The June Hit List: Kyōten Next Door, Cubaneo, Park and Field, and More

If you’ve yet to try chef Otto Phan’s omakase at Kyōten, you now have double the opportunity at sibling spot Kyōten Next Door. Colorful sushi creations are the focal point, against a backdrop of creamy white chairs and earth-toned walls. The menu changes frequently, but expect fish flown in Japan atop large-grain inochi no ichi sushi rice, which Kyōten is the only restaurant in the U.S. to serve. The seating here is bar-only and limited, so snag a reservation while you can.

Eye-catching green walls, vining plants, and colorful mix and match chairs give Cubaneo a festive beachside feel in the heart of Lakeview, with classic Cuban eats to match. Mojo pork is roasted for a full two days before it’s tucked into the Cuban sandwich with ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles; flakey pastelitos are stuffed with cumin-spiced ground beef; and the arroz con pollo is simply enormous, served in a gorgeous paella pan. Don’t miss the zippy key lime pie for dessert, a fittingly bright end to a meal at this sunshiney spot.

Want to enjoy the great outdoors this summer? Park and Field’s 6,000-square-foot patio should do the trick. In between rounds of bocce, sit back by the firepit with one of this al fresco favorite’s 70 craft brews or a boozy slushie. Share a giant plate of barbacoa nachos and buffalo chicken nuggets, and get a snack from the dog-friendly menu for your four-legged friends. On rainy days, take advantage of the many cozy nooks inside (complete with pintucked leather couches and a fireplace), along with a TV-bedecked bar for all the games.

Nothing says summer quite like sitting back in an Adirondack chair, sun on your face, with a beer in hand and a plate of ribs balanced on your lap. Oh, and maybe some buttery grilled oysters, too. That’s what you’ll get at Babygold Barbecue, a popular hang just west of the city that brings together excellent smoked meats and roots music, thanks to its convenient location right next door to legendary music venue Fitzgerald’s. The June lineup is strong, with the American Music Festival slated for the end of the month, plus weekly deals, like chef John Manion’s super-tall burgers for just $5 on Wednesdays.

What was once a stall in an Atlanta food hall and later a pop-up finally has a place to call home in Chicago. At this highly anticipated spot, chefs Vinod Kalathil and Margaret Pak cook regional Indian fare, heavily inspired by the coastal cuisine of Kerala in India’s southwest. For now, the restaurant is only open for lunch (so plan accordingly), where you can expect dishes like a fried chicken sandwich with spicy cucumber pickles and curry leaf aioli and curry with black chickpeas and a rich roasted coconut gravy. If you need an afternoon pick-me-up, try the kaapi, a South Indian coffee amped up with chicory, scalded milk, and sugar.

Call (773) 754-0199 for reservations.

New to Resy is Aikana, a sultry, jungle-inspired spot that offers Latin American fusion in the West Loop. You may recognize the address—the space was formerly Yugen—but it’s been transformed with dim basket lights, deep green chairs, and massive prints of plants with gold accents. The menu leans on Central and South American dishes: there’s carne apache (lime-marinated wagyu over a crunchy rice cake) and a ceviche with burnt avocado and lots of leche de tigre. If you’re with a group, don’t miss out on the epic bandeja Aikana—a meat platter that truly matches the mood—with thick slices of steak, house-made morcilla, king prawns, crispy pork chicharron, and lots of sauces for dipping. And it’s okay to linger with drinks after your meal: The bar is open until 2 a.m.

Every Tuesday through Saturday from 5-9 p.m., Umamicue brings its smoky Chinese and Vietnamese-inflected dishes to Spilt Milk Tavern, a funky 1920’s-era pharmacy in Logan Square. Charles Wong’s pop-up, inspired by a trip to Franklin Barbecue in Austin, is already raking in accolades for his creative combinations of American barbecue with Asian flavors. There’s brisket in the banh mi, fish sauce in the potato salad, and those crab rangoon? They’ve got smoked cream cheese inside. Get your food and drinks at the bar, then enjoy it at the picnic tables outside.

No reservations. More info here.

From the team behind Radio Room and Lyra comes Fioretta, a buzzy new steakhouse in Fulton Market that offers a glamorous backdrop to really good meat. The 8,000-square-foot space has much to enjoy: a bar area with a marble chess board floor and green booths; a dining room with cozy leather chairs, round plush banquettes, and moody lighting from tinted chandeliers; and even a stage for live music. The bistecca alla Fiorentina is served still sizzling and carved at the table, though if beef isn’t your thing, fear not: The menu offers lots of Italian-American favorites like chicken parmesan, macaroni alla vodka, and a tableside Caesar (natch).

Call (312) 897-5011 for reservations. More info here. 

Hotel restaurants can be hit or miss, but right now at the Fairmont in Millennium Park, you’re in for a pretty unique meal at Le Petit Chef, which is teaming up with TableMation Studios for a five-course animated dinner that quite literally takes dishes to another dimension. Think: a chef explaining each course’s ingredients and preparation—but he’s, well, petit and virtual. One thing that’s not is the food itself, which includes bacon-wrapped chicken roulade and a hazelnut mille-feuille for dessert.

Call (312) 565-8000 for reservations. More info here. 

Neighborhood hangout Avenue Ale House’s rooftop, with its trellises and lush plant life, is finally open for summer. Celebrate with crispy fried cheese curds, smoky rooftop nachos, or wings served seven (yes, seven) different ways. If you have a comfort food dream, it’s probably a reality on the wide-ranging menu, which includes everything from burgers to fried chicken sandwiches to tacos and more. The vibe is laid-back, the beer menu is sprawling, and this is where you’ll want to be on lazy summer afternoons.

From Lincoln Park to Andersonville to Highland Park, local farmers markets are at their peak right now, overflowing with the bounty of the season. Grab your linen tote bags— it’s time to go shopping.

More info here, here, here, and here.