The Resy Hit List: Where In Chicago You’ll Want to Eat Right Now
There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
Consider it your essential resource for dining in Chicago: a monthly-updated guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Chicago Not to Miss This Month
- Dine outdoors (finally!): Are those crocuses popping out of the ground? Could it be that the final frost has passed us by? Spring may finally be in the air, which means the season of outdoor eating and drinking is upon us. That means it’s time for pizza on DeNucci’s patio, punchy spiked pink lemonade at Happy Camper in Wrigleyville, and barbecue with a side of live music at Babygold. For more spots to eat in the great outdoors, check out our full list of the city’s best outdoor dining, and read more guides here, too.
- Meet the new crop of restaurants: We’re welcoming quite a few new restaurants to the city and to Resy this month, including Ostras (“oysters” in Spanish), where you can enjoy seafood with a mix of cultural influences spanning from Mexico to Southeast Asia. There’s also Le Cochon Bistro for French classics, like beef bourguignon and crème brûlée, and Cafe Yaya, the more casual sequel to white-hot Galit. Want to see the rest? Check out our newest openings right here.
- Save the date: If your April calendar is feeling a little bit empty, we’ve got plenty on the docket to keep you busy and well-fed. There’s a five-course spring wine dinner at Le Sud, an Easter Brunch buffet at The Duck Inn, and a jazz dinner at the Mesler, to start with. To see the full schedule of events — including a 4/20-themed market at Segnatore — click here. P.S.: It can’t hurt to look ahead to May, too. Mother’s Day is almost upon us, and special brunches and more are already popping up.
- Revisit a neighborhood favorite: Eleven years since opening, Parson’s Chicken & Fish has become a true neighborhood staple (even with three locations). How do they do it? It starts with the super crispy crust on their chicken, continues with their slushy Negroni, and, if you want to know the rest, check out writer Marnie Shure’s letter of recommendation this way. And if this inspires you to visit (or revisit) another neighborhood gem, check out our deep dives on Club Lucky and The Duck Inn, plus all of our Resy Spotlights.
New to the Hit List (April 2025)
Cafe Yaya, Nella Pizza e Pasta, Sophia Steak Chicago, Giant
1. Cafe Yaya Lincoln Park
If you’re looking for a more casual take on Michelin-starred Galit, you can now head next door to the team’s sister restaurant. The all-day bistro and cafe has all the same attention to detail, care for their employees, and friendly atmosphere, but here you don’t need to sit for a multi-course meal: You can simply pop in for some Sparrow coffee and a fluffy shakshuka bun or flaky potato boreka. Galit’s pastry chef, Mary Eder-McClure, manages all the baked goods here, and her pastry case routinely sells out. Beyond breakfast and brunch, chef Zach Engel takes the stage, and while you won’t find his puffy pita and hummus on the menu, there are plenty of dips and “snackies,” like caramelized onion miso labneh, wood-grilled oysters (yes, there’s a wood-fired oven), and thick-cut Yaya fries.
2. Nella Pizza e Pasta Hyde Park
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.
3. La Licor Panamericana Logan Square
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.
4. Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio West Loop
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.
5. Lula Café Logan Square
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 and 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 and 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).
6. Beity West Loop
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.
7. Elia chicago Wicker Park
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.
8. Big Jones Andersonville
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.
9. Wurst Behavior Irving Park
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.
10. Mi Tocaya Antojería Logan Square
Diana Dávila’s spot in Logan Square has long been a Resy favorite for its vibrant, colorful decor, regional Mexican cuisine, and Midwestern hospitality. And yet, we were delighted to learn even more about the chef’s history and mission in her Corner Table interview. From its website to the space and the menu itself, Mi Tocaya is all about nostalgia, comfort, and breaking stereotypes. Visit any day of the week to satisfy your cravings with dishes like bay scallop aguachile with leche de tigre and spicy pequin chiles, or the crispy and endlessly craveable crab tetela. “I really feel that if you love what you’re doing and love what you’re putting in, the ingredients are going to absorb that, and give you the best of what they have,” says Dávila. We couldn’t agree more.
11. Sanders BBQ Supply Co Beverly
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.
12. Giant Logan Square
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.
13. The Duck Inn Bridgeport
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.
14. Armitage Alehouse Chicago
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.
15. Sophia Steak Chicago River North/Gold Coast
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.
16. Omakase by Kanemaru River North
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.
17. Sifr River North
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.
18. Kasama Ukrainian Village
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.
19. Sal's Trattoria Lakeview
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.
20. Demera Ethiopian Restaurant Uptown
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.
