Well, Restaurant Week Chicago is here, starting tomorrow, and we will be checking out a few places next week and I’ll be posting updates right here on ChiLuxe Travel! But for now, a lot of folks ask me where the best places to eat in Chicago are, or where to go if you are here only for a night or two. This list is mainly geared more towards tourists in order to get the best taste of what Chicago has to offer (besides pizza), but a lot of these restaurants are local favorites as well. There are no steakhouses on this list. I’m going to do a separate list for those! I’m also focusing on central Chicago, rather than neighborhoods, since that’s where most folks who come here for a holiday are spending the vast majority of their time. Finally, I’ve chosen mainly restaurants that have been around for a long time, and hopefully a long time to come!

5. The Gage

The Gage has been around for about 17 years and that’s about as long as I’ve been coming to this favorite spot on Michigan Avenue. This restaurant has very nice food, and is always consistent, the service is very good, and the vibe is fun and exciting. The Gage is a great place to go after a day of museums, or before or after the Symphony or seeing something at a theater downtown. I love the seasonal cocktail menu, and their wine list is excellent, boasting one of the best and most diverse after-dinner drink menus in Chicago. The Gage is loved by tourists and locals alike, and I’ll be going here after a show or for an upscale lunch for a long time to come. Check out my review of The Gage here!

4. Rooh

Chicago has a vast array of ethnic eateries, especially when you start getting into the neighborhoods. There are endless options all over the city for amazing food from foreign lands. Rooh, however, is right in the west loop, and offers such delicious modern Indian fare, in a super cool, Instagrammable setting, that it just had to make its way on my top five list. Rooh has a unique cocktail menu which is based on Ayurvedic principles, so you will always get something that you know you will enjoy, even if you’re unsure of the ingredients. The food is very flavorful, and you get a lot of it! You have the option of choosing from several menu items to create a four course menu, so there’s something for everyone here. This is a lively, beautiful and delicious spot in the west loop. If you’re looking for some spice and something a little more interesting, definitely check out Rooh. You can read my full review here!

3. Avec

Avec has recently become a bit more famous due to their involvement with the FX show, “The Bear,” but this west loop stalwart has been popular with locals for a very long time. Last year, they celebrated their 10-year anniversary, and they are the last restaurant standing on this particular block of Chicago for a reason. Avec is focused primarily on Mediterranean fare, specializing in a lot of vegetable and fish based dishes, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of meat too, including an incredible braised pork shoulder. Don’t skip the chorizo stuffed dates, nor the salted cod brandade. Their wine list is unique, reasonably priced, and also focused on wines from the shores and islands of the Mediterranean as well, so you’ll always get a good pairing. The pace and vibe here is a bit frenetic, but I love coming here especially in winter to feel super cozy and warm up with some stellar food, and great wine. Read my recent review of Avec here!

2. Oriole

Oriole is where you come if you want the absolute best two-star Michelin experience in Chicago, and possibly one of the best meals you will ever have in your life. This is a splurge for sure, and you definitely want to make reservations way in advance here, but the price is totally worth it. From the moment you arrive here, the front of house staff make you feel very welcome and warm. You’re escorted through to the bar for a few bites, then to the kitchen for a few more, before you finally sit down at your table for the rest of the evening, to enjoy really wonderful, beautiful food. Oriole is easily my favorite Michelin rated experience in Chicago, and the only reason it’s not number one on the list is that it’s very expensive, and not super accessible for everyone. Read my Ode to Oriole here!

1. Roister

*** Update, Sadly Roister closed its doors in Fall of 2024, and has reopened as Fire. I can’t wait to check out the new concept, and update you all with my thoughts!

While it was hard to narrow down just five restaurants in Chicago to recommend, the number one spot was easy. Roister has been a favorite of ours for as long as it’s been around, and it has never disappointed. The service here is great, the atmosphere moody mixed with funky, and the food is second-to-none.

Roister is headed up by Grant Achatz of Alinea fame. I think Roister is actually the best of Grant’s restaurants, including Alinea. You get extraordinarily high quality cooking, innovative preparations, and beautiful plating, for a fraction of the price of Alinea. Don’t mistake me though, Roister is not a molecular gastronomy type of place. They focus more on grilling, roasting, and more traditional cooking methods, so you’re not going to get an edible balloon here. You can check out my full review of Roister here.

We most recently ate here for New Years, and their eight course menu was spectacular. Each course was a complete surprise, and I was enjoying the food so much, I was downright giddy. You can’t go wrong at Roister, and if you’re in Chicago for only one day, this is the restaurant I would pick.