Ari Bendersky

Ari Bendersky

Chicago Contributor

Ari is a freelance journalist specializing in wine, spirits, food and travel, which he covers in his Substack, Something Glorious, and numerous national publications, including Forbes, WSJ Magazine, The New York Times, Wine Enthusiast, and Food & Wine. He has visited wine regions around the world, including Sonoma, Rioja, Alto Adige, the Loire Valley, Mendoza, and many more. Sure, expensive, highly rated wines are nice, but Ari prefers more rustic, approachable wines for everyday drinking (hello, crisp, dry whites and chillable reds). When it comes to spirits, he’ll take Tequila and mezcal over gin, rye over rum, amaro on the rocks, and a well-shaken dirty vodka martini. Ari holds a WSET Level 3 certification and is the host of the docuseries Family Meal.

Fun Facts

  • Lives in
    Uptown, Chicago
  • First Resy ever made
    Giant in 2016.
  • Drink of choice
    Whatever good wine is being poured. Or an Oaxacan old fashioned.
  • Restaurant you’ve been to the most
    Giant in Logan Square.
  • Best high-low pairing
    Osetra caviar and kettle chips.
  • Favorite food city
    Chicago (San Francisco is a close second).
  • Last meal on earth
    I’d have to have a buffet or a long, multi-course meal that would include oysters, sushi, Thai food, Chicago tavern-style pizza, cacio e pepe, a Caesar salad with big crunchy croutons, and much more.

Ari’s Featured Stories

Resy Features

10 Years In, Neighborhood Gem Gather Continues to Live Up to its Name

Guides

The Resy Guide to Chicago’s Wine-Loving Restaurants

The Rundown

Meet the Cafe Serving Pastries and Bistro Fare in Lincoln Park

Recent Posts


Guides   Chicago

The Ultimate Guide to Chicago’s Steakhouses

Call Chicago a meat-and-potatoes town if you must. We know we’ve moved beyond the stereotype with our world-class restaurants, innovative…

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The Rundown   Chicago

Everything You Need to Know About Logan Square Darling Cellar Door Provisions

A decade in and Cellar Door Provisions continues to transform.  In some ways, this is out of necessity. When CDP…

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The Rundown   Chicago

Everything You Need to Know About Bocadillo Market, Lincoln Park’s All-Day Spanish Star

If you need any more proof that quaint neighborhood restaurants are thriving in Chicago, simply head over to Lincoln Park.…

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The One Who Keeps the Book   Chicago

How to Get Into The Purple Pig — and What to Order Once You’re There

Has the Purple Pig always been busy? It certainly appears that way. Since opening in late 2009 in its first…

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Resy Features   Chicago

10 Years In, Neighborhood Gem Gather Continues to Live Up to its Name

Chicago is a city built on neighborhood restaurants. Ten years after owner David Breo chose an intimate space on Lincoln…

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The Rundown   Chicago

All About Pompette, Bucktown’s Charming New All-Day Destination

Before you go to a restaurant, what do you want — or need — to know most? In our series…

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Galit dining room

The One Who Keeps the Book   Chicago

How to Get Into Galit — and What to Order Once You’re There

Restaurants with a pricey tasting menu often conjure images of a hushed room with white tablecloths, a stuffy atmosphere, and…

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The One Who Keeps the Book   Chicago

The Trick to Getting into Obélix — And What to Eat Once You’re There

Since opening last May, Obélix has taken Chicago by storm. What quietly debuted as a French bistro with a modern…

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The Obélix dining room.

The Rundown   Chicago

Everything You Need to Know About Obélix, Now Open in River North

Before you go to a restaurant, what do you want — or need — to know most? In our series…

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Guides   Chicago

Where to Dine on a Monday Night in Chicago

If you want to plan weeks in advance for a prime Saturday-night reservation, go for it. But anyone who thinks…

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