The November Hit List: Noble Thai, Nobody’s Darling, Giant, and More

With a fresh, modern look starring black-and-white painted brick and blonde wood, Noble Thai is taking the former home of beloved Opart Thai into a new era, led by owner Jay Lin. The menu is helmed by Opart’s 20-year head chef, Roongnapha Prakobkit, and packs a streamlined highlight reel of traditional and street-food delights, like Tiger Cry with charbroiled marinated beef, soothing curries, and meaty entrees like khao man gai (steamed chicken with garlic rice) or Thai fried catfish in sweet-sour sauce.

This Evanston brewpub and smokehouse was born out of co-owner Mike Smylie’s dedication to Texas-inspired barbecue and quality craft-brewed beer — not to mention a lifetime of Smylie family backyard cookouts. At this 10-barrel brewhouse, Smylie and his four brothers serve top-notch barbecue like smoked beef brisket in tangy Texas ‘cue sauce on a brioche bun and dry-rubbed baby back ribs glazed in KC BBQ sauce, plus wood-fired pizzas, a full bar and 16 in-house drafts. The bready, malty German-style bock is easing us nicely into fall.

Chef Stephanie Izard’s edible love letter to America’s Chinatowns boasts a menu as dynamic as it is craveable. We’d suggest starting with a round of goat and duck xiao long bao (soup dumplings), glossy char siu pork ribs and the excellent scallion pancake. Don’t slow down now, because you’ll want the beef ragu slap noodles, duck fried rice, and fiery mapo doufu. Or go all in on the (seasonal) Pekin duck. In other words, eating past standard human capacity is guaranteed; just give in.

With a tighter menu of regional Mexican dishes than older sibling restaurant 5 Rabanitos, this cheerful storefront serves up excellent tortas (the milanesa with fried chicken, melty cheese, and vinegared chiles is a must) and some of the city’s best roasted veggie enchiladas filled with melty cheese in a pool of savory roasted peanut salsa.

Co-owners Angela Barnes and Renauda Riddle, both Black queer women, debuted this stylish bar in May in the heart of Andersonville, creating an inclusive space for the city’s Black and LGBTQ+ Chicagoans, with killer cocktails to boot. The playful drinks menu stars upmarket classics like the Pink Kitty spritz, with Hendrick’s gin, Aperol, grapefruit, and sparkling wine; and the Penicillin with Dewars and Laphroaig Scotch whiskies, honey, ginger, and lemon.

We can’t ever seem to get enough of this pint-size restaurant because chef/owner Jason Vincent and Co. cook the sort of food people like (read more here) — from cold-fried chicken with peach jam to tagliatelle with king crab and chile butter and layered crepe cake with ricotta and cherries. There’s plenty to like drink-wise, as co-owner Josh Perlman curates an equally fun and funky, food-loving wine list.

Standout Palestinian home cooking from chef Ruba Hassan shines at this long-term pop-up inside the Bourbon on Division bar. The lamb meshwi wrap packs tender braised lamb, cucumber yogurt, turnip pickles, and tahini inside thin flatbread, and crunchy lentil fritters flank an edible garden of marinated kale, avocado, roasted cauliflower, and sumac onion, strewn with creamy harissa and chunky tahini.

This sleek yet inviting Italian stalwart tucked on the second floor of the JW Marriott pairs seasonal Italian fare with a lengthy wine list. We’ve been known to start in the lounge with fritto misto and a glass of vermentino before feasting on pork chops with peperonata or housemade caramelli filled with shrimp and Parmesan. Heads up, Loop commuters: The Florentine offers a solid, classic breakfast menu on weekdays (think bagels and lox, every kind of omelet, and Belgian waffles with berry compote) in a decidedly serene setting.

This breezy, Tulum-inspired restaurant and bar brings the beach to Wrigleyville with a menu of tacos, quesadillas, and colorful margaritas (PSA: the house margs are just $5 during daily happy hour), a sprawling dog-friendly patio complete with firepits, and transportive decor featuring hanging ferns and woven basket light fixtures.

Relaxed good times abound at this neighborhood spot on a stretch full of them on Lincoln Ave. Here, expect regional craft beers, reimagined classic cocktails (ahem: Dr. Pepper Old Fashioned with cola bitters) and decidedly cheesy drinking food, from oozing grilled cheese with San Marzano tomato soup to comfy seasonal mac ‘n’ cheese. You’ll want to start with an order of cheese curds, too — available mild, spicy, or beer-battered with a trio of dipping sauce choices. When in Rome, as they say.