The May Hit List: Hutch, Paradise Park Pizza & Patio, Kasama, and More

Looking for a great meal before a game at Wrigley? In the mood for brunch on a weekday? Keep Hutch in your back pocket. This casual gastropub keeps things cozy with a wooden bar and leather booths, plus a sizable outdoor patio for al fresco dining (and a pup-friendly menu for pets, to boot). Do get comfortable: it might take a few visits to get through the sprawling menu, packed with American classics like bacon-wrapped meatloaf, a French dip sandwich oozing with Provolone, and a cherry pie with—what else?—vanilla ice cream for dessert.

With disco balls, neon lights, pink flamingos, and a full Winnebego, is Paradise Park Pizza and Patio a little kitschy? Yes. But is it also one of our favorite places to welcome the warm weather? Absolutely. From the team behind Homeslice and Happy Camper, this exuberant spot is a perfect place to bring a crew for happy hours that last long after sundown. Wash down your cheesy tavern-style slice with any number of powerful cocktails. Whether you go for the Arnold Palmer-inspired Trashy Tea or the sparkling Trailer Park Queen, expect bright, punchy flavors to match the mood.

Tim Flores and Genie Kwon’s Filipino tasting menu continues to draw praise from diners and critics alike—it’s already got a Michelin star, and the duo just received a James Beard nomination for Best Chefs, too. Visit the Ukrainian Village spot for course after imaginative course, like kinilaw with coconut cream, crunchy lumpia, and a savory scallop and mussel adobo, paired with thoughtful cocktails or zero-proof offerings. Don’t sleep on their casual daytime menu either, available until 2 p.m.: The shaved pork adobo sandwich with sausage and giardiniera beats a sad desk lunch, any day.

Speaking of James Beard nominations, Mi Tocaya Antojería’s Diana Dávila Boldin also made the shortlist for Best Chef this year. Her vibrant, colorful spot brings the flavors of her Mexican background to life, complete with personalized notes that add color and context to her cooking. Case in point: “I can talk about how special mole is and how much I love making it for days but instead I’ll just say….welcome home :),” she writes next to a mole-smothered braised pork dish that’s served with parsnip atole and barley.

Opening on May 3 in Albany Park, chef Wahid Tanha’s Helmand gives Afghan and Mediterranean cuisine the white-tablecloth treatment. Tanha procures all of his meat for his signature kebabs from a nearby Lebanese butcher, spices them liberally, and grills them with extra fat to keep the meat moist; then serves the whole shebang with heaping platters of raisin-and-spice studded rice pilaus. All of this is to say: come hungry, and save room for the traditional mantu (Afghan dumplings), too, stuffed with ground beef and served atop a rich tomato-lentil sauce.

Call (773) 654-3703 for reservations. 

Chef Esparza coastal-inspired Spirit Elephant knows how to make plant-based food look as good as it tastes. His new spring menu is all the proof you need: a colorful vegetable-laden paella gets heat from fresno peppers and housemade harissa, his no-veal milanese is crunchy and tender thanks to lion’s mane mushrooms, and a pickled cauliflower ceviche is punchy, vibant, and delicious. While you’ll need to trek to Winnetka for a taste, it’s well worth it, especially for date night or for impressing in-laws. The sprawling space is bright and airy, with whitewashed brick walls and lots of plants, plus a lovely patio with just the right amount of twinkle lights.

Pasta haven Daisies is back and (bigger and) better than ever. Regulars now have more room to breathe in the new 5,500-square foot digs, not far from the original, which now seats up to 110. One thing that hasn’t changed? Owner Joe Frillman’s dedication to fresh ingredients and really, really good pasta. If you’re faced with decision paralysis, opt for the “Feed Me” menu, sit back, and relax. Keep your fingers crossed they’ll send out a bright and citrusy strozzapreti or truffle-laced ravioli with grapes, along with non-pasta favorites like charred parsnips drizzled with minty salsa verde and a hulking lamb shank with a bright red onion salad.  

Call  (773) 697-9443for reservations. 

The newest addition to the Boka Group empire is Itoko, a Japanese spot that brings robata cooking to the Southport Corridor. The space, inspired by Japanese tea houses with a bit of Scandinavia thrown in, features lots of wood accents and pearly lighting. There’s room to sit at the long bar or in secluded banquettes, not to mention a whole private dining floor. Chef Gene Kato takes full advantage of said robata, grilling everything from beef tsukune sliders to shiitakes with shiso over a Japanese white charcoal called sumi.

Call  (773) 819-7672 for reservations. 

From the team behind Sushi Plus comes the newly opened Shabu Plus Rotary Hot Pot, a playful spot with an actual conveyor belt of fixings for Japanese hot pot.  Dip, dunk, and stir your way through over 60 options on the revolving display. There’s thinly shaved beef, tons of veggies, and even a self-serve sauce bar. With toy machines, floor-to-ceiling anime characters on the walls, and even a post-prandial deodorizing machine, Shabu Plus should be your go-to place for a lighthearted but seriously hands-on all-you-can-eat night out.

Call (773) 697-8122 for reservations. 

Ten thousand square feet of magic is coming to Wicker Park early this month in the form of The Cauldron, a magic-themed pub and restaurant designed expressly for fantasy lovers. Use a wand to pour your own drinks, sip a Malört cocktail in the vault-turned-speakeasy, and try your hand at potion-making with The Cauldron’s cocktail classes. (Which, don’t worry, don’t all involve Malört.) 

More information here.