CHIGuide
Are These Chicago Restaurants Worth The Hype?
photo credit: Barry Brecheisen
People generally fall into two categories when it comes to a hyped-up restaurant. They either have a primal instinct to experience it as soon as possible, or, they deem it overrated, despite never having been. Either way, you know you want to know:
Is this restaurant worth it?
Chicago has a lot of these restaurants. Places with elaborate tableside gymnastics trending on TikTok. Overexposed classics your cousin in Florida knows about for some reason. Restaurants that you keep hearing about. Again. And again. And ... again. Some are good, some are not, and some are fun enough that it doesn’t matter. So before you decide to wait in line or make that 4pm dinner reservation, consult this guide.
THE SPOTS
The Verdict: Good pasta is even better in a glamorous space with a great view.
When a restaurant opens in a ritzy hotel, and is from a chef behind three hyped LA spots (Felix, Mother Wolf, and Funke), expectations are high. Tre Dita in the St. Regis delivers. This Lakeshore East Italian spot has a gorgeous view of the river. Staff members in well-pressed suits give detailed rundowns of 60-page wine menus to couples celebrating anniversaries and groups of possible VIPs. And when servers show up at your table with delicious duck ragu pappardelle, juicy steak, herbaceous prawns in salsa verde, and maybe some complementary vermouth before dessert, you too will feel very important.
The Verdict: The dishes here only look good on TikTok—skip this.
The carbonara at this buzzy River North Italian spot looks pretty good on a phone screen, and honestly, it looks pretty decent in real life, too. But past the glistening egg yolk and spaghetti, it’s a boring plate of pasta with watery sauce even salty guanciale can’t save. The mushy branzino and flavorless meatballs are also a let-down, and though the panna cotta with passion fruit is refreshing, it isn’t enough of a consolation prize. This NYC transplant should’ve stayed on the East Coast.
The Verdict: A lively French-Mediterranean spot with a distinct kind of charm.
From the team behind Fioretta and Lyra, La Serre is a chic French-Mediterranean spot in Fulton Market with just the right amount of flowers and subwoofers. It’s buzzy but never too loud, and the courses are thoughtful despite the presence of big mirrors that say corny things like “Merci Beaucoup.” The creamy angel hair pasta warrants the suggested 15g caviar on top, and other less-pricey classics like the tuna crudo and filet mignon are more than satisfying.
The Verdict: Another River North theme park with bad pricey food.
The 1900s decor is a big part of this massive French restaurant's allure, as seen in many posts on social media. But a dinner at this River North spot is the opposite of romantic or fun. The food is constantly underwhelming—the escargot tastes like pepperoni-flavored gum, and the dry rabbit leg with pasta only gets a little flavor from sweet prunes. And though the two-floor space is 10,000 square feet, it’s too cramped with tables and a frenzied staff. If the Belle Époque aesthetics of La Grande Boucherie prove too tempting, order the profiteroles and have dinner elsewhere.
photo credit: Garrett Baumer
POWERED BY
The Verdict: Brasero is great for upbeat get-togethers of all sizes.
This Latin American spot in West Town is from the chef behind El Che (one of our favorite steakhouses) and seems to specialize in throwing a party every night. With tasty shareable dishes like fried quail and catchy Bossa nova music, Brasero practically asks you to show up with gossip to match the secluded and good-vibes space. The food is equally fun, with pork ribs covered in guava and hot sauce or the moqueca nailing a balance between sweet and spicy. Whatever you order, you’ll leave with a light cologne of smoke, thanks to the wood-fire grill in the back and dessert sparklers that constantly float around.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Verdict: Eat here once and you'll become a regular.
Maxwells Trading in West Loop has only been open since the start of 2024 but it’s already challenging to get a reservation (don’t worry, we have you covered). Understandable since the fusion-y dishes—like fazzoletti with lamb and chili crisp—are all good, and at least a third of them are incredible. Inside this brick building that reads more “art gallery” than “failed startup headquarters,” vinyl records are played loud enough to be fun, but not so loud you have to scream. Along with Monteverde (also on this guide) and Daisies, Maxwells has become one of our go-to spots for when someone comes in from out of town. The scallion pancakes with french onion dip will make them brag about their visit, but so will the strong martinis and warm service.
The Verdict: Do whatever you need to do to get in.
It’s not surprising that this Logan Square spot has been packed the minute since opening. Its owner, a Redditor-turned-chef known as "Ramen_Lord", has a large following and his past pop-ups sold out instantly. But eating is believing—bowls of rich and creamy Akahoshi Miso and soupless tantanmen flavored with tingly Sichuan peppercorns are delicious and worth racing to grab a spot at a booth or the communal table. Chances are, reservations are all booked when you’re done reading this. But they allow walk-ins, so you can probably snag a spot if you get there before they open at 5pm.
photo credit: Kendall McCaugherty
The Verdict: Unless you’re the Guinness equivalent of a Disney World adult, just grab a pint at one of the many Irish pubs in the city.
If you show up to Guinness Brewery, chances are you'll be greeted with a line of people waiting to get in and try the famous Irish stout. Sure, the head-to-beer ratio of the pours meets Official Guinness Handbook standards. But the large space full of out-of-towners and feels like a chain restaurant for tourists. The branding is inescapable, from the wall with the founder’s giant signature to a massive harp floating above the bar. There’s even a gift shop and bakery with Guinness-infused bread. The food menu is eclectic, with average burgers, stews, and udon (how’d that get on there?)—and they’re mainly beer buffers.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Verdict: Most definitely worth the wait. In fact, this New American spot recently made our list of 25 Best Restaurants In Chicago.
Limited hours. No reservations. An unpredictable menu. Warlord opened in May with little information beyond the above, which we normally consider red flags. But we can now tell you that the line out the door isit’s worth the wait. And since they're open until 2am, that wait can be a pretty long one. The menu changes everyday, which is both exciting—"This ramp pasta is incredible!"—and bittersweet—"Will I ever see these miso butter scallops again?" Warlord is playing hard to get, but that only makes us want this spot even more.
The Verdict: Bypass the restaurant and go have a drink on the roof. Collect $200 (of money, that you have now saved).
Nobus are ubiquitous in major cities, and Chicago’s very own is in the West Loop, at the bottom of the (you guessed it) Nobu Hotel. It has an identical Japanese fusion menu to its brethren, and nothing is mindblowing. What is mindblowing is the bill—especially for just-fine food and an unpredictable dining experience that might have you surrounded by tables filled with sulking couples, MMA fighters on their phones, recent grads celebrating with their parents, and an ever-growing pile of dirty dishes the staff is too busy to clear. Instead of coming here for dinner, head to the elevators and go up to the much-more-fun rooftop bar.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Verdict: Yep. Kasama is one of the best restaurants in Chicago.
This small cafe-by-day, fine-dining-by-night spot in West Town has the only Filipino tasting menu in the city, and reservations for the $235 dinner are almost impossible to snag. Daytime is just as mobbed—the line for breakfast pastries forms before they even open at 9am. The droves are warranted when delicately laminated danishes are basically meditation in pastry form. And at night, each tasting-menu course is delicate without being too precious. Mushroom adobo is served alongside a frothy mussel emulsion. Consider it your solemn duty to come here. We don’t care how dramatic that sounds.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The Verdict: Obelix made our list of The 25 Best Restaurants Chicago, so, yes, we think it’s worth the hype.
The hype surrounding this River North spot has been of the slow-burn variety. It didn’t open to much fanfare in the summer of 2022, but has steadily become one of the most sought-after dinner reservations in town. On the surface, Obelix looks like a typical, white-tablecloth French restaurant. It’s not. Obelix walks the tightrope of feeling formal without being stuffy. And that same balance is present in the food, which is filled with a mixture of classics like escargot and playful, fusion-y things like a foie gras taco.
photo credit: Sandy Noto
The Verdict: The rumors are true, it’s worth the hype.
Google “Monteverde” and try to make a reservation for some time over the next month. Did you hear that? That was Resy laughing at you. This is the best Italian restaurant in Chicago, and the first place we try (and often fail) to make reservations when someone from the East Coast tells us they're visiting. The menu is full of hits, from cacio e pepe to the ragu alla Napoletana—a tomato-braised pork shank with three soppressata meatballs, two cacciatore sausages, and a pile of fusilli we want buried with us when we die.
The Verdict: Yes, if you can avoid social media spoilers—luckily Alinea is too old to be trending on TikTok.
Everyone knows Alinea. Since its 2005 opening it’s been on countless worldwide “Best” lists, featured in documentaries, and helped fuel the aughts’ obsession with liquid nitrogen and eating stuff that looked like other stuff. And despite what Hot Take Harry tells you, dinner here is still an incredible time. The almost $500 per person dinner at Alinea is a delicious experience (think fog machines and edible napkins) and there’s nothing quite like it. Accept no substitutions.
photo credit: Bavette's Bar & Boeuf
The Verdict: We’d like to be eating at Bavette’s right now.
This dark steakhouse (filled with plush leather booths and 1920s jazz music) is like hanging out in the windowless parlor of some old money mansion. Everything about the River North space seems designed to keep you there forever, which might explain why tables are never available—no one leaves. Some of our favorite dishes here (like the fried chicken, chocolate cream pie, and complimentary bread—yes it’s that good) aren’t even steak at all. And drinking Old Fashioneds in a room that makes you feel like a character in Clue is objectively fun.
The Verdict: This is a great restaurant that’s worth your time.
Rose Mary has been hyped up since before it even opened during summer 2021. We blame it on this large Croatian spot’s combination of being in the West Loop and having a Top Chef winner in the kitchen. It’s so hyped, in fact, that you’ll hear people claim that the food here isn’t even any good. That is untrue. The Croatian food is consistently delicious, and the service is always top-notch. The crni rizot is what the ocean would taste like if it made a wish to become risotto. There’s a plate of garlicky cevapi perfect for sharing, and incredible pastas too. Despite the busyness of this place, you’ll always be seated in a timely fashion, and have a relaxed dinner with clairvoyant servers who bring the check exactly when you’re ready to leave.
The Verdict: Not reinventing the wheel, but book a table and wear those cute new shoes that hurt your feet.
Any Chicago restaurant associated with the words “West Loop,” “Italian,” and “Boka Restaurant Group” is guaranteed to be hyped. This is the case with Alla Vita, an Italian BCR on Randolph. It’s designed to be a crowd-pleaser, buzzing with everyone from couples to large groups in town for some investment conference. It’s also pretty, decorated with hanging plants and an intriguing overhead installation that looks a little like fish gills. And while the menu isn’t going to blow your mind with creativity (it’s mainly pizza, pasta, and a handful of entrees) what’s on it is good. The pizza has a chewy wood-fired crust, and the silky cacio e pepe ricotta dumplings will have you waving a spoon in the air like a 2000s Yoplait commercial.
photo credit: Au Cheval
The Verdict: Don’t come here just for the burger.
You’re probably aware that the Au Cheval burger is good—the 673 people standing expectantly outside the all-day restaurant right now can’t be completely wrong. The question is just how good one burger can possibly be? And should you spend three hours in a line that has stretched outside and around the corner since 2012? You shouldn’t…unless you also order dishes like the duck heart hash, chilaquiles, and towering mille-feuille. It’s the rest of this diner’s menu (along with a very good burger) that make Au Cheval one place you’ll still be waiting for no matter what time of day you show up. The food is, and always has been, worth it.
