Now on Resy: Demera Ethiopian Restaurant, Brindille, and More Local Favorites

Bring a crowd to Tigist Reda’s welcoming Uptown gem, and dig into her made-for-sharing specialties, including five kinds of sambusa (fried dumplings), assorted family-style messob plates, and platters offering veritable tours of the entire menu — and be sure to try the tej (Ethiopian honey wine), made in-house. 

Jason Hammel, whose Lula Café has been a Logan Square favorite for almost 25 years, brings his market-driven American-international cuisine to this sleekly contemporary restaurant at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Pro tip: Watch for the lunch specials created by guest chefs — there’s some of the city’s best talent there.

You’ve got to love a restaurant where one of the side dishes is “foie gras or black truffles on anything.” That sets the tone at this opulent, romantic, gloriously French classic from famed Chicago chef Carrie Nahabedian. An essential starter: the Brindille tarte tatin, a potato-and-onion cake with goat cheese and petite greens. 

This Lincoln Park charmer plays double duty as a delightful daytime stop for inventive bocadillos and coffee, and an evening spot for Spanish-inspired bites. Chef James Martin adds a splash of his Southern roots, which equates to things like Ibérico pork served with onions, cabbage, and pickled snap peas. One thing’s for sure: we’re here for it all.

Great steaks, strong drinks, excellent service — this perennial favorite has all the hallmarks of a classic white-tablecloth steakhouse. You can go the oysters and caviar route, or stick to the basics: a wedge salad, porterhouse, and whipped potatoes.

The panoramic view of the city and the Chicago River through the wall-to-wall windows lining this 15th-floor palatial dining room is reason enough to bring you to Waterview — but the food, from wings to flatbreads to steak frites, will keep you coming.

Here’s a place worth visiting often — a bright, 40-seat breakfast-brunch-and-lunch Gold Coast hideaway inside a chic Chestnut Street shop selling apparel, accessories, and home goods. The menu is vegetable-forward (though not vegetarian) and everything is mighty fresh.

This Lakeview favorite is known for its breakfast — things like open-faced Serrano ham sandwiches and French toast with bananas and caramel sauce. And of course there’s an excellent Cubano sandwich, that itself is greater than the sum of its parts. But dinner shouldn’t be missed either, especially for mojo chicken and sweet plantains.

No matter the location, Broken Shaker is one of the best bars in the country for a reason. Originating in Miami, each iteration fits its city-specific home to a tee. At the Freehand in River North, that means a cozy mod-vintage vibe, bites like tacos or grilled cheese and tomato soup, and super imaginative cocktails featuring shrubs, herbs, and unique spirits.

There are a few ways to dine on the 66th and 67th floor of the iconic Willis Tower. For something more all-day casual, grab a bite at Frame for things like lobster mac and cheese, salads, and steak frites. For a more elaborate night out, go big at Craftsman with oysters and prime steaks. Either way, you’ll get the stellar views from inside the private club.

It’s impossible not to have a good time at Happy Camper (Old Town or Wrigleyville). Sure, there’s an actual camper, tire swings, and swaths of twinkle lights that make you think you’re partying under the stars. But the pizzas — neither thick nor thin, but just right — never disappoint, the ornately garnished cocktails are fun, and an afternoon on the patio can fix many ills.

This Wicker Park spot is all about the kitsch factor, from neon pink flamingos and disco balls to an actual Winnebago on the patio. Go with a few besties, find a spot on the rooftop deck, drink a Trashy Tea (or Aperol spritz if you’re feeling fancy), and share a few pizzas. A good time will be had by all.

You have to love a spot that reminds you to just be awesome (via a big brightly lit sign). From the same group as Paradise Park and Happy Camper, Homeslice is a pizza paradise with every type of topping combo imaginable. And thanks to a bevy of apps, like jalapeño poppers, wings, and elote dip, it’s the perfect spot for a group who just wants to eat, drink, and be merry.

Pink lights, lots of draping greenery, Miami night vibes — it’s all here, even in the daytime. Expect cocktails and light bites that don’t take themselves too seriously; you shouldn’t either. Just go for a good time.

You’ll want to be a regular at this Magnificent Mile standout, where James Beard Award-winning chef Jimmy Bannos Jr. serves a meaty Mediterranean-accented menu (with plenty of seafood and vegetable dishes, too) that demonstrates why he’s been dubbed “The Prince of Pork.” 

You’ve got to love a restaurant whose two signature dishes are a beef and duck fat hot dog served Chicago-style, and a whole rotisserie-roasted duck with duck-fat potatoes — and there’s plenty more that you’ll crave at this neighborhood Bridgeport treasure from chef Kevin Hickey, of Allium fame.

If classic housemade cakes and pastries and an array of New York- and Detroit-style pizzas sound good to you, step right up to this luminous seasonally inspired café from cake artist Andrea Alvarez Reno and her husband, Joel Reno, a former pastry chef at Everest and at San Francisco’s three-star Quince.

When Spiro Papageorge moved his popular restaurant across the street from the original location after 15 years, he took everything with him — the warm welcome, the sunny atmosphere, and the classic Greek dishes, from mezedes appetizers to flame-broiled kebabs.