New on Resy: S.K.Y., Maddon’s Post, and More!

An enticing industrial lounge with chic mod furnishings, S.K.Y. comes courtesy of chef Stephen Gillanders, a Vongerichten vet who fell in love with Chicago. His globally-influenced menu veers as much towards Korea as it does towards Mexico, making pit stops in Italy, France, and even Pilsen. All you need to know is that S.K.Y.’s food is exceptional, and you’d be remiss to overlook the knockout cornbread madeleines, lobster dumplings, and organic fried chicken.

Throw together legendary Cubs manager Joe Maddon’s Polish heritage and acclaimed Spiaggia chef Tony Mantuano’s chops, and what do you get? Maddon’s Post, a Wrigleyville newcomer that focuses on the duo’s first-generation roots. Polish and Italian family recipes are the heart and soul of the menu, so whether you’re in the mood for doughy pierogies, crackly chicken Parm, wood-fired Kielbasa, or braised brisket rigatoni, Maddon’s has you covered.

Inspired by the tables around which friends and family gather to celebrate, the aptly named Gather serves up New American fare with a dose of cool. Peak-season produce peppers the menu, resulting in excellent preparations like uovo raviolo doused in white truffle butter, grilled pork chop in a lime and coconut purée, and spaghetti laced with peppercorn-crusted pork belly. Pro-tip: Sundays are for family dinners, so put together a group and indulge in the large-format shared plates.

Dos Urban Cantina stuns in its interpretation of modern cantina fare, extolling the flavors of masa for astounding sweet corn tamal, saucing salmon tartare with grilled pineapple aguachile, and crafting some of the best chicken tinga tacos you’ll ever bite into. The refined menu, helmed by seasoned Rick Bayless vets, discloses a deep understanding of Mexican cuisine, and extends to dessert, from coconut lemongrass flan to the best piece of decadent chocolate cake.

A brasserie for the modern age (read: hanging plants, wood accents, sleek leather seating), Bad Hunter cleverly winks to its vegetable-heavy menu. Indeed, chef Dan Snowden forgos the carnivorous cuts in favor of more earthy ones, relying on fermentation and wood-roasting for exceptional dishes. Menu highlights include butter dumplings stuffed with charred corn and smoked chile peanuts, English pea tart, and chickpea agnolotti.

A bona fide neighborhood restaurant through and through, The Warbler deals in crowd-pleasing fare that boasts something for everyone. And the sun-drenched Lincoln Square space leaves nothing to be desired, serving as the ideal backdrop for a casual but nonetheless excellent meal of garlicky and buttery baked mussels, cheesy ramp-and-bacon flatbread, house-made spaghetti alla Chitarra, and roasted half chicken.

A real slice of New Orleans in Wicker Park, Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods is chef Brian Jupiter’s aim to bring his Southern heritage way up north. And the James Beard semifinalist delivers, ensuring that the flavors of the bayou pepper every bit of food. Case in point: hushpuppies slathered in pimento honey butter, a crackly po’ boy filled with alligator sausage, spice-laden gumbo, and the chef’s grandmother’s very own fried chicken recipe.

True to its name, this River North locale begins each meal with a splash of its namesake bubbly. Italian sparkling wine reigns supreme at the lavish Prosecco, and is best sipped at the quartz bar or under the imported Murano glass chandeliers. Food-wise, the menu cuts through the fizz with toothsome regional dishes, from saltimbocca di vitello (veal wrapped in Prosciutto and sage) to risotto manzo (laced with sautéed beef tenderloin).

With plates as bright and fresh as the sun-drenched coasts this bistro takes inspiration from, Le Sud is a delight to the taste buds and eyes. Simple fare is lovingly prepared, and the warmth of the Mediterranean and south of France rings true in every dish—think wood-grilled escargots brimming with parsley butter, melty bone marrow scooped on grilled bread, and duck breast pan-roasted in a lavender-honey glaze.

Frontier is a hunter’s lodge-style eatery that specializes in wild game—and there’s no better place to roll up your sleeves and enjoy wild boar sliders, antelope cheesesteak, BBQ duck legs, and smoked wagyu beef back ribs. For the more ambitious diners, whole animals are roasted to crackly perfection, and devoured in the handsome wood-and-brick accented space. Pro-tip: there’s a sprawling patio in the back, and that’s where you’ll want to be.

At this self-billed “botanical brewery,” the pours are inspired by nature, and the resulting plant-infused ales are deliciously complex. Forbidden Root is a stunning brewpub that revamps bar food, swapping out peanuts for Gochugaru chili popcorn, tavern burgers for milk-brined pork schnitzel sandwiches, and wings for duck confit-and-ricotta gnocchi.

Philoxenia (hospitality), kefi (joy), and meraki (soul) are at the heart of this inspired Greek restaurant, where chef Louie Alexakis beautifully renders the flavors of his homeland. Travel to the balmy shores of the Mediterrenean—if only for a night—and get swept away by the striking kataïfi prawns, tableside melitzanosalata (eggplant), and taverna-style lamb chops alongside an eclectic all-Greek wine list.

It’s BYOB at this homey Lake View establishment, and you’ll definitely want wine to accompany chef Victor Morenz’s soul-warming cuisine. Enclosed in vivid orange walls, Home Bistro sets the stage for spruced-up New American plates, like handmade mint cavatelli wrapped around housemade lamb pancetta and braised pork sauced in chili verde.

Dressed up in vibrant painted murals, colorful chairs, neon signs, and string lights, Tuco & Blondie is a Mexican eatery that’s big on charm. Here, the cantina fare is as electric as the décor, with crackly chicharrones, chili braised short rib tacos, Yucatán-style pork ribs, and an array of saucy enchiladas and fajitas that’ll leave your mouth tingling. Do sit out on the patio with the fried ice cream, or a splash of mezcal—this is summertime at its best.

A farm-to-table haunt with a coveted patio (read: furry friends are welcome), Royal Grocer & Co. is the kind of establishment every neighborhood deserves. Seasonally-driven and vegetable-forward, this Bucktown restaurant looks to France for flavor, dishing tuna Niçoise salad, steak frites, and the like, with frozen drinks and spiffy cocktails.

A beer lover’s haven more than three years in the making, One Lake Brewing is ready to host your hops-fueled dreams. The locally-owned brewpub, housed in a sprawling three-story converted bank, focuses on traditional beers with a Midwestern twist, pouring pints and flights alongside burgers and wings, with a view of the vats. Head up to the rooftop deck for downtown Chicago views, and some much-needed sunshine.

A tried-and-tested alehouse, Primebar is a handsome yet casual Loop destination for the after-work crowd. Locals flock here for the 40 beers on tap, plush leather booths, and globe-trotting pub fare: Thai lettuce wraps, Nashville hot chicken, carne asada tacos, Szechuan stir-fry, and farfalle primavera are among the offerings.