Chicago: Still Our Kind of Town | Adam Timothy Group

Food & Travel • Personal Recommendations

Chicago: Still Our Kind of Town

A Personal Guide by Adam Stanley & Timothy Powles

Adam & Timothy's Chicago Favs

Our personal guide to the best the Windy City has to offer

Both of us expect great food above all else. Service is almost as critical—and with so many options for dining, we would rarely settle for a place with amazing food but crappy service. Decor is a nice to have, but as long as we don't have to scream to have a conversation, we can deal with anything from classy to shabby chic to gaudy.

Fine Dining

Fine Dining • 3 Michelin Stars

Smyth | The Loyalist

177 N. Ada St., West Town

$$$$$

★★★★★ 4.7 (850+) Google

as of Jan 2026

Fine Dining • 2 Michelin Stars

Oriole

661 W. Walnut St., West Loop

$$$$$

★★★★★ 4.8 (650+) Google

as of Jan 2026

Contemporary Rustic • 1 Michelin Star

Sepia

123 N. Jefferson St., West Loop

$$$

★★★★☆ 4.5 (1,200+) Google

as of Jan 2026

Unique Experience • 1 Michelin Star

El Ideas

2419 W. 14th St., Pilsen

$$$$

★★★★★ 4.9 (400+) Google

as of Jan 2026

Other Favorites

Modern Italian

Monteverde

1020 W. Madison St., West Loop

$$$

★★★★★ 4.6 (2,800+) Google

as of Jan 2026

Contemporary American

S.K.Y.

1239 W. 18th St., Pilsen

$$$

★★★★★ 4.7 (1,100+) Google

as of Jan 2026

Vietnamese Fusion

HaiSous Vietnamese

1800 S. Carpenter St., Pilsen

$$$

★★★★★ 4.6 (1,500+) Google

as of Jan 2026

Vegetarian Pasta

Daisies

2523 N. Milwaukee Ave., Logan Square

$$

★★★★★ 4.7 (900+) Google

as of Jan 2026

Japanese

Momotaro

820 W. Lake St., West Loop

$$$

★★★★★ 4.5 (2,200+) Google

as of Jan 2026

French

Brindille

534 N. Clark St., River North

$$$

★★★★★ 4.6 (700+) Google

as of Jan 2026

New & Noteworthy 2025–2026

We left Chicago several years ago, so we can't personally vouch for all of these—but we've done the research and summarized what the critics and locals are saying. One thing we know for sure: Chicago restaurants don't last long if they're not good.

Middle Eastern All-Day Cafe

Cafe Yaya

2339 N. Milwaukee Ave., Logan Square

$$

From the Michelin-starred Galit team. Croissant-wiches by day, intimate dinners by night. The lamb burger is a must.

Regional Indian

Nadu

2423 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park

$$$

From a Michelin-starred chef. Already earned a Bib Gourmand. Contemporary dishes spanning India's diverse regions.

Italian American

Dimmi Dimmi

901 W. Randolph St., West Loop

$$

Chef Matt Eckfeld (ex-Carbone) goes personal. Family-style pasta, tavern-style pizzas, and an "Italian beef" carpaccio.

Creative Italian American

Void

1551 N. Damen Ave., Wicker Park

$$

Dive bar vibes meet daring Italian. The viral "spaghetti uh-os" and double-fried chicken marsala are musts.

Lao Cuisine

Lao Der

2118 S. Archer Ave., Chinatown

$$

Chicago's first sit-down Lao restaurant in years. The khao piek sen noodles will silence your table.

Tasting Menu

Feld

801 W. Randolph St., West Loop

$$$$

25-30 bites over 3 hours. Theater-in-the-round design. $195 and worth every penny for the experience.

Neo-Bistro

Bar Parisette

1332 W. Randolph St., West Loop

$$$

From the Elske team. French bistro with Midwestern ingredients. Warm brie gougères, Parisian gnocchi, stellar desserts.

Roman Italian

Il Carciofo

1401 W. Taylor St., Little Italy

$$$

Top Chef winner Joe Flamm's rustic Roman eatery. Don't miss the namesake artichokes.

Ultra-Luxe Steakhouse

The Alston

747 N. Clark St., River North

$$$$$

Food by Michelin-starred Esmé's Jenner Tomaska. The duck press is already legendary.

Midwestern Hearth

Ox Bar & Hearth

2542 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park

$$$

Lincoln Park, from Alinea/Moto alums. Wood-burning hearth, seasonal local ingredients, excellent potato pierogi.

Peruvian-Japanese

Akiro

358 W. Ontario St., River North

$$$

Nikkei cuisine in River North. Wasabi ceviche, braised short rib gyūdon, and an excellent cocktail program.

Mexican Seafood

Mariscos San Pedro

1331 S. Allport St., Pilsen (Thalia Hall)

$$

Inside historic Thalia Hall in Pilsen. Bustling, vibrant, and completely of-the-moment for Chicago.

Multicultural American

Maxwells Trading

948 W. Lake St., West Loop

$$$$

Chef Erling Wu-Bower's ambitious spot. Claypot rice, pompano in Cantonese egg sauce, plus French and Italian influences.

Book Your Table

Most Chicago restaurants use one of these platforms for reservations

Hotel Bars

Raised Urban Rooftop Bar

Renaissance Hotel

1 W. Wacker Dr.

Timothy Powles was Executive Chef here for almost 5 years

Berkshire Room

Acme Hotel Company

15 E. Ohio St.

Cherry Circle Room

Chicago Athletic Association

12 S. Michigan Ave.

LH Rooftop

London House

85 East Wacker Dr. at North Michigan Ave.

Top Things to Do in Chicago

Beyond the restaurants—our picks for experiencing the best of the city.

🏛️

The Art Institute of Chicago

One of the world's great museums. Period. We never tire of it. The Impressionist collection alone is worth the trip, but don't sleep on the modern wing or the Thorne Miniature Rooms. Plan for at least half a day—you'll want it.

🌳

Millennium Park & The Bean

Yes, it's touristy. Yes, you should still go. Cloud Gate is genuinely impressive in person, and the park itself is beautifully designed. Hit it early morning to avoid the crowds, then grab coffee nearby.

🚤

Architecture River Cruise

The single best way to understand Chicago's architectural heritage. We've done this a dozen times and still learn something new. Go with the Chicago Architecture Center tour—the docents are exceptional. Spring through fall only.

🎵

Live Jazz & Blues

Chicago is a music city. Green Mill for jazz (Al Capone's old haunt), Kingston Mines or Buddy Guy's Legends for blues. These aren't tourist traps—they're living history. Go late, stay later.

🏙️

360 Chicago or Skydeck

We slightly prefer 360 Chicago (formerly Hancock Observatory) for the views and the TILT experience. Skydeck's Ledge is iconic but expect longer lines. Either way, go at sunset if you can swing it.

🎭

Second City or Improv

The birthplace of modern improv comedy. Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Bill Murray—they all started here. The shows are consistently sharp and surprisingly affordable. A perfect post-dinner activity.

🚶

Walk the Lakefront Trail

18 miles of gorgeous waterfront. We love the stretch from Navy Pier down through Grant Park. Rent bikes if walking isn't your thing. On a clear day, this is Chicago at its absolute finest.

🏟️

Catch a Game at Wrigley

Even if you're not a baseball fan, Wrigley Field is a bucket-list experience. The neighborhood, the rooftops, the seventh-inning stretch—it's pure Americana. Cubs or not, you'll feel the history.

🛍️

Explore Neighborhood Shopping

Skip the Magnificent Mile chains. Instead, wander through Wicker Park for vintage and indie boutiques, or hit up Andersonville for antiques and local makers. The West Loop has excellent design shops too.

🌃

Rooftop Bar Hopping

Chicago does rooftops exceptionally well. Cindy's at the Chicago Athletic Association has killer views. London House is another favorite with stunning panoramas. Summer nights only—winters are brutal.

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