The January Hit List: Bavette’s, Monteverde, Valedor and More

There is no shortage of steakhouses in Chicago, but Bavette’s (from the Hogsalt team) stands out, starting with its sultry, speakeasy-style vibe. While some steakhouses are destined for business lunches, Bavette’s is here for date night and special occasions, with shimmering chandeliers and moody candlelight, plush velvet seating, and jazz standards to set the tone. There are two floors with varying energies, depending on whether you’re having a lively get-together or a more intimate meal. Then there’s the French-inflected menu, which has your steakhouse classics—a traditional wedge salad, massive porterhouse, and Bearnaise-drizzle filet—along with some welcome surprises: freshly baked sourdough, buttery lobster frites, and spiced fried chicken.

Perhaps you’re near the United Center or you’ve been shopping around the West Loop. Maybe you just have a hankering for a bowl of fresh pasta. Whatever the occasion, there’s no better spot for the moment than Monteverde, Sarah Gueneberg’s acclaimed Italian restaurant.

The menu is full of hits, like hand-cut tagliatelle bolognese, and more unique “Pasta Atipica,” like cacio whey pepe, which uses ricotta whey to create a particularly luxurious sauce (to which you can add freshly shaved white truffles when they’re in season). Pro tip: Want to see Gueneberg’s team in action? Get a counter stool by the bar for a perfect view into the elevated pastificio—a “pasta factory” where you can witness pasta hand-made to order.

Following WWII, many Japanese immigrants moved to Mexico City, making way for a new type of culinary fusion that Valedor now brings to Wicker Park’s Four Corner. Starting with a long, dark facade outside and heading into a candle-lit interior, Valedor is intriguing and moody. You’ll want to linger here, over drinks and shareable snacks with a date. About those snacks: go for the al pastor gyoza and skewered gouda katsu (yes, the fusion here is seriously fused). Pair them with equally enticing drinks, like an espresso martini with a hit of Abuelita chocolate, a horchata spiked with sake, and a paloma made with Jarritos grapefruit soda.w

Despite a two-year pandemic closure, Johnny Clark and Beverly Kim’s Parachute has remained firmly established as a neighborhood gem since 2014, delighting diners with the husband-and-wife team’s nouveau take on Korean classics. Whether you’re seated at the lively community table or along the bar, Parachute delivers on casual comfort: lots of natural light, plates designed for sharing, and simply delicious food without any pretension. From the gochujang-slathered wings to the briny golbaengi muchim (snail salad) and a green tea-laced tiramisu, every bite thrills. Chicago is lucky that this humble yet outstanding spot is back, and thriving.

Call (872) 204-7138 for reservations. 

A neighborhood fixture since 1999, Lula Cafe has been doing farm-to-table cooking since long before it was a staple. The cafe itself is as charming as its sign, beckoning hungry diners with lots of outdoor seating (when weather permits) and a lively, casual space with a long bar for solo guests and plenty of seats to post up within.

With two James Beard nominations under his chef’s coat and a long history of delicious, cuisine-bending dishes, chef-owner Jason Hammel’s menu is packed with rotating hits, so order whatever sounds good, whether that’s glazed delicata squash with black rice or Slagal Farm roast goat. One staple: pasta “Yia Yia,” an irresistible combination of feta, garlic, brown butter, and cinnamon (trust us—it works).

Walk into Mi Tocaya Antojería and you’ll immediately get a sense of Diana Dávila’s time and travels throughout Mexico. From the tiled floors to the stools, tabletops, murals, and plants, the space is awash in color: a vibrancy that extends to the menu. With a James Beard nomination and a Michelin Bib for the restaurant, Dávila’s food is steeped in regional Mexican traditions, from the molcajete-muddled guacamole and hand-pressed tortillas to the heirloom tetela, a triangular corn masa snack from the Mixteca region that she fills with squash and tops with hot and crunchy salsa macha. Everything here is shareable, so bring your friends and order a few margaritas, too.

Here’s a hot and spicy take: While tourists may come to Chicago for deep dish, the people who actually live here are firm believers in tavern-style pizza. How can you beat that crispy, cracker-like crust, the shareable slices, and the completely reasonable amount of toppings? For a slice of thin-crust and history, head to Pat’s Pizza and Ristorante, a family-owned spot that’s been churning out the good stuff since 1950. You can order for pickup, but if you’ve got time, take a seat in the charmingly kitschy dining room, complete with checkerboard tablecloths covered in paper, food-themed prints and framed reviews on the wall, and booths parked beneath green-and-white-striped awnings.

No reservations; more info here. 

It hasn’t been open for all that long, but Obélix feels like it’s been around for forever, in the best possible way. Brothers Nicolas and Oliver Poilevey (whose family is behind the iconic Le Bouchon) have racked up plenty of accolades for their modern French charmer, and with good reason. While the white tablecloths and wooden chairs lend a traditional brasserie feel, the menu gets playful: those sweet-looking macarons are filled with foie gras, the duck sausage is spiked with lemongrass, the beef Wellington has an al pastor Hollandaise. You can even get a Foie McGriddle with steamed egg, pancakes, and maple mustard at brunch. The kitchen is having a good time here, and it shows.

While the Hot Dog Box no longer has its place in Portage Park, you can still get some of the city’s most creative dogs from this father-and-daughter duo at Urbanspace. Stop in for The Bronzeville Bourbon, a quarter-pound steak MACDOG with bourbon barbecue sauce, veggies, and hickory smoked bacon on a pretzel bun; or their take on a classic Chicago dog, which includes fresh onions, pickle chips, tomatoes, sport peppers, yellow mustard, and celery salt, nestled in a brioche bun. And you needn’t be a meat-eater to get in on the action—they’ve got vegan, turkey, and even salmon substitutes, too.

No reservations; more info here.

A stalwart of the South Side barbecue scene since 1954, Lem’s is an iconic spot to hit when a craving for smoky-saucy rib tips and hulking hot links strikes (don’t sleep on the succulent fried chicken, either).  While the original founders, brothers Bruce and Myles Lemons, have passed, their children keep the fire going, using an oversized aquarium smoker (a uniquely Chicago invention) and finishing their ribs with a deliciously tangy sauce. First-timers should note that there’s no seating at this pint-sized joint—and there’s often a wait—so place your order, have some patience, and be sure to get extra napkins for the road.

No reservations; more info here.