Where to Eat in September: Cebu, Fora, The Bristol, and More

We already mentioned the outrageously delicious lechon at Cebu, but you should know that there is a limited quantity each night. If you happen to miss out, there’s still plenty to enjoy on the menu, from crispy lumpia to peppercorn-spiked chicken adobo and sizzling hot shrimp served with lots of garlic and rice. Or you could visit on Sunday for the Kamayan feast, where you can try all of Cebu’s regional Filipino specialties, dessert and drinks included.

The latest addition to Fulton Market, Fora is more than your average hotel restaurant. From chef Billy Caruso of Rye Deli + Drink, the menu is inspired by regional Mexican specialties, and arrives complete with an in-house masa program. Visit for carne apache tostadas and tetelas (a triangular masa-wrapped snack) stuffed with summer squash and goat cheese. As for cocktails, try the Sotol Me Something Good with sotol, dry vermouth, and yellow Chartreuse, or the tropical El Presidente with Rhum Clément, orange liqueur, Carpano, and housemade grenadine.

If you love Chef Erick Williams’ Virtue, then you’re probably already excited for his new Hyde Park spot, featuring Cajun and Creole specialties. Come hungry to enjoy po’ boys stuffed with fried catfish or alligator, seafood gumbo, or hearty red beans and rice, and prepare your winter body with gravy-smothered fries and biscuits with honey butter. As fall sports get exciting, expect to see them on Daisy’s nine TVs — and enjoy the off-season with brass band beats and the sounds of the Bayou.

Find more info here. 

It doesn’t get more comforting than Northern Italian cuisine, with its veal meatballs and creamy polenta, pappardelle Bolognese, and silky linguini carbonara…all of which you’ll conveniently find at Geneva’s Livia Italian Eatery. Though if you want to keep things light, you can, with plenty of salads that embrace the season’s best produce and fresh seafood. Pair your meal with classic Italian cocktails or lean in for wine on tap.

Tabú opened in Fulton Market in May, bringing seriously vibrant food from ​​chef Saúl Román and an atmosphere to match. Come here for pan-Latin-inspired cuisine, which means housemade tortilla chips with pumpkin seed guacamole, lobster flautas, and rib-eye tacos with mole jus. You can also find Román’s famous Mexican pizza with adobo beans, ground beef, cheddar, and enchilada sauce. Whatever you choose, pair your meal with a playful cocktail, like the Unholy Water. And if you come with a crew, the large-format cocktails or a Tequila flight will do just the trick.

Call 773-453-8228 for reservations, or find more info here. 

The Bristol has long been a neighborhood gem, offering a thoughtful eight-course menu that celebrates the season. While most nights are good nights to check it out, we encourage you to bookmark The Bristol’s Sunday Supper series, which welcomes guest chefs in for rotating menus. Of course, Thursdays are nice, too, with $10 drinks and a la carte plates, like bucatini with ‘nduja cream, black bass in a shellfish fumet, and roasted half chicken spiked with giardiniera.

From executive chef Juan Gonzalez and his son-in-law Mehmet Yavuz comes Chicago’s first (and currently, only) Kurdish restaurant. Start your meal with some hot grilled halloumi and spicy red lentil soup, then move on to a traditional Kurdish stir-fry or lamb shanks cooked in a rosemary sauce. If you’re already feeling a chill, sip on strong Kurdish tea. Better yet, pair it with the dessert sampler, with coconut milk pudding, rice pudding, chocolate mousse, and baklawa.

From the team behind Heritage Bicycles is the bunker you wish you could build at home, complete with TVs, a jukebox, games, a stocked bar, green chile pork burritos, and baked queso with chorizo. Of course, if you’ve spent enough time underground over the past few years, Bunker also has a spacious (and dog-friendly!) patio, where you can enjoy the fresh air, classic cocktails, and local brews. 

Find more info here.

Galit shows no sign of slowing down after winning a Michelin star for chef Zachary Engel’s wood-fired specialties. Pull up a seat at the bar to watch the magic from the kitchen, and dig into fluffy pita, creamy tahini, and lots of mezze (including foie gras blintzes). For a main, you can’t go wrong with the cheffed-up takes on lamb kebab or smoked turkey shawarma. While there’s plenty to drink, if you don’t feel like something boozy, try an herbaceous soda (or gazoz) with pomegranate, hibiscus, cardamom, and rose.

If you’re in need of a stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal, then head to newly opened Mel’s for wood-fired, wood-smoked barbecue classics, like brisket, pulled pork, and baby back ribs. The Mel in question is Mel Thillens, a first-time restaurant owner but longtime barbecue lover. He uses a rotisserie-style smoker that runs on post oak. No gas or electricity — this is a true labor of love. If you really want to go for it, grab a three-meat sandwich or a plate of barbecue nachos. Just don’t forget a side of pit beans and mustard slaw.

Call 224-985-3461 or find more info here.