The Chicago Restaurants We’re Loving Right Now

Fall patio weather is here…

… and I’ll be enjoying it at Middle Brow. The wines are light enough for lunch, the beer is crisp and perfect, the pizza dough sandwich is a BLT, and that patio is the perfect spot to watch the world go by. Soak it up before cooler weather arrives.

— Laura Scherb, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

A fun and delicious spot…

… Logan Square’s Middle Brow is the place for natural wines, beer, crusty loaves, and charred sourdough pizzas any night of the week. But I recently discovered they do Tavern Tuesdays, when they do the pies in the thin tavern style. We got cozy at the communal tables and split a wedge salad along with two cracker-thin beauties: The seasonal special with Sun Gold tavern sauce, sausage, peppers, and crisscross drizzles of fermented blueberry vinaigrette, and the classic pepperoni. We devoured them both and still had room for smoked vanilla soft serve topped with cherry preserves.

— Liz Grossman, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

I finally made it to…

… Duck Sel for their rooftop Quackatori experience, and I can’t believe it took me so long. The food, the views, and the vibe were all spectacular. I can’t remember seeing chef Donald Young ever looking so relaxed or having this much fun cooking. And while every course includes duck, it never feels redundant. Especially with dishes like the duck and waffles (essentially a dessert!), topped with a juicy binchotan-grilled chicken thigh.

— Amber Gibson, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

Everyone knows…

… that you come to The Loyalist for the burger. But you have to come back for the trout. With crispy skin over a soft flaky interior and charcoal-grilled notes that overlay a rich, saucy base, it’s the coziest basement meal in town, especially as fall rolls in.

— Brian Powers, Software Engineer

I can’t stop going to…

… TXA TXA Club. I love showing up just before lunch to snag a coffee and a pastry (that green curry bun? Life changing!), then lingering long enough to sample a few seasonal dishes, like the orecchiette with plum.

— Laura Scherb, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

Some of the best food I’ve had in the city so far…

… was at the Korean beef-focused omakase, Bonyeon. Every single course was amazing. It’s a little bit of a splurge, but I’d 100% recommend to anyone looking for a special-occasion spot. My two favorite courses were the dashi steamed egg topped with avocado and salt and the tenderloin with a bone marrow miso.

— Michael Webb, Software Engineer

I’ve heard it was hard to get into…

… the tiny Noodles Party in Mayfair, but I luckily made my way in early enough on a Tuesday to snag a low stool at a table. This BYOB spot is as lively, fun, and colorful as everyone says, and offers traditional Thai street food noodle dishes and more. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the weekly-changing menu, but I am still thinking about the tender chicken khao soi served in a golden coconut curry broth with fried egg noodles, the bright papaya salad, and the crab rangoon.

— Liz Grossman, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

I was grateful that…

… Nettare squeezed me in for an impromptu dinner on a recent Saturday night without a reservation — and even happier when every dish was a hit. I spotted plump Klug Farm peaches lined up on a tray in the kitchen while we walked to our table, and knew we had to get the grilled peach tartine with stracciatella and sumac gastrique. Ricotta dumplings with sweet corn purée had a funky umami undertone from a maitake XO sauce, and the buckwheat mille-feuille is now one of my favorite chocolate desserts for its balance of rich flavor and delicate textures.

— Amber Gibson, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

For a lively evening that’s packed with flavor…

… head to Old Pueblo. Start with a cocktail and some small plates (try the shrimp ceviche and tuna tostadas), before moving on to a medley of mains. The chile-lime shrimp skewers are a fun order for the table, and tacos are available in singles, duos, or trios (don’t miss the al pastor, carne asada, or mahi-mahi; mix and match orders are welcome). Cap it off with the churros, served with a rich dulce de leche.

— Nicole Schnitzler, Chicago Writer, Resy Editorial

With such a lineup of heavy-hitters…

… it’s very tempting to order one of everything from Eight Bar’s menu. The king crab roll was stellar, packed with decadent truffle and crab, while still maintaining a perfect level of lightness. Another favorite was the spicy vodka gnocchetti — the pasta was perfectly al dente and the burrata really took it to another level. We’ll definitely be back.

— Caroline Zody, Enterprise BDR

Housed in the space that once operated as Maxim’s…

… (sister spot to the iconic Maxim’s de Paris), Astor Club is a private members club featuring live music and several dining spaces, which reflects many artifacts and design details from the original 1963 venue. At Chef’s Table at Astor Club, chef Trevor Teich serves a multi-course menu rooted in seasonality and whimsy. Scallop with miso broth, chawanmushi with uni and smoked trout roe, and butter-poached lobster in a vadouvan curry sauce are some of the highlights here (plus, the billowy, just-baked Japanese milk bread — a joy in its own right).

— Nicole Schnitzler, 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.