All the Chicago Restaurants Where We Want to be Regulars

Open-kitchen experiences with killer bar seats

There’s much to love about Galit, from the pillowy fresh pita bread to the ethereally smooth hummus to the coal-fired pastrami. While there’s plenty of room, the best seats run along the open kitchen, where you can watch the team work in unison to deftly pull dishes from the fiery hearth, plate perfectly fried falafel, and pile heaps of colorful pickles into little bowls. As a regular, you might hope to get a nod from chef Zach Engel as he winds his way around the kitchen. Or maybe some extra pita. That’s what we’d want.

Sidle up to the chef’s counter at Gather if you prefer a little show with your meal — you’ll be up close and personal with the team in between bites of hand-rolled pappardelle with bolognese, a hearty harissa-spiked pork chop, and creamy burrata atop a toasted baguette. If you can’t snag a spot at the counter, don’t fret. There’s ample seating at the bar and around the dining room—and plenty of sharable menu items to return to time and again. (That said, you may need your own order of apple fritters, and that’s quite alright.)

When you need an absolutely enormous brunch

Run by self-proclaimed “goofballs” Zeeshan Shah and Yoshi Yamada, Superkhana is a cheerful Indian spot that works equally well for celebrations as it does for a weeknight pick-me-up. Brunch is the ideal time to post up on the patio or inside the colorful dining room, enhanced by a gorgeous wood-paneled ceiling and vibrant lighting. Start with the hulking achari pulled pork sandwich, layered with tamarind chutney on thick-sliced toasted pullman bread; then move on to the uttapam, savory lentil-and-rice pancakes with warming Thai chilis. Whatever you do, tack on a side of housemade funky-salty chaat masala-spiked potato chips—they go with just about everything. 

Sink into a bowl of fully loaded grits at this Southern-accented comfort food stalwart, which in this case means topped with cheese, bacon, eggs, sausage gravy, mushrooms, and caramelized onions. The rest of the menu follows in similar stick-to-your-ribs fashion: think massive beignets covered in powdered sugar and even larger glazed cinnamon rolls, plus chicken-fried steak with whipped potatoes and a pastry display packed with biscuits and scones. With so many temptations, repeat visits are a must. Call (773) 770-4785 for reservations

Neighborhood bistros with exceptional food

Oliver and Nicolas Poilevey opened Obelix just over a year ago and already their delightful French brasserie is racking up accolades, including a James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant. It’s a place that feels at once special and everyday, beckoning you with comforting classics like French onion soup, then surprising you with innovative feats, like a foie gras taco and crispy skate wing katsu. Like all the best brasseries, Obelix’s elevated dishes are brought down to earth with a casual setting. Tuck into the long red banquette, order a glass of wine, and relax—you’re exactly where you belong.

Bonus: Here’s how to get a table there.

LeTour impresses on all levels: From the grand circular space with pockets of cozy seating to the Pop Art-packed decor to the French-American menu with a hint of Moroccan flair, it’s worth all the visits to Evanston. Chef Debbie Gold creates richly flavored dishes like chicken tagine with preserved lemons, a deliriously creamy gratin dauphinoise, and a massive bowl of mussels in a harissa-spiced broth. While there are multiple dining rooms, the best spot for regulars is at the bar, where you can chat with the friendly staff, dig into a crusty baguette, and sip an enormous G&T speckled with pink peppercorns.  Call (224) 999-7085 for reservations. 

When fried food is all you can think about

When the hankering for fried foods hits, there is perhaps no better place than Big Jones, an Andersonville staple for Southern comfort and charm. The fried chicken—cooked in good old leaf lard—comes with biscuits and gravy; the fried crawfish roll gets a kick from spicy remoulade; and the French fries, well, those are tossed in bacon fat before getting spiced with malt vinaigrette and parsley. Casual, convivial, and now with plenty of outdoor seating on their back patio, Big Jones hits the spot for any and all comfort-food cravings.

While you may recognize Hermosa as the home of the coveted Family Meal (a private, multi-course dinner that’s sold out time and again), know that it’s also open for lunch, where you can grab what may be chef Ethan Lim’s greatest creation: his Cambodian fried chicken sandwich. Paired with pickled papaya, Thai basil, long beans, and a rich garlic mayo, this sandwich is a genius combination of hot, cold, sweet, sour, and savory flavors. And you don’t need to make a reservation to get it. Simply order online, come pick it up, say hi to the crew, and quickly earn your status as an in-the-know regular. No reservations; more info here. 

 To sate your sudden pasta cravings

Julia Zhu’s Bar Roma is a cozy Italian spot specializing in—what else?—Roman-style fare. Chef Alfred Ramos’s pasta is stunning: Housemade lasagna with fresh pasta sheets layered with five cheeses and pomodoro sauce; hand-rolled spaghetti with tender meatballs; and briny squid ink fettuccine surrounded by calamari, shrimp, and mussels. For your quick fix on weeknights, visit during happy hour (Wed-Sun 4:30-6 p.m.), where a half-order of bucatini with beef cheek meatballs goes for just $10. Pair that with some cacio e pepe potato chips and a carafe of white, and it’ll be a very happy hour indeed.

If “Cheers” were an Italian restaurant with a cute nonna, it’d be Angelina Ristorante, a neighborhood staple that has been delivering comfort in the form of velvet curtains, dangling chandeliers, and homey Italian classics for over 35 years. Come here for date night (or really, any night) for a reliably lovely meal, like hand-rolled ricotta gnocchi, garganelli with salty prosciutto and sweet peas, and a hearty chicken parmesan. Wrap it up with tiramisu (natch) and repeat until everybody does, in fact, know your name.

Places you’ll want to come every date night

Sure, there are only 47 seats at Edward Kim’s Logan Square Asian American bistro, but if you book ahead or take advantage of the walk-in bar seating, prepare for a date night that will continually surprise and delight. Do your best to nab one of the cozy corner booths to enjoy your midnight pasta (a heady mix of umami-packed ingredients like anchovy breadcrumbs, soy, and pork lardons) and crunchy katsu chicken. Of course, bumping elbows with your date at the bar as you dig into a miso butter-slathered burger sounds pretty romantic to us, too.

Maison Bonhomme’s Coquette is an opulent choice for a dressed-up night out, but playful enough to return to again and again. The modern French bistro is transportive in its decor: swirling pink walls, geometric chairs, and globe lights create a fun and flirtatious ambiance. The menu follows suit with wood-grilled oysters, scrambled duck eggs with creamy uni, and truffle-laden Parisian gnocchi. Do partake in the restaurant’s wide selection of natural wines, which are funky, bold, and a little sparkly—just what your date night needs.

When you need a stiff drink and comfort food to match

Club Lucky could easily be a 1940s movie set: maroon booths, retro lighting, and mirror-tiled walls give it a distinctive “this is where the family eats” feel. The Italian-American menu is packed with classics, from sausages and peppers with a white wine brodo to creamy fettuccine alfredo. But the real star of the show is the cocktail list, which features 17 (!) different types of martinis, plus plenty of wine and beer, too. 

Chinatown’s first cocktail bar—Nine Bar, inside Moon Palace Express— features the kind of bar snacks that tipsy dreams are made of, like a “McKatsu” with fried pork and American cheese, mapo hot fries with saucy chili pork, and tangy wok-fried wings. All of which are most welcome after a few sips of the blackberry- and ginger-infused Space Cowboy, or an Android Dream, a play on a gin and tonic with mizu green tea and citrus. With lots of seating and mood-enhancing neon lights, Nine Bar is great for groups or a festive catch-up with a friend. No reservations, more info here.