The Resy Hit List: Where In Chicago You’ll Want to Eat in March 2025

Whether you’re parked at a communal table, dining solo at the chef’s counter, or at a two-top along the red banquette, The Purple Pig is always a good time. The bustling restaurant has long been a Chicago standby (since 2009!) for friendly service and exceptionally good food from James Beard award-winning Chef Jimmy Bannos Jr. Given the name, you shouldn’t be surprised that the pork dishes here are standout, from the crispy pig’s ear to the milk-braised Berkshire pork shoulder. But pork isn’t all they’re doing well. In fact, the Mediterranean-inspired menu’s secret power may just be in its vegetables: salt-roasted beets with pistachio butter, roasted squash accented with figs and goat cheese, and carrots with carrot cake crumbles.

From crisp empanadas to lomo saltado, the kitchen at La Licor churns out regional specialties that span the length of the Pan-American Highway. We love that each dish is labeled by its country of origin, making a night here a culinary lesson. There’s the Salvadorian fried yucca with pickled cabbage and crunchy chicharron, the pillowy Brazilian pao de queijo, and the “4AM burger,” a tribute to Mexico City’s vibrant street food. Co-owner Javier Arroyo organizes drinks in a same fashion, offering Venezuelan rum, Colombian aguardiente, Brazilian cachaça, and more. Enjoy your visit amidst decor amassed from various travels: Andean textiles from Peru, a maté cup from Argentina, and Incan pottery from Colombia — a physical representation of what makes La Licor unique.

Beyond the Beard award and “Top Chef” exposure, Sarah Grueneberg’  West Loop restaurant Monteverde has racked up accolades every year since its 2015 debut. It’s no surprise why: Grueneberg continues to churn out gorgeous, rustic Italian dishes, like delicate ribbons of hand cut pappardelle with lamb sugo; roasted chicken and asparagus ravioli; and grilled shrimp spiedino with fava beans and artichokes. The space is open and bright, with high ceilings and long windows, and a convivial feel—perfect for group celebrations. If you’re in the market for dinner and a show, sit at the bar to see the pasta station in action.

Beity is the first of its kind in Chicago: Lebanese fine dining from chef Ryan Fakih. Everything from the stone arches to the chandeliers have been designed to resemble Lebanese features, and the playlist is a mix of classic Middle Eastern music. There are two dining areas for the tasting menu, plus a la carte options at the bar. Either way, linger over the mezze — smooth parsley hummus with lamb confit and creamy labneh with za’atar, for example— with perfectly fluffy pita. The drinks are already racking up accolades (bar lead Olivia Fadden was the 2024 Michelin Guide Chicago Exceptional Cocktails Award winner), too: try the Chimney Smoke, with Scotch and Lebanese whisky, green Chartreuse, Benedictine, and tobacco bitters.

From the owner of Turquoise in Roscoe Village comes Elia, a modern Mediterranean restaurant that draws inspiration from Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, and beyond. And when we say modern, we mean it: A long cream banquette, spikey Sputnik chandeliers, and gold-splattered murals give the space a decidedly upscale vibe. That said, the menu is anything but cold. In fact, chef Ezgi Ozgur’s dishes are comforting and homey, from the creamy hummus and Cretan feta dip to the punchy saganaki, charred chicken shish, and a cozy fisherman’s stew. Derived from the Greek word for “olive tree,” Elia symbolizes peace and prosperity, which also happens to describe what you’ll feel after finishing with the housemade baklava.

Big Jones has been an Andersonville staple for comfort food and Southern hospitality since 2008. And chef Paul Fehribach and partner Mark Armantrout aren’t just dedicated to good food and service — they also care deeply about sourcing, procuring ingredients from 40 local farms and farmers markets (you may recognize some like Fischer Farms and Hazard Free Farm) and specialty purveyors across the South. Tuck in to a menu with a distinctly modern approach to Southern cuisine, in all of its regional glory, with dishes like swamp cabbage (aka hearts of palm) with grilled shrimp, three types of gumbo, and refried oxtail rendang. Don’t miss weekend brunch, with its baked goods like duck boudin kolaches and buttermilk crullers, plus griddle cakes galore.

From husband-and-wife team Gosia Pieniazek and Artur Wnorowski (Pierogi Kitchen), Wurst Behavior is all about classic Polish and German recipes with a little Chicago attitude, from pork shoulder kielbasa served in a hoagie roll to a mushroom truffle brat topped with Swiss cheese and a quintessential Chicago dog. Unlike a lot of other hot dog spots around town, there’s actually table service here, so you can park, order, and enjoy your meal on-site, and even get some great cocktails, too. Try a pickle brine-spiked Great Lakes with your plate of pierogies or a margarita to cool down your chili dog, and thank writer Dennis Lee for the tip. It’s all allowed when Wurst Behavior’s the status quo.

No reservations, more info here.

James Sanders only recently opened Sanders BBQ Supply Co in Beverly, but with regular movie nights, live music, and a constant stream of diners, the spot is already feeling like part of the community. Enjoy an al fresco barbecue feast on one of two outdoor patios, or get your order to go. The menu doesn’t follow any strict barbecue dogma: There’s influence from all over the map. We suggest the beef ribs, pulled pork, some peach tea smoked wings, and anything else you can fit onto your tray (sauces are self-serve). With live wood fires and meats sliced to order, Sanders is doing everything right, so you really can’t go wrong.

No reservations; more info here. 

With a Michelin star in its belt, Atelier is most certainly a fine dining destination. But fine dining here doesn’t mean uptight. In fact, chef Christian Hunter’s Atelier is as accessible as it is tuned up. The menu is driven by the season, but also inspired by the way people like to eat, taco joints and Asian takeout very much included. With dark walls and curtains and sparse wooden accents, the restaurant’s clear focus is the art on the plate, and the snippets of entertainment diners get looking into the open kitchen. Visit for a tasting dinner with wine (or spirit-free!) pairings and leave with a deeper understanding of what the team means when they say Atelier is all about “fine dining folk cuisine.”

There’s a reason why The Duck Inn made it into our list of the best restaurants of 2024. The cozy spot has everything we want out of a  neighborhood standby, starting with its warm, welcoming dining room. Then there’s chef Kevin Hickey’s menu — duck is the star, in rotisserie form served with duck fat fries, in a Chicago-style beef and duck dog, and in chile-braised duck sopes. But it’s not all duck, all the time: butternut squash agnolotti, monkfish with soft shell crab XO sauce, and barbecue braised short rib make The Duck Inn a perfect spot for all.

It is almost impossible to think about fall without immediately dreaming of the roaring fireplace, dim lanterns, cushy seating, and the seriously comforting food at Armitage. From the team behind Aster Hall, Au Cheval, and Trivoli Tavern, this perennial Lincoln Park hotspot was made for the season—it’s like slipping into an intimate 1920s-inspired dream. Sip your Vesper, Boulevardier, or a strong ale, then dig into something from the Anglo-Indian-inspired pub menu, like the steak and ale pie, pike fish and chips, or chickpea and potato tikka masala. Something sweet? The salted chocolate mousse is always a good idea, too.

Tigist Reda has been bringing vibrant, sharable Ethiopian dishes to her Uptown restaurant since 2007. Housemade honey wine and classic Ethiopian tunes mixed with modern pop and Afrobeat set the tone, while big groups pull up to the community table in the bustling dining room and dig into family-style dishes, like a bayanetu platter loaded with vegetables and a side of injera, or a messob with an array of stewed meats. As the neighborhood evolves, so too does the menu —Reda recently added ingudai tibs (sauteed mushrooms with garlic, onions, and ginger), for example. To try the rest, you’ll just have to visit.

Chef Shinichiro Kanemaru is at the helm of this intimate, 10-seat sushi counter on the second floor of La Grande Boucherie, in a clean, minimalist space. From early lessons at his family’s sushi restaurant to decades spent training in Michelin-starred kitchens (including 17 years at Ginza Kyubey in Tokyo), Kanemaru puts together a dozen-plus artful courses in each omakase here with ease. With meticulous sourcing  (think buttery Hokkaido uni, golden eye snapper, and fresh pops of ikura) and an artisan’s  attention to detail, a meal here is cause for celebration — save this one for a special night out.

If you’re tired of winter’s bitter chill, head to Sifr for its new, all-season enclosed rooftop (the largest rooftop dining space in River North). You’ll get sprawling views of the city, while enjoying chefs Sujan Sarkar and Sahil Sethi’s stunning Middle Eastern cuisine, including all manner of colorful mezze, hearth-roasted meats and grilled kebabs, and housemade breads (be careful, that pita is hot!). Of course, if you can’t make it to the rooftop, Sifr is still a beautiful space to behold: a long, plant-covered bar, a sprawling green banquette, lots of natural light, and whitewashed brick walls make for a dining room fit for celebrations, date nights, and everything in between.

Even with a James Beard Award and a Michelin star, Kasama is far from resting on its laurels, continuing to wow diners with its Filipino-style tasting menu in a casual yet energetic setting. For those lucky enough to get a coveted reservation expect a colorful and intriguing multi-course meal that changes with the seasons: there might be a buttery croissant laden with truffles, a mushroom adobo with mussel foam, and lamb belly kare-kare with peanut puree. Can’t wait for dinner? Pop in for brunch at the cafe, which is first-come, first-served. The buzzy little space brighten your day with chicken adobo over garlic rice, and a breakfast sandwich that takes your classic egg and cheese up a notch with the addition of salty longanisa.

Sal’s Trattoria has been a neighborhood standby for comforting Italian food since the team behind Butcher in the Burger opened it in 2017. At the corner of Southport and Wolfram, Sal’s beckons diners with friendly service, simple yet refined decor (you’ll find white tablecloths and olive oil cruets on every table), and boatloads of charm. On the menu, chef Dakota Neckvatal focuses on antipasti — think marinara meatballs and grilled octopus — and pasta, including rigatoni Bolognese and fettucini carbonara.  (Don’t skip the housemade gelato for dessert.) Before Sal’s, there was a fair amount of turnover in this location, but since its debut, this comforting spot has been reliably full — take this as your sign to find out why.