Oriole is an outstanding tasting-menu-only spot in the West Loop.

Smyth serves Virginia-inspired tasting menus in the West Loop, and it’s one of the best restaurants in Chicago.

Somerset is a restaurant in the Gold Coast serving excellent American food that you should be eating immediately.

Monteverde is an Italian restaurant in the West Loop. It sounds boring on paper, but there’s so much more to it than that. Excellent food all around.

Exceptional and impressive. That’s what comes to mind when describing the Korean-American food at Parachute.

Galit is a Middle Eastern restaurant in Lincoln Park with great food.

Bavette’s is an intimate steakhouse that’s great for date night or dinner with a few friends.

Giant is doing special things in Logan Square. It’s a great restaurant ideal for a date or any small group.

Joe’s is consistently one of the best steakhouses in town, and you shouldn’t even order steak. Stone crabs are where it’s at.

Wherewithall is a fantastic tasting-menu spot in Avondale with excellent food and a menu that changes daily.

Go to Fat Rice and order the Fat Rice. Food from Macau isn’t an everyday experience.

El Che Bar is a cool and trendy Argentinian restaurant in the West Loop.

Ruxbin may not get as much press as it used to, but it’s still excellent. A must hit for a quiet meal.

The second restaurant in Paul Kahan’s empire, and a Chicago classic.

Naoki is a fancy but expensive sushi restaurant inside the Belden Statford building in Lincoln Park.

Boeufhaus is a different kind of Chicago steakhouse. It's small, loud, cool, and still serves excellent steaks.