The 2020 Michelin Guide to Chicago

This is the first brewpub to have nabbed a well-deserved Michelin star. Led by a pair of well-honed Alinea vets, Band of Bohemia crafts a thrilling and ever-changing seasonal menu that resets the limits of gastropub cuisine. Throw in the unique cookie factory setting (read: industrial but polished, with an open kitchen and vintage furnishings) and the thoughtful house-made brews, and you’re in for an exquisite experience.

Entente has consistently knocked it out of the park. The restaurant’s sleek new locale boasts a larger space, giving chef Brian Fisher even more room to twist and turn greenmarket goods for a dizzying tasting menu that surprises and delights: Berkshire pork belly is doused in peach nuoc cham, foie gras is paired with caramelized banana and cocoa nibs, and a whole dry-aged duck arrives with an array of Vietnamese dipping sauces.

Blink and you’ll miss one of the pioneers of Chicago’s omakase scene. Helmed by chef Sangtae Park, Omakase Yume is a stellar lesson in precision and taste, where an intimate 15- to 17-course journey dives into the very best of Japanese and Korean waters. There are only eight seats at this minimalist jewel box of a space, so act fast, and get ready for some revelatory bites.

Rick Bayless’ crown jewel, Topolobampo, goes above and beyond. Amid a cushy and colorful dining room adorned in folk art, the Mexican fine-dining institution plays to the tune of the seasons, where heirloom corn tortillas, complex moles, and perfectly grilled meats brush up against one another. This is food that isn’t afraid of flavor and spice, and the masterful tasting menu is made even better with excellent wine pairings.