New on Resy: Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar, Moody Tongue, Porto

A neon martini glass points to your next Chinese American destination: Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar. Here, the team behind the cult favorite Giant dives into the paragons of Chinese takeout, from egg foo young to oxtail-and-scallop chow fun. But the centerpiece of this newly minted operation is its round bar, where botanical cocktails prevail.

Wine pairings, step aside. There’s a new dynamic duo in town: beer pairings. The very elegant Moody Tongue over-delivers in the hops department, and the tasting menu ($155, beer pairings included) is the thing to get. It’s where a Michelin-starred chef and a brewmaster put together combinations like king crab with sour watermelon saison; each of the 12 pairings is astounding.

The cuisines of Galicia and Portugal are finally getting their due. Enter Porto, a love letter to the region’s fishing villages and farmsteads. In this stunningly-clad space, you’ll find an arsenal of seafood from the Iberian coastline, top-of-the-line conservas, plenty of Sherry, and Spanish and Portguese wines. 

On the second floor of an office building stands a beacon of sustainable dining: Arbor. Here, the honey is cultivated on the roof, the vegetables are from the restaurant’s garden, and everything on the menu is in tune with the seasons. The best way to sample chef Leonard Hollander’s regional showcase is to leave it to him and make a Resy for the Midwestern omakase.

Get ready for the mashup cuisine of your dreams: Bayan Ko is an electric, Filipino-meets-Cuban feat, where a husband-and-wife team breathes new life into their lola’s and abuela’s recipes. Picture rich luglug noodles, slick with saffron, uni, and scallops; pork shoulder barbecue pinchos glazed in sticky-sweet cola; and a creamy kare kare with fall-off-the-bone oxtail — the definition of soul.

Chef Zoe Schor (of Ada Street) is here to take you down comfort food lane. At Split-Rail, she vies to make the best fried chicken around, but her nostalgic arsenal includes much more: loaded mashed potatoes, Calabrian chile mac-and-cheese and not-your-mother’s broccoli with cheddar cheese sauce. The cocktail list is excellent as well (try the Eight Dolla Holla).

When the cold winter days call for a little bit of cush, make a beeline for Bistro Campagne. Like a trusty blanket, this neighborhood gem envelops you with its warmth. A charming countryside vibe pervades, and French fare delights with classics like gooey soupe à l’oignon gratinée and meaty cassoulet, avec un verre de vin, s’il vous plaît.

City Winery is all about the grapes — so much so that every dish comes with a recommended wine pairing. A winery, music venue, and restaurant all in one, this sprawling West Loop facility imports, crushes, and ferments its grapes on site. The braised duck tacos and roasted beets — paired with a Grenache or Roussanne — are our finger foods of choice.

If you’re headed to Aurora for a show at the Paramount, let Amy Morton take care of you. The acclaimed restaurateur is behind Stolp Island Social, a bombastic steakhouse where heritage steaks grace the tables and live jazz rolls in for Sunday brunch. The vibe is Coco Chanel meets 1920s Aurora, and the crab spaghetti shouldn’t be missed.

Good things are worth traveling for, and if you’re not a Lake Bluff local, you’ll have to put some time into getting to Inovasi. But this contemporary American favorite puts just as much time into sourcing its ingredients, from artisanal bourbons to sustainably raised shrimp. The result is an ever-changing seasonal menu that simply wows.

When Evanstonians say brunch, they mean dim sum; more specifically, the one at Koi Fine Asian Cuisine. During prime time, you’ll find baskets of steamed dumplings, bowls of piping hot congee, and flaky egg tarts fighting for table space. Drop in at night, when Koi delves into eight of China’s regional cuisines, and sample the likes of mapo tofu from Sichuan and cumin lamb from Shandong.

Spring training is approaching, which means it’s time to start planning for Cubs games. This year, take note of the Bar at Hotel Zachary, located right across the street from Wrigley Field. Morning service brings short rib hash and eggs, while the afternoon is for fried chicken sandwiches only. Pro tip: Friday and Saturday nights present live music, from soulful singers to funky DJ sets.