Brunch Time! Our New Favorites for 2016

Who doesn’t love brunch, that genius mash-up of breakfast and lunch, eaten on weekends when late-night shenanigans make early-morning breakfast an impossible dream? Thoughtfully, some of our favorite restaurants have recently jumped on the brunch bandwagon, dishing out miraculous egg-centric meals, entrée-sized desserts and hair-of-the-dog beverages that will happily bite back. So roll out of […]

New in Town: Vanille Patisserie Opening in Lakeview

Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes the opening of Vanille Patisserie Lakeview, the third and newest outpost of owner Sophie Evanoff’s beloved artisanal bakery. Lincoln Park and the Chicago French Market locations remain open — and busy. If you’re a macaron fan, Vanille is a go-to bakery already; the Lakeview location, which officially opens Feb. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

9 Bowls of Macaroni and Cheese Worth Every Calorie

First, adult versions of the grilled cheese started popping up on menus all around town. Now, it’s perfectly acceptable for adults to order macaroni and cheese for dinner at a restaurant. Of course, the grown-up versions are a far cry from the bland stuff from a box. Modern mac and cheese is made with bold […]

10 Must-Try Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free Restaurants Around Chicago

Whether you eat strictly vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free – or you’re just curious about trying different diets or dishes – you’ll want to check out these restaurants that are killing it with veggie-friendly options. With delicious dishes available at both upscale restaurants and fast-casual eateries, say goodbye to the stress and guesswork of dining out […]