A taste of Cuba at River North's Havana.
Stuck in a rut when it comes to eating out? Good thing the Chicago restaurant scene gets an injection of new life almost every week. Whether you want to know where to go tonight or what opening to mark on your calendar, our guide to fresh feasting spots has all the details you crave.
Have you visited a new restaurant lately? Tell us what you think. Looking for somewhere to wash it all down? Check out our list of brand-new bars.
Ready to Digest
Make it mojito time at Havana
Pan-Latin dining and mojitos come to River North at this Cuban-heavy cafe with a lunch menu under $10.
BenjYehuda: Middle Eastern done fast
Mediterranean gets Chipotle-ized (in a good way) with dishes like falafel, hummus and shawerma done quick and easy at this Loop cafe. The menu is full of other "urban street food" like cheese fries and churros.
Take barbecue up a notch at Brand BBQ Market
The buzz surrounding Brand is that a trained chef is whipping up barbecue for gourmands. It's an intriguing idea, but the food here isn't actually all that fancy. Instead, it's quality BBQ fare nestled in a comfy Logan Square location.
Let the Hearty Boys take care of you
Hoping to fill what he calls a "dearth" of restaurants in the area, Steve McDonagh and partner Dan Smith turned their TV studio (used for their Food Network show) into a satisfying dining destination that more than lives up to its name. They define the food as "comfort revisited."
Edzo's Burger Shop
Eddie Lakin, a former cook at TRU and Nacional 27, presents his take on a straight-up fast-food joint in downtown Evanston. Located in an area with plenty of options for lunch, Edzo's stands out with simple food and a few lovable twists.
Crepe craziness: Crepe Crave and Crepe Town
Get your crepe fix in either Wicker Park (Crepe Crave) or Lakeview (Crepe Town). Both offer numerous options of the savory/sweet French treat.
Come for the coffee, stay for more at Ch'ava
This casual cafe in Uptown serves up savory sandwiches, but most stop in for a fresh cup of Intelligentsia coffee.
Savor the flavor at Sabor Saveur
Imaginative dishes like lobster enchiladas and apple foie gras make up the interesting menu at this French-Mexican mashup in Wicker Park.
Make yourself happy at Elate
Contemporary American cuisine rules at this new restaurant, located in River North's Hotel Felix.
Swim on over to Blue Ocean
Grab innovative sushi rolls and other Japanese favorites at this Uptown restaurant.
Get it fast and fried at George Boys Grill
Located in Rockstar Dogss' old West Town outpost, this diner mixes a wide array of deep fried options with a surprising number of Italian dishes, all at bargain prices.
Satisfy your sweet tooth at The Cupcake Counter
A local mother-daughter team is behind this bakery and cupcake shop in the Loop, with a tiny cube of store that's so adorable, you'll want to eat it.
Folklore Argentine Grill: Like Tango Sur, only more so
When the owners of the popular Argentine steakhouse Tango Sur opened a new restaurant, they wisely chose to stick with their already successful model, only tweaking the details to fit the new era and neighborhood. The Wicker Park offshoot of the Lakeview favorite has an almost identical menu, with affordable, top-notch steaks ruling with savory, garlicky chimichurri on the side.
Stay the night at Pelago Ristorante
Fine Italian dining in the Gold Coast's Raffaello Hotel.
Infusion Cafe adds a Euro touch
Coffee and sandwiches at this European cafe on the north end of Lincoln Square.
Mercadito ain't your average taco joint
The famous New York City taqueria forays into Chicago in River North's former La Pomme Rouge space.
Hot Off the Grill
DMK Burger Bar
MK chef Michael Kornick branches out into the burger business with this Lakeview restaurant, serving upscale burgers and sides, as well as a beer list.
Sushi Taiyo
Find traditional sushi rolls and other Asian treats from the owners of Shine and Rise in this new Streeterville restaurant.
Melanthios Greek Char House
Greek favorites with an authentic touch in Lakeview.
Belly Shack
Urban Belly mastermind Bill Kim opens this Asian-Latin themed spinoff in Logan Square.
The Fifth
Jon Young opens his fifth restaurant (hence the name) with contemporary American cuisine in River North.
Sprout
The DePaul area will see its dining scene classed up a bit with this organic French-Italian restaurant in Lincoln Park.
Xoco
Famed chef Rick Bayless opens his latest project, a more casual Mexican cafe next door to Frontera Grill.
Knew
Omar Rodriguez, chef of the now-closed Think Cafe, opens this Logan Square restaurant.
Jacky's on Prairie
Find contemporary French cuisine in the old Jacky's Bistro spot in Evanston.
Orvieto
New Italian cafe inside the Green Dolphin Street complex in Lincoln Park.
Gemini Bistro
American dishes will get a French and Italian twist at this Lincoln Park bistro.
LM Restaurant
French contemporary fare in the old Tallulah spot in Lincoln Square.
The Original Alps Restaurant & Pancake House
This Albany Park breakfast and lunch spot originally opened in the 1970s, but closed a few years ago. It's now re-opened and remodeled, but with the same breakfast (pancakes, waffles, omelets) and lunch options (burgers, sandwiches, soups) that made it popular a generation before.
Big Star
Grab some tacos and beer while you listen to country music in the old Pontiac Cafe spot in Wicker Park.
La Farine
Find pastries, baguettes and other sweet sensations at this West Town bakery.
Bakin' & Eggs
This upscale comfort food cafe (specializing in bacon, we hear) opens in Lakeview.
Nella Pizzeria Napoletana
Former chefs from Spacca Napoli and Mia Francesca team up to open this Lincoln Park brick-oven pizza place.
Still Cooking
Bake
This cozy cafe and bakery in Wicker Park is set to open in mid-November.
Balsan
Casual American cafe in the Gold Coast's Elysian Hotel, set to open sometime in November.
The Purple Pig
Wine and cheese (and pork) for the Michigan Avenue tourist crowd.
Leo's Coney Island
Detroiters will feel right at home in this classic hot dog cafe in Lakeview, opening in early winter.
Cumin
Nepali and Indian cuisine in the heart of Wicker Park, opening sometime this winter.
Chicago's Home of Chicken and Waffles (West Loop)
The unique restaurant's second location is set to open by the end of the year.
The Drunken Goat
Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard opens this Italian-Mexican small plates restaurant in the West Loop in January or February.
Gilt Bar
Brendan Sodikoff's simple, fun restaurant in the old Aigre Doux space in River North will open sometime in early 2010.
Masada
The owners of Sultan's Market open this Logan Square Middle Eastern sit-down eatery sometime in 2010.
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