Chicago's Best Fine Dining Restaurants

Smyth in Chicago offers dining experiences shaped by Chefs John and Karen Shields, with ever-changing tasting menus that keep each visit unique. The restaurant pairs modern techniques with a relaxed atmosphere, allowing every course to shine. Guests can also explore carefully chosen wine options that enhance the overall experience.

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Steve Dolinsky

Food Writer

Beautiful tasting menus from Charlie Trotter's alums Chefs John and Karen Shields are the driving forces here, and you’re best left to their whims. A tasting menu-only format allows them to create on the fly, and no two menus are the same (perhaps a nod to their time spent at Charlie Trotter’s back in the day). Shields uses some modernist technique but also just lets ingredients like Alaskan king crab and caviar shine on their own. Best to get a wine pairing here, as each course is given the consideration of a team of methodical planners. Photo credit: Galdones Photography

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Alinea in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood has received multiple James Beard Awards and holds a three-star Michelin rating. It’s known for its multi-course tasting menu and modern cooking methods, earning praise from diners and critics around the world.

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Gilberto Briceño Gómez

Chef

From Dreams to Realization: How Alinea Ignited My Culinary Passion In my eternal quest for culinary excellence, the world became my canvas, a place for pushing boundaries and broadening horizons. Traveling has always been more than just pleasure—it’s been a necessity, a driving force behind my urge to grow and learn. Fifteen years ago, dining at Alinea Restaurant by Chef Grant Achatz, was a distant dream, a pinnacle seemingly unreachable. But when the moment came, it became more than just a meal—it was a moment of realization. Every dish served was not just about the food; it symbolized the journey, the struggles, the relentless pursuit of inspiration that shaped me. That meal ignited a passion within me, fueling the drive for my startup RLT Cuisine, in Playa Potrero. Bourdain was right: our journeys change us, pushing us towards dreams we once deemed unreachable.

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Schwa Restaurant is a small eatery in Chicago’s Wicker Park, recognized for its creative, experimental cooking. The dining room is intimate and unadorned, allowing guests to see the kitchen in action. Each meal features a changing lineup of seasonal ingredients, reflecting an adventurous approach to cuisine.

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Steve Dolinsky

Food Writer

Creative and experimental cuisine in Chicago Every meal is an adventure, literally. The days of cooks smoking joints and doing shots with guests may have waned, but there’s no denying the restaurant’s place as a preferred destination for the adventurous diner. Hidden away on a busy stretch of Ashland Ave. in Wicker Park, the intimate dining room is spartan. Photo credits: Javier Perea.

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S.K.Y. in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood offers contemporary American cooking with global influences, including nods to Chef Stephen Gillanders’ Korean roots through his wife. The industrial-chic space has an open kitchen that keeps things lively, making it easy to see the care that goes into each plate. It’s a relaxed spot that finds its inspiration in both local community and the chef’s diverse culinary background.

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Steve Dolinsky

Food Writer

Korean flavor mashup by chef Stephen Gillanders. Great to see talent fostered in Chicago staying to make a home here. Chef/Owner Stephen Gillanders integrates Korean flavors (his wife is Korean) and while a foie bibimbap probably symbolizes the culinary mashups on offer, there are other less attention-grabbing dishes on the menu. Gillanders worked with Lettuce Entertain You here, and was going to move to L.A., but decided to stay in Chicago and build his career here. He recently opened Apolonia in the S. Loop.

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Boka is known as a Chicago staple that offers a welcoming, seasonal American dining experience. Its timeless design and warm hospitality make it a comfortable place to enjoy a meal in the city.

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Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson

Canadian chef

A Chicago institution. One of my favorites when I’m in town.

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Topolobampo is a higher-end Mexican restaurant in Chicago led by chef Rick Bayless. It was refreshed just before the pandemic and offers a tasting menu that spotlights locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant is also known for serving a quick, thoughtful business lunch downtown.

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Steve Dolinsky

Food Writer

Higher-end Mexican tasting menu from chef Rick Bayless. Bayless revamped the restaurant and the menu just before the pandemic. They also do one of the most elegant business lunches in 60 minutes downtown. Think moles plus sustainable seafood and produce from one of the many farmers in the Bayless orbit (no more than an hour or two from the restaurant). Photos: Emilia Czader

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Oriole is a Chicago restaurant that used the downtime of the pandemic to double its dining and kitchen space, giving chef Noah Sandoval extra room to experiment. It offers a tasting menu in a relaxed setting, sometimes set to the chef’s favorite music, without leaning on unnecessary frills. This focus on creative yet unpretentious presentations makes Oriole an inviting spot for a special night out.

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Steve Dolinsky

Food Writer

Oriole could probably take on Alinea these days for the top spot in Chicago. They took their time during the pandemic to double the space of the restaurant and kitchen, and now Noah Sandoval has lots more room to flex his creative muscles. This is beautiful food without the tweezers (and the pretense). Don’t be surprised if you hear The Smiths playing in the background - a personal favorite of the chef. I really loved the first iteration of Oriole, but now that they’ve matured and grown more confident, Sandoval and his team seem ready to take on the world. Tasting menu only, with a steep $285 entry point before wines, tax and tip.

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Kasama is a relaxed spot in Chicago that highlights Filipino food and pastries. By day, it serves baked goods in a laid-back café setting, while at night it transitions into a reservation-only dinner with a fine-dining approach. Many locals recommend it for its welcoming atmosphere and thoughtful take on flavors.

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Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson

Canadian chef

Great Filipino food and pastries in a relaxed cafe setting. One of my favorites in Chicago.

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