The Top 10 Restaurants In Chicago

There are about 5,500 restaurants in Chicago which makes picking the top ten a rather daunting task. However, instead of only weighing factors such as service, ambience, and taste we chose to take our survey one step further.

Our overriding factor in selecting Chicago's top ten restaurants was the city itself. More precisely, we chose great restaurants that not only offer patrons a wonderful dining experience but also convey what it's like to be a part of the Windy City.

If you're new to Chicago, or are just visiting, the following ten restaurants, listed in alphabetical order, are great places to dine out while becoming intimate with the city. If you're already a resident, then these ten restaurants will help you stay connected, or get reconnected, to the city of Chicago.

Alinea
1723 North Halsted
312-867-0110

Chef Grant Achatz takes patrons on gastronomical journeys of 12- and 24-courses. If you order the 24-course menu make sure your schedule is clear, it takes five hours to finish. This two-story culinary Shangri-La is perfect if you're in the mood for Iranian pistachios or shellfish broth embraced in panna cotta. Alinea's haute cuisine has an excellent reputation both in the city and beyond.

Ann Sather
5207 N. Clark Street
773-271-667

A Chicago fixture, Ann Sather is an Old World Scandinavian cafe that features the best Swedish meatballs in the city. The chain of restaurants is also famous for its Frisbee-sized cinnamon rolls (they are to die for). There are four Ann Sathers in Chi-Town. The contact information listed above is for the one in Andersonville. There are also Ann Sathers in Lakeview, Southport and on Broadway.

The Bad Apple
4300 North Lincoln Avenue
773-360-8406
Feel like a hamburger? Try The Bad Apple, a hip and happening neighborhood burger and beer bar. Visitors can try the Black 'N Blue, the Sir Loin, or the Maholo burgers while sipping on one of their 50-plus beers. You can also bring the offspring along (unless you're planning on trying all 50 brews), The Bad Apple has a fairly robust children's menu.

Charlie Trotter's
816 West Armitage Avenue
773-248-6228

A Chicago tradition for more than 22-years, Charlie Trotter's is one of the nation's best restaurants and an innovator in the areas of food and wine. World renowned Chef Trotter produces three daily menus—Grand, Vegetable, and Kitchen Table—all of which are designed to show off the best in seasonal ingredients. Simply put, Charlie Trotter's introduced the world to Chicago's fine dining.

Custom House
500 South Dearborn Street
312-523-0200

Custom House is located in the South Loop's Printers' Row neighborhood and caters to meat lovers. Award winning Chef Shawn McClain offers foodies such delectable options like tender bone-in short ribs, grilled shirt steak, and veal cheeks. Not necessarily a steak-house, Custom is a great place to go for tender, tasty, and exceptionally prepared high quality meats.

Everest
440 South LaSalle Street
312-663-8920

Everest is located on the 40th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange. Chef Jean Joho applies French technique to American foods to create a near-priceless dining experience. His signature dish is roasted lobster in Gewürztraminer-ginger butter sauce. Patrons experience Joho's succulent dishes in an opulent dining area replete with resplendent chandeliers and Paris-inspired table arrangements.

Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse
1028 Rush Street
312-266-8999

Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse oozes with great ambience all the while serving some of the biggest and finest aged cuts of steaks in town. Expect a bow-tie wearing bartender to serve you an ice cold martini (shaken not stirred, of course) and expect to see celebrities and celebrity-wannabes at the Chicago's must-attend restaurant. Bottom line, Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse offers its clientele an amusing atmosphere, fabulous service, and great food.

The Original Gino's East of Chicago
633 North Wells Street
312-988-4200

You can't talk about restaurants in the Second City without talking about Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. And of all the deep-dish pizzerias in Chi-Town, none are better than Gino's. Their world famous pies feature yummy cheeses, rich sauces, the freshest toppings, and delicious cornmeal crusts. The restaurant, with its graffiti-covered walls (that are completely family-friendly), seats 500 but you should still expect to wait in line.

Hot Doug's
3324 California Avenue
773-279-9550

Hot Doug's bills itself as "The Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium." This funky, kitsch, and irresistible restaurant is the place to go if you want a great tasting hot dog. Hot Doug's provides wiener fans with every conceivable hot dog-variant from saucisse de Toulouse to goji-berry pheasant sausage. If you show up on a Friday or a Saturday you can gorge on Doug's world famous duck-fat fries. Put away that debit card, Hot Doug's is a cash only restaurant.

Spiaggia and Cafe Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Avenue, 1 Magnificent Mile
312-280-2750

Spiaggia is the upscale, four-star Italian cuisine, Magnificent Mile hotspot. Cafe Spiaggia is its causal, less expensive, but still scrumptious next store neighbor. Both serve consistent and delicious Italian food and both offer patrons wonderful views of the lake. The cafe serves thin-crust pizzas and pastas, while Spiaggia offers lobster, strip steak, and 50-year-old balsamic vinegar.

Upcoming Live Chicago Events

Are you looking for great Chicago entertainment? The following is a list of artists and bands who will be visiting the windy city this year.