New on Resy: Esmé, Little Wild, Chikatana, and More

Husband-and-wife team chef Jenner Tomaska (formerly of Next and Elizabeth) and creative director Katrina Bravo have fashioned their own love letter to the city of Chicago with Esmé, a fine dining restaurant that also strives to give back to the community.

Note: Reservations are now live for dates beginning August 18.

Leave it to the folks at the Ace Hotel Chicago to come up with the ideal indoor/outdoor, year-round rooftop bar experience. The drinks menu has some surefire hits — frozen Painkiller, anyone? — with a tight wine and beer list. Snack on some chicken katsu sliders and the housemade popcorn topped with spicy cheddar and caramel while you sip and take in the views.

Chef Guillermo Reyes takes a decidedly Oaxacan perspective to Mexican cuisine at this cantina where you can try tuétano (roasted bone marrow), Pato en mole (duck two ways with a luscious mole negro), and a memorable “chicharrón de queso.” Drinks are a standout; don’t sleep on the Oaxacan on Broken Glass with mezcal, chile poblano, lime, and bitters.

Is this a luxe see-and-be-seen yacht club or a below-the-radar fixture for great dining? The Chicago outpost of this New York City seafood establishment is emphatically both. Don’t miss the raw bar where some excellent sushi is served, or the lobster roll — it’s arguably one of the city’s best and most underrated.

One bite of The Radical Reuben — made with layers of corned beef seitan, grilled onions, peppers, sauerkraut, vegan Thousand Island dressing, and cheese sandwiched between two slices of marbled rye — will have you returning again and again to this diner, which has been delighting customers since 1983 with its delicious vegetarian and vegan fare.

An offshoot of the original in Evanston, Shang Noodle masters Chinese noodles and so much more. The noodles — all housemade — have the perfect consistency and bite, whether you’re savoring the Taiwanese beef noodle soup or the house special chow mein. Classic stir-fries, sizzling hot pots, and even dry hot pots round out the menu, which also features a number of Chinese Korean dishes like jia-jang-myeon and Korean-style fish tofu hot pot.

Satisfying plates, from burgers and tacos to bar bites and classic staples like fish and chips, round out the extensive menu at this neighborhood hangout where you can also catch live shows from local bands and musicians.

For three decades and counting, you could always count on Uncle Julio’s for made-to-order tableside guac and margaritas — and for that Swirl, a frozen half-marg, half-sangria that’s almost too good to be true. The Tex-Mex specialities, all made fresh and from scratch, like sizzling mesquite fajitas, carne asada enchiladas, and camarones diablos with Mexican rice and charred beans, always deliver.

Subtlety is not something you’ll find here at King of Cups, but that’s the point. This family-owned, Rococo-esque spirits lounge features an elevated throne surrounded by a full suit of armor, gilded chandeliers, and candelabras. And that’s just the décor. Nightly tarot card readings and entertainment round out the offerings. As for the cocktails? They definitely pack a punch.