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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
4.8 (15190)
$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
Erin
Dined 3 days ago
Easy to book, kind staff, incredible food. Each dish was busting with flavors. The salmon poke was our favorite.
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
Erin
Dined 3 days ago
Easy to book, kind staff, incredible food. Each dish was busting with flavors. The salmon poke was our favorite.
avec West Loop
4.8 (964)
$30 and under
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
Lisa
Dined 5 days ago
Thank you so much for the perfect birthday brunch and dessert! We had the best time ☺️
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
Lisa
Dined 5 days ago
Thank you so much for the perfect birthday brunch and dessert! We had the best time ☺️
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse - Chicago
4.8 (9232)
$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
KenVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Incredible experience. Would recommend Gibsons to anyone
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
KenVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Incredible experience. Would recommend Gibsons to anyone
The Publican
4.6 (5939)
$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
Molly
Dined 2 days ago
Great dinner! We loved everything on the menu! The beet salad was perfect! And do not miss the bread!
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
Molly
Dined 2 days ago
Great dinner! We loved everything on the menu! The beet salad was perfect! And do not miss the bread!
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