Click the thumbnails below to launch the gallery.
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1 / 10
RESTAURANT BEATRIX Whoever wrote the menu—Enlightened Caesar? Neatloaf? Supernatural Chopped Salad?—was obviously having fun. So is everyone else at Beatrix. 519 N. Clark St., 312-284-1377
RELATED: Browse pics of Restaurant Beatrix’s roast chicken sandwich, chocolate chunk cookie, and other goodies on our photo blog What Penny Eats
Photo: Courtesy of Restaurant Beatrix -
2 / 10
JUNO Sounds like the name of a planet. Maybe it means “world of creative sushi.” 2638 N. Lincoln Ave., 872-206-8662
RELATED: Read our review »
Photo: Anna Knott -
3 / 10
DILLMAN’S God help anyone who experiments with the traditional deli—even Brendan Sodikoff. 354 W. Hubbard St., 312-988-0078
Photo: Courtesy of Dillman’s -
4 / 10
TANTA Gastón Acurio is a legend in Peru. In River North, he’s just another chef-owner with a $3.8 million project. 118 W. Grand Ave., 312-222-9700
Photo: Anjali M. Pinto -
5 / 10
BURKE’S BACON BAR A form of pork in every “handwich,” followed by a bacon chocolate chip cookie: It’s like a pork belly futures convention. The James Chicago, 610 N. Rush St., 312-660-7200
Photo: Ratko Radojcic -
6 / 10
SMALLS SMOKE SHACK No sign, no foot traffic, tight space, unpredictable menu—yes, sir, it’s got all the pieces in place to be a hit. 4009 N. Albany Ave., 312-857-4221
Photo: Courtesy of Smalls Smoke Shack -
7 / 10
COUNTY BARBEQUE When pedigreed chefs like Erick Williams go downscale, you get glorious creations like a bacon-and-barbecue parfait. 1352 W. Taylor St., 312-929-2528
Photo: Courtesy of County Barbeque -
8 / 10
CH DISTILLERY Little-known federal law: It’s illegal to have a distillery and brewery at the same address. The crowd settles for in-house gin and vodka cocktails. 564 W. Randolph St., 312-707-8780
Photo: Anna Knott -
9 / 10
TRAVELLE A Miesian dining room on the second floor of a hotel seems so 1960s, but $20 cocktails and saganaki wings are pure 2013. The Langham Chicago, 330 N. Wabash Ave., 312-923-9988
Photo: Mike Schwartz -
10 / 10
STANDARD MARKET GRILL If chicken tortilla soup, a Buddha bowl, and a root beer float can coexist on a single menu, why can’t we all just get along? 444 W. Fullerton Pkwy., 773-857-3080
Photo: Courtesy of Standard Market Grill