Click thumbnails to launch gallery. ALSO SEE: Best New Restaurants 2011 »
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1 / 10
NEXT Voice mail only, 62 seats, thousands of foodies trying to snag a ticket. We declare Next our first Hot List Hall of Famer. 953 W. Fulton Market; 312-226-0858. Read our review—or rather, that of Auguste Escoffier, the father of modern French cuisine » PLUS: Jeff Ruby's thoughts on the new menu » | Penny Pollack on why Ruby's wrong »
Photograph: Anna Knott -
2 / 10
EL A cross between Next (online rezzies) and Schwa (chefs cook and serve), but smaller (ten seats) and zanier (consider wearing an apron). 2419 W. 14th St.; 312-226-8144
Photograph: Galdones Photography -
3 / 10
ROKA AKOR Go to the bar, order the robata-grilled chicken wings with lime and sancho salt and— Oh, who are we kidding? You’ll never get a seat at the bar. 111 W. Illinois St.; 312-477-7652. Read our review »
Photograph: Anna Knott -
4 / 10
BARN & COMPANY Seems nothing gets people up for barbecue like the succulent image of a barn. 950 W. Wrightwood Ave.; 773-832-4000
Photograph: Courtesy of Barn & Company -
5 / 10
TRIBUTE Modern American dining: salmon pastrami for breakfast, po’ boy for lunch, hamachi for dinner. And a great lounge. 800 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-957-0000.
Photograph: Mr. Lee Photography -
6 / 10
PERENNIAL VIRANT Long after Green City Market is done for the season, PV will still be packing them in across the street. 1800 N. Lincoln Ave.; 312-981-7070. 1800 N. Lincoln Ave.; 312-981-7070 Read our review »
Photograph: Anthony Tahlier -
7 / 10
AUTRE MONDE CAFE We kept seeing those “Berwyn Rising” signs everywhere. Now we finally believe it. 6727 W. Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn; 708-775-8122. Check out the chickpea pudding, tagliatelle, and other dishes on What Penny Eats »
Photograph: Jeff Kauck Photography -
8 / 10
PRASINO This Wicker Park newbie boasts every buzzword in the book—green, organic, sustainable—and means it. 1846 W. Division St.; 312-878-1212. See photos of the black cod, steak skewers, and more on What Penny Eats »
Photograph: Lara Kastner -
9 / 10
LOU MALNATI’S Deep-dish just off an eternally hungry Rush Street: Why didn’t the Malnati brothers think of this sooner? 1120 N. State St.; 312-725-7777
Photograph: Alex Goykham -
10 / 10
FISH BAR Hey, DMK Burger Bar and Fish Bar guys: In case you don’t know what to do next, we are crazy about pizza. 2956 N. Sheffield Ave.; 773-687-8177
Photograph: Allison Clark