Where to Eat in October: Gather, Second Generation, Coquette, and More

October will be the last month of Esme’s Kitchen Possible menu, a playful theme for a worthy cause: A portion of the proceeds from each ticket are donated to Kitchen Possible, an organization that empowers young children in underserved Chicago neighborhoods through kitchen lessons. The menu itself provides diners with childlike wonder: a lunch tray with a fancy tater tot and fruit punch, wagyu corned beef, and an easel of tuna, nori stroopwafels, and accouterments to create your own work of art.

Brian Goewey’s newest Gia Mia outpost, this time in Naperville, is where you’ll find all of the chef’s wood-fired classics, tucked into the Old Nichols Library. Head over to this historic space for perfectly leopard-spotted burrata pizza with pistachios and pesto or a pie topped with pears and caramelized onions. For the more carnivorously inclined, the Bruno, loaded with pepperoni, Italian sausage, and spicy soppressata, is a must-order.

There’s nothing warmer than a restaurant named for the act of coming together— enter Gather, a lovely farm-to-table Italian spot in Logan Square. Bring your crew to enjoy dishes designed to share, like whipped ricotta with balsamic and lots of crusty bread, creamy chicken liver mousse with red wine–braised onions (and still more crusty bread), and gnocchi topped with a flurry of Parmesan. Then again, when it comes to the hot apple fritters, you may opt to keep them all to yourself.

After whispers of its arrival for over a year, Monster Ramen is finally open and bringing the flavors of owner Katie Dong’s childhood in Nanjing (and some Japanese techniques) to Logan Square. The ramen shop specializes in three types of ramen: shoyu, shio and miso, and all of the noodles are made in-house. Pair your soup with a side of gyoza and seasonal pickles for the full experience. 

More info here. 

The best salve for an autumn chill—and this is a proven fact—is to eat gratuitous amounts of hot and buttery Parker House rolls. Do just that and more at Canal Street Eatery, by which we mean you can also enjoy a  burger topped with Fontina and pancetta on brioche and a NY strip with confit tomatoes and bone marrow butter. If you’re on the go, stop by the market for a cappuccino and a biscuit breakfast sandwich instead.

From award-winning chef Edward Kim comes this neighborhood gem in the heart of Logan Square. Exemplifying the chef’s layered cultural identity, the menu features dishes like kalbi steak frites, “midnight pasta” with ginger, scallion, and an onsen egg, and a burger slathered with miso butter. Pair your meal with a decidedly classic cocktail: the Second Generation’s got Negronis, margaritas, and Old Fashioneds to enjoy.

Heading to the Salt Shed? Then you should stop at 1308 Chicago for craft cocktails with a speakeasy feel and vegetarian-friendly Southern food by Chef Brooks Hart, a Little Goat Diner alum. On the menu, you’ll find corn ribs with lime, mayo, and Parmesan; carrots and grits spiked with dukkah; and ricotta agnolotti with brown butter. Also, thrice-cooked fries. Thrice-cooked!

More info here. 

From Bonhomme Hospitality (Porto, Beatnik) is this new French Bistro in the West Loop. Here, you’ll find dishes inspired by Chef Erwin Mallet’s childhood with a bit of an upgrade—think beef tartare prepared tableside with confit duck egg yolk and sole à la meunière du sud with smoked French brown butter. Like all Bonhomme restaurants, Coquette has a stunning wood-fired oven, delivering a handsome char to all of those bistro classics. Pro tip: The intimate restaurant only has 40 seats, so a reservation is essential.

You may recognize Loaf Lounge’s owners Ben Lustbader and Sarah Mispagel from their pop-up inside Superkhana International. (Mispagel’s desserts can also be seen on the TV show The Bear, where she was the pastry consultant.) Now the two have their own pristine spot, offering gorgeous breads, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries galore. Come for an almond bear claw or a capicola, egg, and cheese on a croissant, or go all out for The Bear’s special chocolate cake. And be sure to take a loaf of bread for the road, from a rotating selection of loaves like focaccia, marble rye, and caramelized onion.

More info here. 

There aren’t many Cambodian restaurants in Chicago, so if you get the chance to visit newly opened Khmai, do. Mona Sang is the executive chef, who worked with Lettuce Entertain You before branching out on her own. From glossy beef skewers (sach koh ang) to crunchy egg rolls, saucy tamarind wings, and marinated chicken in a coconut curry broth (kari bangea), each bite delivers on the flavors of Sang’s childhood in Cambodia mixed with the dishes her mother brought with her when they moved to the US.

More info here.