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Restaurant list

Chicago's Most Iconic Restaurants

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by The OpenTable team
Updated December 15, 2023
Seasons change, trends come and go, but these restaurants have withstood the test of time—and have become integral parts of the Chicago dining scene. Here are Chicago’s OpenTable Classics: the places that continue to excel after 10+ years. There’s a reason they’re still around: they keep giving us a reason to come back.
Boka
4.8 (7367)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Lincoln Park
Boka is the flagship restaurant of the Chicago empire Boka Restaurant Group, the place that launched no less than a dining revolution. The contemporary-American menu still feels contemporary—we love the vegetable-heavy dishes in particular—and the space is both upscale and cool. The excellent service doesn’t hurt, either.
Top review
RoxanneVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Decent food and excellent service. AC on the cold side.
Boka is the flagship restaurant of the Chicago empire Boka Restaurant Group, the place that launched no less than a dining revolution. The contemporary-American menu still feels contemporary—we love the vegetable-heavy dishes in particular—and the space is both upscale and cool. The excellent service doesn’t hurt, either.
Top review
RoxanneVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Decent food and excellent service. AC on the cold side.
Sepia
4.8 (5494)
$50 and over
Contemporary American
West Loop
Upon walking into Sepia, it’s clear that this is a special restaurant; the exposed-brick walls and crystal-dripping chandeliers make this one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city. The food is just as wonderful as the ambiance, with a modern American menu that incorporates touches of Southeast Asian, Korean, and Mediterranean cuisines. It’s no wonder Michelle Obama called it one of her favorite restaurants.
Top review
Alexander
Dined 6 days ago
Excellent food, excellent service. Definitely would go back again
Upon walking into Sepia, it’s clear that this is a special restaurant; the exposed-brick walls and crystal-dripping chandeliers make this one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city. The food is just as wonderful as the ambiance, with a modern American menu that incorporates touches of Southeast Asian, Korean, and Mediterranean cuisines. It’s no wonder Michelle Obama called it one of her favorite restaurants.
Top review
Alexander
Dined 6 days ago
Excellent food, excellent service. Definitely would go back again
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
4.9 (17989)
$50 and over
Seafood
River North (Chicago)
Joe’s Stone Crab is a Miami institution, and when it opened in Chicago, it became an instant institution of its own. You’re here, of course, for stone crab, platters of it that you’ll crack open and devour—but don’t sleep on the steaks, too, which are some of the best in the city.
Top review
Amy
Dined 1 day ago
Can always count on excellent food and service! A frequent stop when visiting Chicago.
Joe’s Stone Crab is a Miami institution, and when it opened in Chicago, it became an instant institution of its own. You’re here, of course, for stone crab, platters of it that you’ll crack open and devour—but don’t sleep on the steaks, too, which are some of the best in the city.
Top review
Amy
Dined 1 day ago
Can always count on excellent food and service! A frequent stop when visiting Chicago.
The Gage
4.7 (12331)
$30 and under
American
Downtown / Loop
The menu at The Gage, a handsome, elegant gastropub in Millennium Park, spans the globe, with dishes like crispy harissa drumsticks, poutine, Thai coconut curry, and a perfect rendition of fish and chips. And if you’re game for game, The Gage has some of the city’s best examples of it, with an excellent bison tartare, venison burger, and roasted New Zealand rack of elk.
Top review
AndiVIP
Dined 1 day ago
I have been to The Gage a number of times. Always enjoy the food, the service and the staff. Thank you for a lovely lunch with my out-of-town friends today.
The menu at The Gage, a handsome, elegant gastropub in Millennium Park, spans the globe, with dishes like crispy harissa drumsticks, poutine, Thai coconut curry, and a perfect rendition of fish and chips. And if you’re game for game, The Gage has some of the city’s best examples of it, with an excellent bison tartare, venison burger, and roasted New Zealand rack of elk.
Top review
AndiVIP
Dined 1 day ago
I have been to The Gage a number of times. Always enjoy the food, the service and the staff. Thank you for a lovely lunch with my out-of-town friends today.
Le Colonial - Chicago
4.8 (8140)
$50 and over
Vietnamese
Gold Coast / Streeterville
For a quiet, lovely, and delicious dinner, head to Le Colonial, a French-Vietnamese restaurant in Gold Coast that’s been serving top-notch dishes like spring rolls, banana-leaf-steamed trout, and lemongrass chicken since 1996. The service is friendly and attentive—and if you’d like, they’re more than happy to help you navigate the expansive menu.
Top review
DavidVIP
Dined 3 days ago
One of our all time faves- always lovely and delicious! The best cocktails and curry...and so much more!
For a quiet, lovely, and delicious dinner, head to Le Colonial, a French-Vietnamese restaurant in Gold Coast that’s been serving top-notch dishes like spring rolls, banana-leaf-steamed trout, and lemongrass chicken since 1996. The service is friendly and attentive—and if you’d like, they’re more than happy to help you navigate the expansive menu.
Top review
DavidVIP
Dined 3 days ago
One of our all time faves- always lovely and delicious! The best cocktails and curry...and so much more!
RL Restaurant
4.8 (7629)
$31 to $50
American
Gold Coast / Streeterville
Right next to the world’s largest Polo store you’ll find RL Restaurant, Ralph Lauren’s first foray into the dining sphere. You’re here for American classics like shrimp cocktail, pigs in a blanket, dover sole, and crab cakes, all served in a handsome room that is both clubby and chic.
Top review
RachelVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Fabulous food! Incredible location- wonderful service !
Right next to the world’s largest Polo store you’ll find RL Restaurant, Ralph Lauren’s first foray into the dining sphere. You’re here for American classics like shrimp cocktail, pigs in a blanket, dover sole, and crab cakes, all served in a handsome room that is both clubby and chic.
Top review
RachelVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Fabulous food! Incredible location- wonderful service !
Shaw's Crab House & Oyster Bar - Chicago
4.8 (14579)
$50 and over
Seafood
River North (Chicago)
There are few better places to dine on gorgeous seafood than Shaw’s Crab House, a Chicago institution in River North. Choose between the 1940s-style dining room or the more-casual Oyster Bar, and get to work; we particularly recommend the stone crab claws, the chilled shellfish platters, and whatever oysters are on the menu that day.
Top review
Suzanne
Dined 5 days ago
Delicious meal, beautiful room, wonderful service!
There are few better places to dine on gorgeous seafood than Shaw’s Crab House, a Chicago institution in River North. Choose between the 1940s-style dining room or the more-casual Oyster Bar, and get to work; we particularly recommend the stone crab claws, the chilled shellfish platters, and whatever oysters are on the menu that day.
Top review
Suzanne
Dined 5 days ago
Delicious meal, beautiful room, wonderful service!
Mon Ami Gabi
4.9 (8412)
$30 and under
French
Lincoln Park
Mon Ami Gabi has been serving French bistro classics—think escargots, chicken-liver mousse, steak au poivre, and trout almondine—for twenty years. The plant-filled space is also a lovely place to spend a lunch or dinner, with tiled floors, mirror-lined walls, and tons of natural light.
Top review
Jamie
Dined 3 days ago
Amazing overall!!! A big thank you to Lily our server who made the experience even more pleasant.
Mon Ami Gabi has been serving French bistro classics—think escargots, chicken-liver mousse, steak au poivre, and trout almondine—for twenty years. The plant-filled space is also a lovely place to spend a lunch or dinner, with tiled floors, mirror-lined walls, and tons of natural light.
Top review
Jamie
Dined 3 days ago
Amazing overall!!! A big thank you to Lily our server who made the experience even more pleasant.
Shanghai Terrace
4.8 (2384)
$31 to $50
Chinese
Gold Coast / Streeterville
On the seventh floor of the Peninsula Hotel you’ll find Shanghai Terrace, a gorgeous jewel box of a restaurant serving upscale Cantonese food. The dim sum in particular is not to be missed—especially the pork buns and peekytoe-crab dumplings—and the views are not to be missed.
Top review
AnaVIP
Dined 4 days ago
Delicious food! The staff goes above and beyond. The view and atmosphere is great.
On the seventh floor of the Peninsula Hotel you’ll find Shanghai Terrace, a gorgeous jewel box of a restaurant serving upscale Cantonese food. The dim sum in particular is not to be missed—especially the pork buns and peekytoe-crab dumplings—and the views are not to be missed.
Top review
AnaVIP
Dined 4 days ago
Delicious food! The staff goes above and beyond. The view and atmosphere is great.
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