Some things about RSNA never change: McCormick Place overwhelms; the scientific sessions are intense; crossing the exhibit floor takes stamina; and the line at the North Building Starbucks inches forward at the speed of slow-drip coffee.
But one thing that has changed since last year is Chicago's restaurant landscape, so AuntMinnie.com has rounded up a selection of the hottest new eateries in the Windy City for you to sample. Bon appétit!
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437 Rush American 437 N. Rush St. 312-222-0101 Monday-Thursday, 11 am-3 pm, 5-11 pm Friday, 11 am-3 pm, 5 pm-12 am Saturday, 5 pm-12 am Appetizers: $5-$13; Entrees: $15-$30 |
Adobo Grill
Mexican/Southwestern
1610 North Wells
312-266-7999
Monday-Thursday, 5:30-10:30 pm
Friday, 5:30-11:30 pm
Saturday, 10:30 am-2:30 pm, 5:30-11:30 pm
Sunday, 10:30 am-2:30 pm, 3:30-9:30 pm
Appetizers: $3.95-$7.95; Entrees: $11.95-$18.95
Consider yourself a tequila aficionado? Then you shouldn't miss Adobo Grill, featuring 75 kinds of tequila and a tequila sommelier to walk you through the finer points of each offering. Another highlight is the community tasting table, at which patrons can share their dining experience with one another. Diners will enjoy vibrant, flavorful regional Mexican cuisine.
Bin 36
American Contemporary/Regional
339 N. Dearborn
312-755-9463
Friday-Saturday, 6:30 pm-1:30 am
Sunday-Thursday, 6:30 pm-12 am
Appetizers: $7-$14; Entrees: $16-$28 (main dining room) You can choose from a casual meal of tasting-size entrees at the tavern, or head around the zinc-topped bar to a full-service dining room. But whatever you do here, make sure you drink some wine. After all, Bin 36 offers 50 wines by the glass, and the restaurant's mission is to take the mystery out of ordering wine with dinner. Bin 36 also offers a stellar cheese selection to complement your vino.
Chicago Firehouse Restaurant
American
1401 S. Michigan Ave.
312-786-1401
Monday-Thursday, 11:30 am-2 pm, 5-10 pm
Friday, 11:30 am-2 pm, 5-10:30 pm
Saturday, 5-10:30 pm
Sunday, 10:30 am-3 pm, 5-9 pm
Appetizers: $7-$11; Entrees: $16-$25 This renovated early-1900s firehouse in the South Loop section of Chicago offers something for everyone -- two dining rooms (one casual, one formal), a bar, and an eat-in wine cellar. Food choices range from comfort food (meatloaf, burgers, and pizza) in the casual dining room to a bit more sophisticated (filet mignon, rainbow trout) in the formal dining area. Meals come in big portions, so plan on a doggie bag.
Chilpancingo
Mexican
388 W. Ontario
312-266-9525
Daily, 11:30 am-2:30 pm
Monday-Thursday, 5-10 pm
Friday-Sunday, 5-11 pm
Appetizers: $5-$7; Entrees: $10-$22
Opened in September by locally known chef Geno Bahena, who also owns Ixcapuzalco, Chilpancingo offers regional Mexican favorites, dished out of an exposed kitchen at the back of the restaurant. You’ll likely be seated in a high-backed booth where you can ponder such entrees as tender rabbit covered in green sauce, rack of lamb, or seafood smothered in a chipotle sour cream sauce. A different mole sauce is featured daily.
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D'Vine French 1950 W. North Ave. 773-235-5700 Monday-Thursday, 5-10:30 pm Friday-Saturday, 5-11:30 pm Appetizers/Salads: $6-$12; Entrees: $15-$24 |
Echo
Global/Fusion/Eclectic
1856 W. North Ave.
773-395-3474
Friday-Saturday, 5:30 pm-1 am
Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 pm-12 am
Small-Plate Entrees: $6-$12
Chef Dirk Flanigan, formerly of Madam B, and owner Sean Herron team up to present international tasting menu dining on cast concrete tables. Mini-entrees, like black bean pot stickers, seared beef salad in a mango horseradish vinaigrette, or grilled ostrich, encourage multicourse dining. Echo offers a variety of tastes for the daring palette, but only takes reservations for parties of six or more.
Gioco
Italian
1312 S. Wabash
312-939-3870
Monday-Wednesday, 11:30 am-2 pm, 5-10 pm
Thursday, 11:30 am-2 pm, 5-11 pm
Friday, 11:30 am-2 pm, 5 pm-12 am
Saturday, 5 pm-12 am
Sunday, 4-9 pm
Appetizers: $6-$10; Pizza and Pasta: $8-$15; Entrees: $16-$30
You won’t be sorry if you make the trip to one of Chicago’s gentrifying neighborhoods on South Wabash for this tasty Italian treat. Gioco offers everything from the traditional Caesar salad to an Arborio-crusted sea bass. There’s also a large assortment of pizza and pasta, all of which you can enjoy amid exposed brick walls and velvet curtains. If you’re really daring, head to the back corner of the restaurant and slip through the private entrance to the restaurant’s speakeasy.
Grill on the Alley
American
Westin on Michigan Ave.
312-255-9009
Monday-Thursday, 6-12 am
Friday-Saturday, 6-1 am
Sunday, 11 am-11 pm
Appetizers: $5-$13; Entrees: $13-$33
Huge portions are standard at chef Steve Floyd’s newest endeavor. Among the tastiest entrees are tequila-marinated fried shrimp, creamy chicken pot pie, broiled Chilean sea bass, and a classic Cobb salad.
GrillRoom
Chophouse
33 W. Monroe
312-960-0000
Monday-Friday, 11 am-10:30 pm
Saturday-Sunday, 5-11 pm
Entrees: $12-$32
Rare vintage wines pair up nicely with a wide selection of Midwestern beef, seafood, pasta, salads, and chops at Chicago’s newest chophouse and wine bar. Appetizers lean toward the ocean, with favorites such as spicy shrimp and oysters Rockefeller. There is also a raw bar with oysters and fresh shellfish. Entree choices include six kinds of steak, and seafood ranging from crab legs to whitefish.
Le Passage
French-American
1 Oak Place
312-255-0022
Monday-Friday, 5:30 pm-2 am
Saturday, 5:30 pm-3 am
Entrees: $15-$28
If it’s exclusivity you’re after, you’ll find it at Le Passage. Only 70 seats are available, and Le Passage doesn’t even have a sign over its door, though you’ll have no trouble spotting the velvet ropes and doorman at the entrance. Le Passage is ornate in its decor, with the interior designed by Jacques Garcia of Paris. You’ll find duck and Dover sole on the entree menu, and appetizers such as smoked salmon, steamed mussels, and creative salads.
MOD
Modern American
1520 North Damen
773-252-1500
Monday-Thursday, 5-11 pm
Friday-Saturday, 5 pm-12 am
Sunday 5-11 pm
Appetizers: $4-$10; Entrees: $9-$24
Set in a funky atmosphere that includes wavy walls, many mirrors, and lots of plastic, MOD features a seasonal menu and a well-developed wine list. The place is unconventional, but at least you’ll have something to talk about over dinner. The menu has featured items including tuna tartare and New Zealand rainbow snapper. Make sure to save room for dessert -- pastry chef Nancy Silver serves up mouth-watering goodies.
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NoMi French 800 North Michigan 312-239-4030 Monday-Friday, 6:30-10:30 am, 11:30 am-2:30 pm, 6-10:30 pm Saturday-Sunday, 7-11 am, 11:30 am-3 pm, 6-10 pm Appetizers: $11-$13; Entrees: $15-$32 You’ll find stunning food and views at NoMi, which opened on the seventh floor of the Park Hyatt Hotel earlier this year. French food with an Asian influence will please your palette, while watching Michigan Avenue through floor-to-ceiling windows is sure to please your eye. Don’t miss the carnaroli risotto with mascarpone cheese. If you’re a meat lover, roast lamb served with a zucchini gratin and sautéed beef tenderloin with chanterelle mushrooms are among the entree selections. |
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Ringo Japanese and Sushi 2507 North Lincoln 773-248-5788 Wednesday-Monday, 4-10:30 pm Sushi: $1-$2.50; Rolls: $2-$5.50; Entrees: $6-$15 Only eight tables grace this simple storefront restaurant opened by brothers-in-law Kazunobu Yoshikawa and Eugene Chua, both experienced sushi chefs. The menu includes a variety of sushi, rolls and pieces, steamed fish, and other Japanese entrees. Make sure to try the takoyaki or octopus balls -- a dough ball stuffed with octopus and covered with a thick, sweet soy sauce and ginger. |
Sinibar
Italian-French Bistro and Nightclub
1540 North Milwaukee
773-278-7797
Tuesday-Saturday, 7 pm-1 am
Appetizers: $5-$7; Entrees, $10-$14
This bistro and nightclub re-opened in July, after moving to Wicker Park. The Moroccan-inspired dining room is often noisy and crowded, with music and raised voices from the downstairs nightclub bouncing off the walls. But don’t let the noise deter you from trying out this hot new restaurant, which features three varieties of steak frites. Besides the food, the reason to eat at Sinibar is to be seen, or to drink down one of their gourmet martinis.
Restaurant reservation services
OpenTable
Free nationwide restaurant reservation site with a big selection of Chicago-area restaurants.
Foodline
Free restaurant reservation site featuring more than 300 Chicago-area restaurants.
Savvy Diner
Free restaurant reservation site with many of Chicago’s new restaurants and old favorites.
By Jill R. Dorson
AuntMinnie.com contributing writer
November 15, 2000
Copyright (c) 2000 AuntMinnie.com
