Red Meat Renaissance: Chicago’s Best New Steakhouses

There’s no arguing the fact that Chicago is a red meat town. Certainly, we’ve got the big beef houses as testimony to our love: Morton’s, Mastro’s, Gibson’s, Gene & Georgetti, Chicago Cut and more. But in the past year or so, there’s been a carnivore renaissance, with innovative new steakhouses pushing beyond the Caesar Salad/Creamed […]

Sugar Mama: The New Mom and Entrepreneur Behind Dylan’s Candy Bar

Dylan Lauren, daughter of legendary fashion designer Ralph Lauren, must have been paying careful attention to her dad’s clothing empire when she was growing up. The younger Lauren now runs a booming candy company, Dylan’s Candy Bar, which has 13 locations, including a colorful shop on Michigan Avenue that is guaranteed to bring smiles to […]

New in Town: Roti Modern Mediterranean Opens in Northbrook With New Menu Items

Roti Modern Mediterranean (formerly Roti Mediterranean Grill) opened its second restaurant in Northbrook on the corner of Skokie and Dundee. Offering fast, healthy and affordable Mediterranean cuisine including couscous, falafel, salads and rice plates, this location is also the first to offer numerous new menu items. Try the grass-fed beef, lamb meatballs, red lentil soup […]

Chicago Culinary Bookstore Serves Up a Menu of Holiday Gifts

With world-class restaurants on virtually every corner, it’s no surprise that Chicagoans like to dish up top-notch nosh at home too. Now there’s a new foodie bookstore to cater to their discerning palates. Located on the hip Halsted Street shopping corridor in Lincoln Park, Read It & Eat carries everything from well-known encyclopedic reference cookbooks to […]

New in Town: Arlen's Chicken in Evanston

Rise and shine! DMK Restaurants has opened Arlen’s Chicken in Evanston. It’s a casual fried chicken joint where you’ll find delectable fried chicken and biscuit sandwiches, crispy biscuits and tater tots, not-just-for-kids chicken nuggets and DMK’s signature killer milkshakes — the toasted marshmallow is to die for. If you can’t wait until you get home, […]

George Trois: Country French Fare in Winnetka

Chicago has seen a slew of excellent modern Asian (Fat Rice, Parachute, Momotaro), Italian (Osteria Langhe, Formento’s, Ceres’ Table) and even Spanish restaurants (Salero, Bom Bolla, mfk) opening over the past couple of years. But aside from The Blanchard, there haven’t been many notable French newcomers. Now there is George Trois. This most ambitious endeavor […]

A Fish Tale: 16 Great Chicago Seafood Restaurants

Everyone knows that Chicago — smack-dab in the heart of the Midwest and in-between coasts — is a hard-core steak town. But man does not live by red meat alone, especially if he wants to live for a while. So look to the water, be it lake, river or sea, for your next hit of […]

New in Town: 800 Degrees in Evanston

There’s no shortage of speedy, freshly made pizza around town these days; quick gourmet pizza in the Chipotle mold is all the rage. But 800 Degrees is different — this is Neapolitan-style pizza, with a beautifully blistered crust that’s just the right amount of chewy and char. The same company that brought us Umami Burger […]

New in Town: Gigi’s Cupcakes in Wilmette

Beloved throughout the country, Gigi’s Cupcakes opened in Wilmette on Oct. 28, offering a rotating menu of more than 300 cupcake flavors. Piled high with icing, Gigi’s cupcakes are a national phenomenon — but don’t miss out on other breakfast options including muffins, pies, breads, cinnamon rolls and a host of other treats, all baked […]

15 South Side Restaurants That Are Worth the Drive

North siders and North Shore residents, Chicago doesn’t stop at Madison Street! There’s real life in the South Loop and beyond, and some great new restaurants that you really, really need to know about. To ease you into your migration south, I’ve thrown in a few yummy places near Symphony Center and Millennium Park as […]