.
For our entrees, we chose the half-roasted chicken and the short ribs. Both were cooked with care--the chicken was juicy and flavorful, and the short ribs were melt-in-your-mouth tender. The sauces that accompanied both dishes were rich and packed with depth, really enhancing the flavors.
The cocktails were refreshing too. To top off the evening, when the staff learned we were celebrating a birthday, they brought out a lovely chocolate mousse cake with whipped cream. It was not only a sweet gesture but also delicious, offering the perfect ending to a memorable celebration.
Overall, Cindy's provided a wonderful dining experience with great food, a beautiful view, and thoughtful touches that made my husband's birthday feel even more special.
Click here to know more about the Cindy's Rooftop
Perilla
Perilla has Michelin recognition—the establishment is worthy of one! Perilla is the place if you want to level up your premium steaks, which are excellent with traditional Korean flavors. Grilling your own food on the table is a fun experience. They also have a pleasant ambiance, making it perfect for get-together meals.
Comment Review: If you're just talking about world wide best Korean Steakhouse's you can't do better than Hue 135 in Seoul. It is the benchmark for this cuisine.
If you want to move closer to home for this cuisine then Parks in Los Angeles's Korea town will absolutely be the best.
But, tonight on Rush St. in Chicago Perilla Steakhouse was up there with the "Big Boys"!
They did everything right; the service, atmosphere, menu, food, all exemplary. I was duly impressed.
For a real stunner this evening was what could have been one of the better Caesar Salads I've had anywhere in of all places, a Korean Steakhouse? Go figure!
The bar work its magic with lovely wines and fantastic cocktails. My Damilano Nebbiolo Red was just a terrific wine to have with our wonderful grilled steak (at our table).
All of the added accoutrements they give you with your main just works in every way. The 60 day Ribeye steak was the center piece for this dinner.
Thank goodness the on site staffer cooked our steak at our table perfectly. I didn't have my wife here to do this demanding chore. Alone, I would have made mush.
Perilla's on Rush St. is this rather wonderful arena in which to do this type of cuisine, correctly.
Me and my dear friend both loved what these nice people brought to this very unique dinner'.
We adored Perilla Steakhouse and will definitely come back here very soon!
Click here to know more about Perilla
Lou Malnati's Pizzaria
Craving Italian flavors in Chicago is not a problem; Lou Malnati's Pizzeria has your back. They have thin-crust pizzas and the world's famous Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. You can also enjoy salads, kinds of pasta, and desserts. They accept online orders and offer catering services if you would like them to come to your gatherings.
Comment Review: I've never had a deep dish pizza quite like Lou Malnatis.
I found it so interesting the way the pizza was made and put together. And every pizza is freshly made, so service does take longer.
This really is some fantastic pizza. Every bite is everything!! And dip it in some ranch, *chefs kiss.*
It is pretty expensive for the portion, but I'd pay up every time.
Click here to know more about the Lou Malnati's Pizzaria
Au Cheval
Cherish the cozy pub-like experience at Au Cheval. The place is charming, and the food is excellent, making it a favorite of both locals and visitors. The various options of dishes, from appetizers to after-dinner drinks, are superb! The taste reflects its vibe and ambiance. It's really a must-try!
Comment Review: Finally got to try it! The wait was not too bad for a Sunday late lunch - like a 30-min wait at 1pm. You can walk to Sawada for coffee (which still has a line) and Levain for cookies and easily kill the wait time.
The food menu is very simple and straightforward. The best burger in the world? Not really. But that sweet, flavorful and crispy bacon though... yummm you definitely need to add it. The hash brown is so crispy that my son kept eating it haha. Probably the most crispy one that I've ver had.
Click here to know more about Au Cheval
The Dearborn
How about trying a trendy spot on your next eat-out? Experience the excellent mix of Midwestern-inspired dishes with Irish hospitality for your pre-movie dinner or casual brunch. You must try their mouthwatering fish and chips and Midwestern fried chicken. They also have happy hour and enjoy cozy live jazz on Sundays.
Comment Review: Ay, worth it. Fish and chips that bobby flay lost to - I guess on iron chef? Homemade tartar sauce and ketchup? Worth it. Generous crab and shrimp ceviche portion? You know it, Worth it. A strong G&T and McDonald's like fries? Ahhh yeah.
Service if awesome, they checked on me constantly
Click here to know more about The Dearborn
Ciccio Mio
Looking for a nice and romantic place to enjoy Italian flavors away from home? Ciccio Mio is the place to be! You will enjoy pasta and other Italian dishes while enjoying peace, quiet, and an intimate vibe, which could be with the one you love, family, or for your "me"-time, so if you want to experience the cozy fine dining experience, reserve your table now.
Comment Review: The interior of this restaurant is dim and opulent with paintings, ornate furnishings and velvet cushioned seating with wood finish throughout the space. Reservation is a must if you'd like to dine inside. Outdoor patio seating was available as well - which is where we ended up (without a reservation you're going to have a wait).
Staff is warm and welcoming and very attentive with water refills and removing/replacing sullied plates. Cocktails are well made and the wine list was approachable as well.
The food however, shined here.
Truffle Mozzarella Sticks - earthy stretchy with a tangy sauce
House Salad - fresh and crisp with shaved parmesan
Lobster Ravioli - a special. three large raviolis with lobster and a rich cream sauce - topped with crunchy breadcrumbs
Lasagna Bolognese Rotolo - rolled up lasagna with a hefty bolognese sauce. Wish I had a little focaccia to clean up that plate!
A great dining experience and one that I look forward to repeating.
Click here to know more about Ciccio Mio
Pequod's Pizza
Try the famous carmelized crust from one of Chicago's well-known pizzerias, Pequod's Pizza. The pizzeria and its casual vibe are famous, whether to singles, families, groups, or lovers. They have ravioli, tortellini, and sandwiches to enjoy. You can also hire them as caterers for your parties or events.
Comment Review: MUST TRY while in Chicago because this is the IT deep dish place to be.
Made to order so it comes out extremely hot, fresh, and cheesy. I would say this is the perfect deep dish with the right cheese and sauce combination.
Each pie takes about 35 minutes so be patient and enjoy yourself after.
I got the medium pie with pepperoni, sausage, and jalapeño - they are heavy handed with toppings so it's worth the topping price tag of each item!
Click here to know more about Pequod's Pizza
Giordano's
A Chicago trip won't be completed without a taste of the famous deep-dish pizza, and one of the best places to have it is at Giordano's, nestled in the heart of Windy City. This place is a haven for pizza lovers and a must-try for tourists (and locals).
Comment Review: Delicious lunch here. Our server, George, was incredibly friendly. He was transparent about cook times for various menu items and was very attentive. The caesar salad was good, i wish the garlic bread was more garlicky but the texture was on point and the marinara was to die for. The deep dish pizza was delicious. perfect sauce to cheese ratio. the crust tasted similar to a flatbread pizza in texture and flavor. overall i would come back for sure
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