The Chicago Restaurants We Loved in November

Chicago, if you haven’t had Turkish breakfast before…

… consider this your wake-up call. We’ve had great spots like The Gundis for years, and in 2025, a new player has entered the game: Anatolia in Lincoln Park. They specialize in a blend of modern and traditional Turkish cuisine, and while they serve dinner every night of the week (except Mondays), Anatolia has recently added breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The traditional Turkish breakfast spread (which costs $85 for a table of four) is replete with breads, egg dishes, sausages, spreads, veggies, olives, greens, fruit, pastries, fresh-brewed tea, and more varieties of cheese than you’ve ever consumed before noon. It’s the perfect meal for grazing over with your friends — and yes, they serve mimosas, too.

— Marnie Shure, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

As an elder millennial, nothing is better…

… than snagging two bar seats at Armitage Alehouse for an early dinner. A bourbon old fashioned always hits, especially when paired with perfectly poached shrimp cocktail and briny oysters. For dinner, we had the strip steak (which was seasoned and cooked perfectly), a generous side of broccoli (which came with a full gravy boat of lemon butter for dipping), and the sticky date cake for dessert (a must). Shoutout to the service, which is always on point and enhances every bite.

— Maggie Yovanoff, Implementation Manager

For classic comfort food vibes…

… head to The Village. The atmosphere feels cozy in an old-school kind of way, and the food tastes like it was made with a lot of care. Definitely get the four-cheese ravioli (rich, cheesy, and super satisfying without being too heavy) and the chicken Parmigiana, which had a very satisfying crunch.

— Mack Burns, Senior Marketing Analyst

If you’re hosting a dinner party…

… the perfect way to end is with something sweet from Hoosier Mama Pie. I got a banana cream pie and a plum one, and both were great hits with our guests. Neither of them were overly sweet and you could really taste the quality of everything: the banana cream pie uses real vanilla beans, and once you bit into the plum one, the tartness from the fruits shone through and perfectly balanced the overall sweetness. Pro tip: Definitely let the staff guide you through their seasonal offerings. They’re super knowledgeable, so if you cannot pick one, they’ll help you.

— Mieko Furuhashi, Quality Assurance Engineer

I wasn’t expecting a lot…

… from the brussels sprouts at Gilt Bar, but they were incredibly delicious. I went with friends after snagging the specific “Library” reservation on Resy — it felt like a speakeasy and was the perfect spot to catch up over drinks and small nibbles (definitely set an alarm for when those Library reservations drop every Wednesday). On the food front, my other standouts were the truffle mozzarella sticks (so yummy), the onion rings (fried to perfection), and the chocolate layer cake.

— Wendy Ruan, Software Engineer

Cocktails and burgers…

… are what The Loyalist does best. I had one of the best bloody marys I’ve ever enjoyed thanks to their unique and clarified mix. It was also great to try some brunch favorites with my wife, like their Spence Farm egg (hard boiled with Russian dressing) and sweet corn scone. The main course was one of each: their namesake cheeseburger and the French smash — it was our first time trying the latter and we found it to be a great alternative to The Loyalist (which is, hands down, one of the best burgers on earth).

— Bill Malinowski, Partner Success Manager

If you want to feel as though you’re having tapas in Madrid…

… Boqueria is your spot. We did the upgraded “Boqueria experience” chef menu to try as much as we could, and the 48-month aged jamón ibérico from Bellota alone was well worth it. The lamb skewers and seafood paella were amazing as well — the paella’s made to order and it was definitely worth the 45-minute wait. I highly recommend ending your meal with some vermouth.

— Jeremy Noga, Senior Technical Operations Support Manager

If you like beer…

… Hopleaf Bar is a must in Chicago. They have so many different beers from all over the world, from Chicago micro-breweries to craft Belgium brasseries. You’re guaranteed to find something you like, and if you don’t know, ask their staff — they’re more than happy to help you out. Pro tip: They rotate their beer selections all the time, but you can check out their website to see what’s on the menu that week.

— Mieko Furuhashi, Quality Assurance Engineer

If you’re looking for an Old Town gem…

… go to The Vig, it’s me and my family’s absolute neighborhood favorite. We love the Friday happy hour special, sitting out on the patio (when it’s warm out), and getting an Aperol spritz, some oysters, and the shishito peppers. The staff is always so friendly and accommodating to our toddler.

— Ashley Harris, VP of Partner Success

For an amazing (and) tasty happy hour…

I highly recommend The Vig in West Loop. The staff is always so friendly and helpful, which makes the whole experience even better. My friend and I had the frozen strawberry margarita, an old fashioned, and the happy hour special Southern chicken sandwich and namesake burger. Everything was absolutely delicious — the drinks were perfectly balanced and the food hit the spot. Best of all, the atmosphere is always welcoming, and I really appreciate how consistent the service is every time I visit.

— Jared Paul Lombard, Senior Implementation Specialist

For an extremely fun girls night out…

… head to Tuco and Blondie on a Friday — it’s the perfect dinner spot to spend quality time with friends and gab over tacos and a marg. The trash can nachos hit the spot and were perfect for us to share. We also got a variety of tacos, including the crispy cauliflower tacos, which were absolute standouts.

— Dana Lasswell, Senior Partner Success Manager

We finally sat down…

… at Mi Tocaya Antojería after moving out of the neighborhood eight years ago and it was well worth the wait. We started with the house beans, some chips and salsa, and a few cocktails, which were quickly followed by the barbacoa and red mushroom mole, and it was all a delight. The ambience rocks and the staff was a pleasure.

— Trevor Davies, Senior Brand Designer

For an immersive feast that engages every one of your senses…

… book the chef’s counter experience at Cariño. The front-row seats to the open kitchen gave us an intimate look into how chef Norman Fenton and his team bring each dish to life. Some of my favorites were the light and airy chicharrón that melted in my mouth, and the esquites that came with it, which were so good I was tempted to lick my bowl clean. The chicken liver mousse taquito might’ve been the absolute standout for me — rich and delicious, it left me wanting more. And the huitlacoche ravioli had a deep and interesting flavor profile unlike anything I’ve had before. From the food to the service, it was an excellent experience all around.

— Ryan Ohlson, Senior Analyst

This place is fantastic…

The atmosphere at Longman & Eagle was amazing on a Monday night. We started with a couple of bar snacks: the epi baguette, a pecorino dip, the cashew “sour cream” and onion dip, and some fries. My group then proceeded onto the sweet potatoes (served with grilled halloumi and kale zhoug among others), the ricotta gnocchi, lobster farfalle, their double smash burger, and the dry-aged duck breast — all fantastic. The cocktails were cold and crisp and the vibes were lovely.

— Amanda Peterlin, Sales Manager

The drinks were amazing at…

… Trino, located in the heart of Fulton Market — I’d go back for them alone. We started off with the Flor de Canela cocktail (which was like drinking a horchata with a kick) and the Mole de Fruta (bourbon, blueberry mole, and lime). But my favorite drink of the night was the Cacao y Calo — I was intrigued when I saw that the ingredients listed arroz con leche. I ordered it and it delivered: it had hints of milk, cinnamon, and rum. On the food side, definitely order the lamb empanadas — they came out with two spreads (epazote and cherry, I believe), and they took the pastries to the next level.

— Salvador Tranquilino Ramos, Software Engineer I

This restaurant group doesn’t miss…

… as the latest from Ballyhoo Hospitality, Jackman & Co., proves. It’s a modern take on a British pub, so you can expect classics like fish & chips alongside unexpected gems like duck confit tacos with adobo, pineapple, and griddled roti. As with all Ballyhoo spots, service is impeccable and attentive, the atmosphere is swank without being stuffy (you’ll find diners in dresses and suits next to others in shorts and t-shirts), and the food is delicious. The menu isn’t huge, but there are no duds — nothing feels like it’s there out of obligation or as a throwaway. You’ll absolutely want to come back to try everything on the menu.

— Gabriel Losch, Software Engineer

It’s my third time dining here…

… and Galit continues to impress, it’s always a hit. The short rib hummus is such an incredible dish that it’s hard to imagine how the rest of the meal could live up to it … But the smoked turkey shawarma, spiced carrots, and crispy phyllo pie were the perfect complements to round out our meal.

— Spencer Tiedge, Global Dining Finance Manager

I absolutely loved this spot…

It was my first time dining at Fiya and I was intrigued to see what the Saturday brunch was all about. Needless to say: it didn’t disappoint. The Jerusalem breakfast for two was the perfect variety of dips and small bites that paired perfectly with the assortment of breads and grains on offer. The bloody mary was made with wood-fired tomatoes, shatta (a Middle Eastern hot sauce), and confit garlic; and the wine list felt very unique. The service was stellar: very supportive and attentive, and not obtrusive at all.

— Keith Kusterer, Implementation Specialist

The menu changes nearly every night…

… at Feld, and I always love trying the creative flavor combinations chef Jake Potashnick comes up with — things like a hot butternut squash soup with blood peach sorbet and grilled pecan praline, which was one of my favorite courses from a recent meal. I also appreciate his zero-waste philosophy, so you’ll often see the same ingredient multiple times throughout the night, but served in quite different ways. For example: excess lamb fat, used to make a lusciously savory ice cream served with fresh figs, roasted figs, and hot rosemary caramel.

— Amber Gibson, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

Hogsalt Hospitality does it again…

In this case: Armitage Alehouse, which is always a good idea. It’s hard to pick a favorite dish from the night, but it’s also hard to beat their sticky date cake. Not to mention their cocktails, which are what you’d expect from a Hogsalt restaurant: perfection. My favorite was the 100-Year-Old Cigar (rum, Cynar, whisky, and Angostura). Pro tip: The vibe inside is unmatched, however, their patio is wonderful when weather-appropriate.

— Drew Bailey, Sales Manager

The perfect place to unwind after work…

… in downtown Chicago might just be Yasemi. Their happy hour menu features a wide variety of options, from creamy hummus with freshly made pita to a delicious cheese pie with goat cheese and honey. We stayed for dinner and the highlight of our meal was the sea bass plaki — the fish arrived butterflied open and charred, and it was cooked to perfection. Overall, Yasemi is perfect if you’re looking for a quiet spot to enjoy a drink and some bites with coworkers.

— Anna Tsatsko, Quality Engineer

Book ahead for a spot at…

… Sophia Steak, a River North newcomer — the seats fill quickly when the hospitality is this polished and the food is this good. The dinner rolls come out billowy and warm, and are a delicious primer for other starters: black tiger shrimp with Florida mustard, caviar-topped croquettes, and kale salad with pepperoncini and pistachio. Peruse a number of mains and steaks, and save room for dessert — peanut butter cream pie undergoes a smart revamp in an Oreo crunch shell.

— Nicole Schnitzler, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

For the best mochas in Chicago…

… head to L.A. Burdick. The airy cafe always has plenty of seating and natural light, so it’s my go-to spot for coffee meetings during winter. Get the Burdick mocha, which is essentially like drinking melted chocolate with a shot of espresso, or the regular mocha (also delicious but not quite as rich). They always have a rotating single-origin dark drinking chocolate on the menu too, and the handmade truffles are great gifts.

— Amber Gibson, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

More Chicago staff picks, right this way.

The views expressed in this article reflect personal experiences of American Express employees at the applicable restaurants — not American Express — and do not constitute professional business advice.