Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Chicago

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Chicago? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Roscoe's Tavern

4.9

4.9 (216)

$30 and under

American

Roscoe Village

About the restaurant

Welcome to Roscoe’s Tavern, Chicago’s leader in nightlife and entertainment. Guests must be 21+ and present valid ID for entry.

Top review

Megan

Dined 2 days ago

This place was AMAZING!!! My first ever drag brunch, the ladies were all beautiful and energetic. Shoutout the host Batty Davis for interacting with our table, a queen. Overall the food and service were perfect, I already want to come back

Crab King Cajun Boil & Sushi

4.8

4.8 (68)

$30 and under

Cajun

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

Crab King Cajun Boil & Bar is a new business of seafood in this community. Our mission is to provide the highest quality of seafood, sushi and give you the best dining experience. At our new Chicago location, we strive to make Crab King Cajun Boil & Sushi to be the best seafood restaurant in town.

Top review

Michelle

Dined on Apr 27, 2025

Excellent and attentive service paired with quick and timely orders. This will always be our first choice for a special dinner/seafood boil. Reservations strongly encouraged for prime time.

10pin Bowling Lounge

4.7

4.7 (422)

$31 to $50

American

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

10pin is a Chicago original located in the heart of River North, along the Chicago River. Next to the House of Blues, 10pin offers 20,000 square feet of 24 luxury bowling lanes, ping pong, pool table and table shuffleboard games that cater to all group sizes.

When reserving a table on OpenTable you are reserving the lane and table! The rates are $25/hour per person plus shoe rental. For information on booking an event or for groups of 13 or more, please call our event sales team at 312-644-0100.

Guests must be 21 beginning at 8pm. Dress code will be enforced, including pants at waist level. 10pin has the right to include any clothing deemed inappropriate. No outside food or drinks. Management has the right to refuse entry to anyone acting in a rude or disrespectful manner.

Top review

JohnVIP

Dined on Apr 25, 2025

Awesome experience! Great fun. Excellent service, food bowling.

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Experience

1 Hour Bowling Reservation - Pay When You Arrive!

Experience

Bowling & Unlimited Beer, Wine & Soda Bundle

Experience

Bowling & Unlimited Beer, Wine & Soda Bundle

Grapes & Grains

4.7

4.7 (42)

$31 to $50

Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service

West Loop

About the restaurant

GG, as it is affectionately referred to in the neighborhood, is a piano bar located in the heart of West Loop, featuring Chicago's top talent.

Exposed brick, vintage chandeliers, chesterfield couches, and intimate lighting pay sexy homage to Old Chicago. The main floor boasts 2,500 square feet of gorgeous lounge space complete with a baby grand piano and sabrage room providing the most lively of atmospheres. Guests can reserve a live music experience on select evenings or learn the nuances of whiskeys and wines at one of our monthly masterclass events.

Experience live music performances at GG Wednesday through Sunday. Be entertained on Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM, Fridays 7:00PM-1:30AM, Saturdays 7:00PM-2:30AM, and Sundays 6:00-9:00PM, with no minimums and no live music fee. First come first serve seating and standing room available after 9pm on Fridays & Saturdays.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Mar 1, 2025

didn’t eat there. music was great. service and crowd work were great. i’m gonna be coming back

Sanctuary

4.6

4.6 (15)

$31 to $50

Global, International

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

Sanctuary is a bold cocktail den and restaurant with unfettered conversations. This vibrant space in lush black and gold showcases the best of comfort fare across cuisines. Come in for the best lomo saltado, mezze platter, fish & chips, empanadas, charcuterie, pakoras, butter chicken, mac and cheese, aguachile, fried chicken, chow mein. Or for the wines and pisco/tequila/vodka artisan craft cocktails by Chicago's Let's Talk Womxn makers. Track the innovative programs with partners on our IG @sanctuary_2025. From the weekly Let Loose Retro Thursdays with Europe's DJ BesB. To cerebral and provocative conversations in keeping with the needs of our times. Apart from its own dishes, Sanctuary features dishes and drinks by Chicago's 130 Let’s Talk Womxn restaurateurs & entrepreneurs. Follow happenings @sanctuary_2025. Our sanctuary covenant is flavor, zero pretentiousness & principles.

Top review

Zarine

Dined on Apr 18, 2025

Wonderful experience. Great Indian / Latino food.

Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar

4.6

4.6 (2329)

$31 to $50

Sushi

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

Discover one of the best sushi experiences in Chicago at Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar, a vibrant River North Japanese restaurant. Home to Chicago’s first Five-Course Hand Roll Omakase and an exclusive 10-Course Chef’s Omakase, Union blends premium sushi, Robata-grilled meats, and bold Japanese flavors. Enhance your omakase with A5 Wagyu, Hokkaido Uni, and Caviar for a truly elevated experience. Enjoy lively izakaya vibes, premium sake flights, rare Japanese whiskey, and craft cocktails. Steps from Willis Tower, Millennium Park, and the Riverwalk, Union offers a dynamic fusion of East and West. Perfect for culinary adventurers, Union is a must-visit for omakase in Chicago and one of River North’s top sushi destinations.

Open for Lunch, Social Hour and Dinner everyday!

Top review

ChloeVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Sushi was delicious the lychee martini was delicious and our server was so kind

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Rooftop at Nobu Hotel

4.6

4.6 (892)

$50 and over

Cocktail Bar

West Loop

About the restaurant

Soak in the vibes of Chicago’s famous Restaurant Row and the views of the stunning city skyline at the Rooftop at Nobu Hotel. The Rooftop encourages walk-ins.

Top review

Shamim

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing service views and food and drinks! Jessica was our server and she was the best! So sweet and accommodating for a mom with her daughter. We are staying at the hotel and just needed a quick bite and she was very helpful and let us sit on the patio area that was supposed to be closed but she opened it for us so that we could enjoy a quieter area and sit on a couch versus a high stool which would have been hard for my young daughter. Thank you Jessica!

etta Bucktown

4.6

4.6 (21)

$50 and over

Contemporary Italian

Bucktown / Wicker Park

About the restaurant

At etta Bucktown, we’re proud to be a local favorite for neighborhood Italian dining. Known for our wood-fired dishes and relaxed, welcoming vibe, we’re open daily for lunch and dinner, plus we offer a lively brunch every Saturday and Sunday. Whether you're here for a casual meal or a celebratory gathering, Etta is where Bucktown comes to eat, drink, and connect.
To book parties of 9 or more, please visit our website at https://www.ettarestaurant.com/bucktown/about

Top review

Trinetta

Dined on Apr 19, 2025

I have no notes. It was a perfect late night dinner for my best friend and I. The waitress was highly knowledgeable and suggestive.

DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field

4.6

4.6 (45)

$31 to $50

American

Wrigleyville

About the restaurant

Welcome to DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field!

Adjacent to historic Wrigley Field, DraftKings Sportsbook is the premier destination for entertainment. Feel the energy as you follow the action on a custom-built 2,000-square-foot HD LED display, coupled with state-of-the-art 4-Zone Directional Sound. Enjoy views of every TV from one of more than 300 dedicated seats.

American cuisine meets modern innovation. Enjoy artisan burgers, pizzas, wings, shareable favorites, and more. Your perfect dining experience takes place at DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field with a full bar, specialty cocktails and local beer selections.

Celebrate together! Private booths and rooms can accommodate parties of all sizes. Whether you’re a group of 6 or 50, DraftKings Sportsbook is the perfect place for all occasions. Inquire today to start planning your perfect group experience. Contact us at dkreservations@levyrestaurants.com

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Mar 21, 2025

Fantastic experience!! Great time and the atmosphere is perfect for watching sports!

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Experience

MAIN FLOOR: First Row 4 Person Booth

Experience

MAIN FLOOR: Second Row 4 Person Booth

Experience

MAIN FLOOR: 4 Person Table

Lazy Bird

4.5

4.5 (22)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

West Loop

About the restaurant

Located in the cellar level of The Hoxton, Chicago hotel, Lazy Bird is a cocktail and music lounge in Chicago’s Fulton Market District. Known for its extensive signature cocktail program, luminary bartenders, live music, and low lighting, Lazy Bird hums with energy every evening, making it the perfect start, middle, or end to a night on the town.

Top review

James

Dined on Apr 18, 2025

Great experience. Make sure when you book your VIP you ask for the section you want.

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