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

It is no wonder that Chris Jung and Erling Wu-Bower are in the running for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes this year. They’re cooking up magic at their restaurant, which serves beautiful, deeply comforting dishes inspired by the chefs’ multicultural upbringings. The space itself is modern and airy — intimate enough for date night, yet convivial enough for a celebration. Getting some whipped ricotta with hot honey and lemon? Perhaps the Japanese sweet potato with green curry, or the heritage pork katsu with Steen’s mustard vinaigrette? Pair them all with a bright white Negroni from the equally inventive bar, made with honey-infused gin, Apologue liqueur, celery root, Suze, and vermouth.

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.

You won’t find deep dish or tavern pies at Nella, but that’s by design. Here, owner Nella Grassano specializes in Neapolitan-style pies baked in her wood-fired oven (which is said to have been built with mud from Mount Vesuvius itself). Grassano, a Naples native, brought her family recipes to Chicago, where they’ve earned her a Michelin Bib Gourmand recommendation. As the weather gets nice, pull up to Nella’s sprawling patio and dig into not just the perfectly leopard-spotted pizzas, but also lobster risotto with Cognac cream, trays of fresh antipasti, and perfectly al dente pasta. No matter what you order, every bite is a true taste of Italy.

While the menu is inspired by Alpine cuisine, don’t mistake Table, Donkey, and Stick for a winter-only dining spot. No, this Palmer Square hideaway is just as lovely in the spring and summer thanks to a back patio (and a roaring fire pit, if it’s chilly). Curious about the name? It comes from a Brothers Grimm tale. Owner Matt Sussman loves the idea of the story’s enchanted table, which sets itself with a rustic feast. While your table here won’t do that, you can order yourself a feast that’s nearly as magical — from homey housemade bread and charcuterie to spring pea risotto with crispy beets, and pork schnitzel with utterly creamy beurre blanc. To drink, the bar focuses on brandies, amari, and regional Alpine beers and wine, not to mention house-made tonics and shrubs. Pro tip: Don’t miss happy hour, where the burger is just $11 and a rotating mix of beers and cocktails are discounted, too.

If you’ve never been to a Detroit-style pizza place whose mascot is a three-eyed alien dog, now is the time.  Just go with us on this — at Sharpies, all the elements work. Perhaps it’s the vintage video games you can play upon arrival; maybe it’s the space-y theme that invites a sense of childlike wonder; or maybe it’s just that this pizza is the real deal:  the crispiest Detroit-style pies, with caramelized edges on every side. Try it plain or topped with good stuff, like fennel sausage, Calabrian peppers, and ricotta (in the Sausage Singularity). There are a handful of apps like crispy cheese curds and a fried onion blossom. And to accompany, cocktails designed for “slurpability,” all of which are brightly colored, served with crushed ice, and made with their zingy citrus mix, Atomic Juice.

No reservations, more info here.

Deadheads now have the ultimate gathering space. At Garcia’s, a new restaurant and music venue dedicated to legendary musician Jerry Garcia, you can eat, drink, and take in performances from artists like Grace Potter, Leo Kottke, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The space itself is inspired by Jerry’s life: the design brings together the mid-century modern style of his California youth with a decidedly on-brand psychedelic touch. There are family photos, vintage movie posters, records, and books galore. After you looking around the venue, tuck in for your meal — might we recommend Jerry’s Roast Beef Sandwich (thin-sliced prime rib, provolone, onion rings, and horseradish cream sauce on Dutch crunch roll with jus)? As for drinks, there are plenty of cocktails and N/A options available, too.

Chef Jason Vincent’s Giant is one of those restaurants you can return to again and again because it’s just so craveable. The menu is full of “slightly cheffy” (in Vincent’s own words) comfort foods, like a burger with fresh-ground chuck seared in beef tallow and brushed with housemade Marmite, served on a garlic oil-laced brioche bun. (And that’s before the fixin’s.) Don’t skip the onion rings, either. Or the dessert: We spy a new “baked-a-labneh” that looks positively thrilling. And while the menu changes often, Giant’s atmosphere is predictably welcoming, with spots at the bar and plenty of tables to relax and unwind with friends. And as the weather gets warmer, an outdoor space will keep the party going. We can’t wait.

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.

While North Shore denizens might be familiar with Ballyhoo Hospitality’s Sophia Steak from its outposts in Wilmette and Lake Forest, River North locals are just now getting a taste of the goods. Typical of Ballyhoo restaurants, Sophia may be billed as a steakhouse, but it’s unfussy and welcoming, and while steak is indeed the main event, there are plenty of specialties if you’re not into red meat, like a fiery angry lobster spaghetti and the Sunday fried chicken special. Along with the food, the team takes their cocktails seriously … but not too much: Try the What, Like It’s Hard? (vodka, olive bitters, sturgeon caviar, and a housemade potato chip.), or spirit-free options with ingredients like lime and ginger beer that balance heavier menu items with ease.

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.