clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

The 38 Essential Chicago Restaurants, April '11

View as Map

It's time to update the Eater 38, your answer and ours to any question that begins, “Can you recommend a restaurant?” This highly elite group covers the entire city, spans myriad cuisines and collectively satisfies all of your restaurant needs, save for those occasions when you absolutely must spend half a paycheck. Every couple of months, we'll add pertinent restaurants that were omitted, have newly become eligible (restaurants must be open at least six months) or have stepped up their game.

This quarter, we're swapping three out. First, Perennial is coming off because the restaurant as we've known it is closing down temporarily and will soon re-open as Perennial Virant, essentially a new restaurant with chef Paul Virant in the kitchen. Next, Francesca's Pizzeria Napoletana closed. And finally, while we love the sushi at Wakamono, we feel like the "screw you" attitude of the staff is just too much of a turn off. Moving on to the list we see three restaurants that have held court on the Eater Heat Map: Davanti Enoteca, Arami and Chizakaya. They've all passed the six-month mark, making them eligible for the Eater 38.

For those of you readying the pitchforks because your favorite restaurant isn't on the list, wouldn't it just be more productive to nominate it for inclusion? State your cases for (or against) restaurants in the comments or in the tipline.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Anteprima

Copy Link

Urban Belly

Copy Link

Hot Doug's

Copy Link

Kuma's Corner

Copy Link

The Bristol

Copy Link

Lao Sze Chuan

Copy Link

Purple Pig

Copy Link

Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar

Copy Link

Smoque BBQ

Copy Link

Ceres' Table

Copy Link

HB Home Bistro

Copy Link

DMK Burger Bar

Copy Link

Kith and Kin

Copy Link

Longman and Eagle

Copy Link

Bonsoiree

Copy Link

Nightwood Restaurant

Copy Link

Girl & The Goat

Copy Link

Gilt Bar

Copy Link

Piccolo Sogno

Copy Link

Hemas Kitchen

Copy Link

Demera Ethiopian

Copy Link

Sun Wah Bar-B-Que

Copy Link

Pho Xe Tang/Tank Noodle

Copy Link

Lula Cafe

Copy Link

De Cero Restaurant

Copy Link

Glenn's Diner

Copy Link

Coalfire

Copy Link

Big Star

Copy Link

Chickpea

Copy Link

Tac Quick

Copy Link

Davanti Enoteca

Copy Link

Chizakaya

Copy Link

Loading comments...

Anteprima

avec

Urban Belly

Hot Doug's

Kuma's Corner

Irazu

The Bristol

Lao Sze Chuan

Purple Pig

Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar