The Chicago Restaurants We Loved This Month

I am just a Hogsalt stan.

And Trivoli Tavern is solid from the appetizers to the desserts, which I don’t say lightly as someone who doesn’t usually gravitate towards the latter. I will order a French dip anytime I see it on a menu, and I can confidently say theirs is very well-rounded: the bread is always a make or break, and Trivoli’s just hits every time. It’s a perfect mix of a hard shell with a soft interior, meaning it doesn’t get too soggy with aggressive dipping. And as always, the sticky date cake will never disappoint. I already miss it.

— Nicole Dale, Sales Executive at Tock

On a quick trip back home…

… I revisited Lula Café, a longstanding favorite that’s bordering on icon status in Logan Square. I rolled up to the bar solo on a weeknight, suitcase in hand, very much ready for a proper meal after a long travel day. Fortunately for me, spring is springing in Chicago, so asparagus was in order, topped with a deeply flavorful mix of wild onion soubise, black olives, and Stilton blue cheese. That, the classic fennel and chickpea tagine, and an intriguing dessert of sweet-and-tangy pecorino cake with sour cherries, candied Castelvetrano olives, and pistachios was all I needed to set my trip off on the right track. It’s good to be home.

— Jamie Feldmar, Resy Chicago Editor

Anything coming out of the wood oven…

… is worth trying at Fiya. We loved the halloumi, which was served with chile pepper jam and had a surprising kick to it. The hummus was deliciously creamy and decadent, and the Moroccan salmon also startled me with a punch of hidden heat in the shape of its accompanying zesty red pepper sauce.

— Wendy West, Operations Analyst

Sometimes, the heart lands on one simple desire…

… a good, dependable buffalo chicken wrap. And when that craving arises, Gideon Welles in Lincoln Square is the place to get it. There’s nothing revolutionary here — it’s a simple mixture of crispy chicken chunks, sharp shredded cheddar, romaine lettuce, plum tomatoes, and a buttermilk dressing — but the consistency of this wrap across the years, and its ability to satisfy, are indisputable. The sauce is properly portioned, with a heat that doesn’t steal the show. The wrap isn’t padded out with a suspicious amount of lettuce (as some wraps elsewhere in the city are guilty of). The vegetables are crisp, and the wrap itself is both filled and sealed with the proper care. As casually as it’s presented, this pub food standout gets the fundamentals right.

— Marnie Shure, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

Some of the best Thai food I’ve had in the Windy City…

… I’ve had at The Oliang. They have such a creative mocktail program (the Lychee Green Tea Popping was so tasty and bright) and the pad kee mao (drunken noodles) knocked my socks off. I could taste the flavor and char from the sauté pan, and the spice really delivered. The pepper steak also was incredibly tender and flavorful — I loved everything here.

— Wendy West, Operations Analyst

Dinner for two at…

… Gilt Bar went something like this: we started with onion rings and the bone marrow, before going into spicy orecchiette, vodka rigatoni, a side of brussels sprouts, and mussels; with a chocolate cream pie for dessert. Our favorite item was the bone marrow — we were pleasantly by the portion size, which came with six half slices of bone. In combination with the onion jam and bread, it was the treat of the night.

— Felix Chiang, Software Engineer at Tock

For a birthday celebration…

… my husband and I took some friends out to Sophia Steak in River North. The space is gorgeous and filled with beautiful decorations, and the service was really nice — our waiter overheard us talking about our celebration and surprised us with a sparkler on top of our cake. The food was excellent and high quality, and we really enjoyed the 13-layer chocolate cake with gold flakes on top and the peanut butter pie. It was all delicious and we will definitely be back.

— Julie Cox, Fraud Prevention Specialist

I can’t wait to go back…

A few of us at Tock went to Schwa for the first time. It was great hanging out with friends, and every single course was delicious. That and the laid-back vibe and chaotic music choices made it one of my top five meals ever.

— Cooper Skaggs, Senior Enterprise Account Executive

One of the most unique spots I’ve ever been to…

… is Schwa — a Michelin-starred kitchen with beautiful presentations and obscure ingredients, served in a small room with music blaring over the speakers. The staff was extremely friendly as they brought out and explained each course, which ranged from an interactive ramen dish to tiny smoked Kaluga caviar and raspberry “tacos.”

— Adam Roman, Account Executive at Tock

What I loved most about our meal…

… at Amano Bistro was not just that the dishes were artfully plated and tasted wonderful, but that our waiter would earnestly follow-up to see if we liked each dish, like a mother making sure the food she’s prepared is good. My favorite dish was a tie between the tiramisu and the hazelnut cake — they each had slightly different takes on the original, which was surprisingly delightful. Pro tip: Sit outside and enjoy the nice weather and view — they have a very cute patio.

— Ken Ore, Senior Engineer

My go-to wine bar…

… for pre-dinner drinks and snacks has always been Pops for Champagne, and in May, they had a really cool partnership with Coravin where they offered rare wines by the glass from Krug, Henriot, and Egly-Ouriet at super fair prices. I went with a friend for late-night drinks — I even met Champagne Jesus — and got the scoop on La Fête du Champagne coming to Chicago in October for the first time. Champagne lovers, mark your calendars!

— Amber Gibson, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

Before a show on Broadway…

… go and enjoy dinner and drinks at Randolph Tavern. I had an appletini and the ribeye steak sandwich that was to die for on my last pre-theatre visit. Overall, it’s a comfy-casual spot with good eats and cocktails.

— Briana Bartmann, Financial Analyst

Nothing like getting a sweet surprise…

… from old friends who spotted me across the dining room at Obélix on a busy Saturday night — they sent me a luscious duck fat beeswax canelé for dessert, which was delicious (and I don’t even like duck that much!). Before that came caviar and crème fraîche macarons, a ramp tart, loup de mer (sea bass), and leeks vinaigrette. It was a great meal overall.

— Amber Gibson, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

More Chicago staff picks, right this way.