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A Chicago Food Crawl: Your Local Dining Guide

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by The OpenTable team
Updated March 10, 2019

You’re in Chicago for 48 hours, and you’re hungry. What’s the plan? We’ve rounded up the best spots to hit on your first trip to town: the breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and everything-in-between that will give you a definitive sampling of what the city has to offer. Let’s get to it.

Girl & the Goat
4.7 (15426)
$30 and under
Contemporary American
West Loop
Chef Stephanie Izard isn’t just the first female Top Chef winner—she’s also the lady behind one of Chicago’s most celebrated restaurants. Cuisine-wise, Girl and the Goat is probably best described as “global”—but labels don’t matter here. This is delicious, exciting food, the kind of stuff you’ll be thinking about the rest of the weekend.
Top review
Kay
Dined 1 day ago
Thank you for such a memorable evening celebrating a special birthday. The food is always incredible and the service was exceptional. We love this restaurant.
Chef Stephanie Izard isn’t just the first female Top Chef winner—she’s also the lady behind one of Chicago’s most celebrated restaurants. Cuisine-wise, Girl and the Goat is probably best described as “global”—but labels don’t matter here. This is delicious, exciting food, the kind of stuff you’ll be thinking about the rest of the weekend.
Top review
Kay
Dined 1 day ago
Thank you for such a memorable evening celebrating a special birthday. The food is always incredible and the service was exceptional. We love this restaurant.
avec West Loop
4.8 (1024)
$31 to $50
Mediterranean
West Loop
Chef Paul Kahan has some of the best restaurants in Chicago, and Avec is a shining example. You’re here for the chorizo-stuffed dates, the cheese-stuffed “deluxe” focaccia, and anything coming out of the wood-fired oven.
Top review
Hillary
Dined 5 days ago
So Good! The food and service were amazing as always.
Chef Paul Kahan has some of the best restaurants in Chicago, and Avec is a shining example. You’re here for the chorizo-stuffed dates, the cheese-stuffed “deluxe” focaccia, and anything coming out of the wood-fired oven.
Top review
Hillary
Dined 5 days ago
So Good! The food and service were amazing as always.
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse - Chicago
4.7 (9448)
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
Gold Coast / Streeterville
We’re in the Midwest, after all—and if you’re eating steak in this town, you want to be eating it at Gibson’s. They even have a USDA grade named for them: USDA Gibsons Prime Angus. This is a steakhouse in every sense of the word, and it’s glorious.
Top review
OpenTable Diner
Dined 2 days ago
Fantastic meal and service! Highly recommend for anyone looking for an authentic, top notch Chicago steakhouse experience!
We’re in the Midwest, after all—and if you’re eating steak in this town, you want to be eating it at Gibson’s. They even have a USDA grade named for them: USDA Gibsons Prime Angus. This is a steakhouse in every sense of the word, and it’s glorious.
Top review
OpenTable Diner
Dined 2 days ago
Fantastic meal and service! Highly recommend for anyone looking for an authentic, top notch Chicago steakhouse experience!
The Publican
4.6 (5973)
$31 to $50
American
West Loop
Since it opened in 2009, The Publican has been one of the most fun, boisterous spots in the city to eat pig, drink beer, and be merry. The food, to this day, is deliciously craveable, and the plentiful beer selection will ensure you’re drinking happily all night long.
Top review
Anna
Dined on Jul 18, 2025
Amazing as always! I could not think of a better place to celebrate my birthday. Staff made sure to make it a memorable and delicious one!
Since it opened in 2009, The Publican has been one of the most fun, boisterous spots in the city to eat pig, drink beer, and be merry. The food, to this day, is deliciously craveable, and the plentiful beer selection will ensure you’re drinking happily all night long.
Top review
Anna
Dined on Jul 18, 2025
Amazing as always! I could not think of a better place to celebrate my birthday. Staff made sure to make it a memorable and delicious one!
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