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1 / 10
RPM STEAK Another steak house in River North. This one is different. The owners said so. 66 W. Kinzie St., 312-284-4990
Read more about the River North steak house and see our dining critic’s first impressions in What Penny Eats.
Photo: Jeff Marini -
2 / 10
XOCO WICKER PARK River North, Wicker Park, the planet Mars. Anywhere Rick Bayless opens a restaurant, the masses will find it. 1471 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Photo: Courtesy of Xoco Wicker Park -
3 / 10
SOHO HOUSE Most of the amenities here are for members only, but, hey, they can’t stop you from slumming on the ground floor with the West Loopers at Chicken Shop or Pizza East. 113–125 N. Green St., 312-521-8000
Photo: Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune -
4 / 10
BOHEMIAN HOUSE This boisterous Bierhaus in River North brings new meaning to “Czech, please.” 11 W. Illinois St., 312-955-0439
Related: Find out what our dining critic thought of her first visit to the River North restaurant.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen -
5 / 10
RIVER ROAST Tony Mantuano and John Hogan put only three entrées on the menu. Is that legal? 315 N. LaSalle St., 312-822-0100
Photo: Courtesy of River Roast -
6 / 10
THE PROMONTORY Hyde Park has had romantic, relaxing Promontory Point since the late 1930s. No, you did not make a wrong turn. 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. W., 312-801-2100
Related: Browse photos of our visit to the Hyde Park hangout.
Photo: Clayton Hauck -
7 / 10
FIG & OLIVE Puh-leeze, no saving seats at the bar. 104 E. Oak St., 312-445-0060
Related: Find out more about the new Gold Coast eatery.
Photo: Anna Knott -
8 / 10
MFK Sari Zernich Worsham says she couldn’t find an unfussy place with amazing food in Chicago, so she had no choice but to open one herself. 432 W. Diversey Pkwy., 773-857-2540
Related: Read our dining critic’s first impressions of the new café.
Photo: Anna Knott -
9 / 10
SALERO Another restaurant on West Randolph Street barely passes for news—unless it’s Spanish, that is. 621 W. Randolph St., 312-466-1000
Photo: Courtesy of Salero -
10 / 10
VISTRO Paul Virant (chic Vie, urban Perennial Virant) makes a play for the fried-chicken-and-mocktail crowd. 112 S. Washington St., Hinsdale, 630-537-1459
Photo: Courtesy of Vistro