By Susan Berg
Chicago is home to a number of world-class restaurants and paring a list to the 10 best is a difficult feat. Fine dining is this city includes Italian, French, Mexican, American, vegetarian and singular "molecular gastronomy" menus. If you're looking to try the best in this city, be prepared to pay for it; many tasting menus at the city's best restaurants start in the mid-$100s; add drinks and you're looking at a pretty hefty bill. However, though the final tab may hurt a little, what you're paying for is a culinary experience that you will find nowhere else.
Charlie Trotter's
Charlie Trotter's is a AAA Five Diamond and Mobil Five Star award winner. The restaurant has also been honored with 10 James Beard Foundation awards. Charlie Trotter's offers three multicourse menus daily: the Grand Menu, the Vegetable Menu and the Kitchen Table Menu. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday only. Tuesday through Thursday, dinner seatings are available at 6 and 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, dinner seatings are available at 5:30 and 9 p.m. Reservations are required. For weekend reservations, call 10 to 12 weeks in advance. For weekday reservations, call three to four weeks in advance.
Charlie Trotter's
816 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-6228
charlietrotters.com/restaurant/
Spiaggia
Spiaggia is Chicago's only four-star Italian restaurant. At this restaurant, you may opt to dine off the tasting menu or dinner menu. On Sunday through Thursday, dinner service starts at 6 p.m., and at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are required. If your wallet is feeling a pinch, consider eating at Cafe Spiaggia. The cafe is open for both lunch and dinner and offers a less-extensive menu that also features antipasto, pasta, and main course specials that change on a daily basis.
Spiagia
980 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 280-2750
spiaggiarestaurant.com
Alinea
Alinea has been featured in "Food & Wine," "Travel + Leisure," "The New Yorker," "Saveur," and "The New York Times Style Magazine." In 2007, Alinea was named one of the world's 50 best restaurants by "Restaurant" magazine. The restaurant offers a 12 or 25 course prix-fixe American-fare menu that offers conceptual dishes and avant-garde presentations. The restaurant is open for dinner only; Wednesday through Friday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 9:30 p.m.
Alinea
1723 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 867-0110
alinea-restaurant.com
Frontera Grill
Frontera Grill is a Mexican restaurant run by celebrity chef Rick Bayless that features a menu that changes on a monthly basis. The restaurant is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 am. to 2:30 p.m. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday from 5:20 to 10 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. Seating is mainly done on a first-come, first-served basis, though reservations are available on a limited basis.
Fronterra Grill
445 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 661-1434
fronterakitchens.com
TRU
TRU is a "progressive" French restaurant. TRU offers two dining options: a prix-fixe three-course meal and a collections menu featuring six to nine courses. Reservations are required. The restaurant is open for dinner Monday through Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m., Friday 6 to 11 p.m., and Saturday 5 to 11 p.m.
TRU
676 N. St. Clair St.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 202-0001
trurestaurant.com
Green Zebra
The Green Zebra has been featured in "Conde Nast Traveller," "Travel + Leisure," "The New York Times" and the "Chicago Tribune." The majority of entrees on this restaurant's reasonably-priced menu are vegetarian. Reservations are not required. The restaurant is open for dinner Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m., and Sunday 5 to 9 p.m. The Green Zebra also offers a Sunday brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Green Zebra
1460 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 243-7100
greenzebrachicago.com
Schwa Restaurant
Schwa features artistic and inventive entrees. The restaurant's head chef was named one of the a Best New Chef's by "Food & Wine" magazine in 2006. At Schwa, you can choose from a three-course menu or a nine-course menu. This restaurant is BYOB. Schwa is open for dinner by reservation only Tuesday through Saturday, from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Schwa
http://www.schwarestaurant.com/
1466 N. Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60662
(773) 252-1466
Everest
Everest is a French restaurant located high above the city below on the 40th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange. Everest was named Chicago's "most romantic restaurant" by the "Chicago Tribune" in a four-star review. The restaurant offers a seven-course degustation (small tasting portions) or seven-course vegetarian degustation menu. You may also choose to order from the three or four-course prix-fixe menu. Reservations are required; plan to make them well in advance. Everest is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5:30 to 9 p.m., Friday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.
Everest Restaurant
Chicago Stock Exchange
440 S. La Salle St. (40th floor)
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 663-8920
everestrestaurant.com
Moto Restaurant
Moto is known as the home of molecular gastronomy, which blends together the art and science of cooking. When eating at Moto, you have the option of choosing a 10-course tasting menu or 20 -course grand tasting menu. This restaurant features avant-garde and creative food preparations. The restaurant is open for dinner and cocktails Tuesday through Sunday starting at 5 p.m. Reservations are recommended.
Moto
945 W Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 491-0058
motorestaurant.com
Custom House
Custom House has been featured in "InStyle" magazine and the "Chicago Tribune." The menu at this restaurant features American fare with a Mediterranean influence. The restaurant is open daily for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for dinner Monday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. Reservations are recommended.
Custom House
500 S Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60605-1532
(312) 523-0200
customhouse.cc
About the Author:
A writer and editor based in southeastern Wyoming, Susan Berg has over ten years of experience in the field. Berg earned a Master of Arts degree in journalism from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Dayton. Her work has been published in the "Dayton Daily News" and online at websites including BiologyBiozine.com, Wcities.com, Trails.com, Travels.com and eHow.com.
