Newcity Releases 2012 Best of Chicago Winners

It might not be as glamorous as another guide announcing its winners today, but Newcity's 20th Anniversary Best of Chicago issue was published last week. The publication recognized dozens of restaurants in food & drink categories and had some predictable and not-so-predictable awardees. The honors for Best New Restaurant went to Acadia, with the audience choice picking Telegraph. Newcomer Embeya took the top spot for Best Gourmet Asian while Trenchermen's sepia noodles won for Best Prix Fixe Menu-Quality Dish Not Served in a Prix Fixe.

There were some obvious choices such as Best Brunch (Publican) and Best Costa Rican (Irazu), as well as surprises like Sable beating out strong competition for Best Craft Cocktails. Yusho got a nod for its chicken skin and Antique Taco for its horchata milkshake while under-the-radar places like Del Toro and New England Seafood Company also received some well-deserved praise. And then there were a few humorous winners including Au Cheval for its duck heart gravy hash browns as Best Reason to Employ a Personal Cardiologist, and Bubbles in Terminal 3 at O'Hare for Best Sushi in an Airport Champagne Bar. The list won't rock the restaurant industry but it's always interesting to see which spots, new and old, are recognized in Chicago's seemingly endless food scene.

· Best of Chicago [Newcity]

Au Cheval [Photo: Kari Skaflen]