Chicago’s Newest Restaurant Openings, Now on Resy

Because chef Zachary Engel and restaurateur Andrés Clavero (who scored a Michelin star for Galit, their Lincoln Park Middle Eastern masterpiece) are behind this more casual all-day place next door. Start the day with housemade pastries (cardamom kouign-amann, anyone?), and come back for dinner: at night, Cafe Yaya infuses Levantine specialties with French and Southern accents to delicious effect.

Doubling up on the success of the Glen Ellyn original, this friendly Park Ridge establishment serves a something-for-everybody menu — small plates, pizzas, pastas, salads, seafood, steaks, and more — enhanced with craft beers on tap, complex cocktails, and a list of wines at more than fair prices.

Good things come in threes, and after opening beloved locations in Wilmette and Lake Forest, the steakhouse powerhouse that is Sophia Steak chose River North. Prime steaks await, but regulars in the know book for nightly specials like the “angry lobster” spaghetti on Tuesdays and fried chicken on Sundays. And do save room for dessert: The 13-layer chocolate cake is epic.

You might just think you’re in Paris or Lyon when you sit down at this suave Geneva bistro. Here, the well-chosen wines flow freely and the menu offers oysters, onion soup, beef bourguignon, crème brûlée, and a treasure trove of other Gallic classics, served with style and grace.

Building on the success of his beloved Lula Café nearby, chef Jason Hammel established this “creative studio” to host an ever-changing menu of food-related events. A typical evening might include a conversation between Hammel and some key culinary figure, followed by a communal meal and more good talk.

If you like the Old Town edition of this ‘50s-themed sports bar and restaurant (from the folks behind The Whale), you’ll love its friendly, high-energy West Loop sibling. Here, the menu upends expectations (the Southern Cobb salad adds corn, fried chicken, and honey vinaigrette to the usual mix) and the cocktails are models of creativity.

Inspired by the Pan-American Highway, which snakes through 14 countries from Canada to Argentina, La Licor showcases cocktails based on tequila, rum, pisco, cachaça, and other North and South American spirits. But don’t overlook the pan-Latin menu that features everything from empanadas to whole fish in adobo.

Pomeroy in Winnetka is a smash success, so why wouldn’t its parent company, Ballyhoo Hospitality (DeNuccis, Coda di Volpe, etc.), bring the same Parisian spirit and some of the original’s most popular dishes (like onion soup gratinée and a short rib beef Bourguignon) to this animated bistro in River North?

You’ll find tastes from Italy, the Balkans, and Greece throughout this menu, thanks to the owners’ backgrounds and travels. That could mean grilled octopus with cherry tomatoes, fettuccine with gorgonzola cream sauce, or seafood-filled risotto. Cocktails are a delight. 

Hidden away down an alley at Hinsdale’s go-to Mexican/Latin American place Calle Cantina, this seductive brick-walled speakeasy specializes in whiskey, wine, and tequila; dispenses intricate cocktails; and balances the libations with an assortment of irresistible tapas.

At this charming jewel-toned bistro, chef Madalyn Durrant offers vegetable-forward French cuisine (many dishes are vegetarian and vegan), though you’ll still find favorites like steamed mussels and steak frites. Wines are affordable and the cocktails are creative, as are the spirit-free options. Pro tip: Visit for happy hour (5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and all night Monday) for $8 French wines and $2 oysters.

If you believe brunch is a state of mind and not a weekend happening, you’ve found your place. Little twists on staples make all the difference, like fried chicken and waffles served with brown sugar butter and drizzled with chile gastrique, or chilaquiles with soul-affirming mole. Palomas or mimosas by the pitcher should grace your table.

Head to this shiny and sleek Lakewood spot for very shareable mezze and dishes based on recipes from the owner’s Turkish upbringing (Avaspi is named for a river in his hometown). Think things like kutilk (or Kurdish meat dumplings), dolma, and ezme — a delicious sort of tabbouleh but made with walnuts instead of bulgur.

It’s giving Hollywood supper club vibes in the heart of River North. Wedge salads, shellfish towers, icy martinis, jazzy soundtracks — it’s all here. From grilled steaks (and steak burgers!) to seafood, the food is as classic as the white-tableclothed room.

You could go to Ella’s just for the pizza — the Roman-style pies boast a light and fluffy but still-crisp crust and really good toppings — but that would mean missing out on fun bar snacks, salads, and pastas that shouldn’t be missed either. Bonus: It’s always lively and friendly.

Pristine sushi created by masters in a beautifully understated yet stylish room — there’s nothing like it. Here, chef Takahashi Shoji, who helmed Matsuya for years, brings it all to his 10-seat counter.

The dark teal interior, stunning design, and art deco panache give this lounge a speakeasy vibe, but it’s all in full view. Before you order your go-to martini, try something like the Trambler made with smoked gouda-washed Tequila and Campari (it works, we swear!). Food runs the gamut from nuggets to caviar and steak tartare.