Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Chicago

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems 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!

Rollapalooza

5.0

5 (378)

$30 and under

Sushi

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

COZY AND WARM RESTAURANT. FRESH AND DELICIOUS RESTAURANT. WE ARE NOT NO.1 RESTAURANT. HOWEVER WE DO OUR BEST TO SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS.

Top review

JoshVIP

Dined on Jun 27, 2025

Really nice quality food that is reasonably priced and the staff is EXTREMELY friendly and kind.

Tandoor Char House

5.0

5 (544)

$31 to $50

Indian

Lincoln Park

About the restaurant

Fine eating establishments know the essence of the restaurant business, it isn't merely enough to provide good food. The truly memorable dining experience depends upon several other ingredients from the top food selections to the most dedicated people serving you. We would like to lift your dining experience to a whole new level, a level of harmony which not only shows in our atmosphere, but in our philosophy to bring you an experience that is simply unparalleled in the restaurant industry.

We serve 100% Zabiha Halal meat, fresh guaranteed.

Top review

HendersonVIP

Dined on Jun 6, 2025

The food was delicious and the service was exceptional! We’ll be coming back

Discover more

Experience

Happetizer Special

Experience

Seasonal 4 Course Tasting Menu for Two

The Tasting Room at CMB

5.0

5 (18)

$30 and under

Breakfast

Logan Square

About the restaurant

We continue to expand our restaurant operations and are hosting our first pop-up ticketed dinner series starting this June. Check it out under "Experiences" and keep on the lookout for these dinner experiences monthly!

As for The Tasting Room's Sunday Brunch, Chef Mychael Bonner has brought his menu vision to light with many classic brunch dishes in addition to specialty Afro-Caribbean highlights. We pride ourselves on offering a range of comprehensive services, whether a weekend brunch at our location in Logan Square or a catered event. Our dedicated team is committed to providing exceptional experiences for you and your guests. We cannot wait to host you!

Top review

Janet

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

Went to an afro Caribbean farm to table dinner. From the cocktails to the three courses and the dessert which was rum cake. Each course had a special wine pairing included. Price was great and very reasonable. Chef Bonner and his assistants come around checking on your every need. Ambience beautiful and bathroom had sliding barn doors. Everything immaculate.

Dove's Luncheonette

4.9

4.9 (26)

$30 and under

Tex-Mex

Bucktown / Wicker Park

About the restaurant

Drawing inspiration from bygone diners, Dove’s Luncheonette is your local neighborhood diner featuring southern-inspired Mexican cuisine, alongside a tequila and mezcal-focused bar program, and vinyl records.

Top review

Natalia

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Delicious breakfast thank you! 🙏 great quick service!

Franco's Ristorante

4.9

4.9 (685)

$30 and under

Italian

Bridgeport

About the restaurant

If your preferred time is unavailable please call for possible openings.

Franco's Ristorante is the perfect combination of old world Italian classics and your new favorite pasta dishes. We've been around for over 27 years and have perfected our craft. Some of our most famous dishes include whipped ricotta tuffo, sausage and peppers, eggplant parmigiana and gnocchi.

Our great food and atmosphere helped us earn the honor of being named the Chicago Reader's 2016 "best place for a cheap date" and "best local restaurant."

You will be wowed when you step inside our bright, airy and modern restaurant. You can enjoy a drink at our new marble-topped bar or cozy up to tables with bright red-leather chairs and banquettes in the dining room. In the summer we are happy to offer outdoor seating that allows dogs.

Top review

John

Dined on Jun 18, 2025

Great service fresh food and a gem for the Bridgeport community!

Forno Rosso Pizzeria - Dunning

4.9

4.9 (389)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Dunning

About the restaurant

Forno Rosso Pizzeria in Chicago offers its guests top-notch service and Italian dishes that are hard to beat. Boasting a plentiful menu of salads, appetizers, sandwiches, countless pizza varieties and decadent desserts, Forno Rosso should have something on the menu for everyone.Popular menu items include traditional margherita pizza, the "locale" pizza with fresh mozzarella and locally made sausage, and fried calamari. Forno Rosso's menu also hosts children's items, inviting guests of all ages to enjoy traditional Italian dishes and fresh pizzas. The team at Forno Rosso Pizzeria prides itself on quality service and cultivating an experience the whole family will enjoy.

Top review

joseph

Dined 7 days ago

Food was fantastic and service great. Been there 5-6 times and always good. Last night was the best.

Grapes & Grains

4.9

4.9 (44)

$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

AnnetteVIP

Dined on Jun 27, 2025

Always a great time here! My favorite place to listen to music and sing along. I would ideally want the musicians to continue playing and not keep asking for requests, so the music keeps flowing. Viktorija is amazing. I almost always have her as my server.

Dell' Rooster

4.9

4.9 (26)

$30 and under

Latin American

West Town

About the restaurant

We are a passionate Latin American-owned business dedicated to nourishing people, fostering culture, building connections, and honoring our vibrant heritage. Our culinary creations are crafted with inspiration from indigenous and time-honored ingredients, resulting in a distinctive fusion of flavors that encapsulates our rich narrative. We take great pride in sharing our unique cuisine, as we believe it embodies a tale that deserves to be savored and celebrated together.

Top review

chuckVIP

Dined on Jun 27, 2025

Great local west side spot. Very friendly staff. Amazing empanadas paired with an ice cold beer. Very reasonable prices. Worth the drive - 4 miles away from Michigan Ave. we’ll be back!

Sushi Mura

4.8

4.8 (38)

$30 and under

Japanese

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

Sushi Mura is located in Chicago, Illinois, and serves Japanese cuisine in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Enjoy one of the restaurantÕs specials named after a regular customer and youÕll see how Sushi Mura cares for the diners. The menu for lunch and dinner at Sushi Mura contains a mixture of the traditional dishes youÕll find in many Japanese restaurants and many unusual ones as well. Some of these include sweet jalapeno, DannyÕs super awesome roll, white dragon roll, temptation roll, shumai, gyoza, seaweed salad, bi-bim-bop, katsu, ramen and yaki soba. Desserts like the tempura ice cream are a perfect ending.

Top review

Brian

Dined on Mar 23, 2025

We had a reservation for 9 - sat promptly and cordially. At 9:20 - before our first drinks or appetizers had arrived - we were informed we would have to order our last food round (we tend to order a couple of rolls at a time) as the kitchen was closing, we then proceeded to be rushed at every opportunity resulting in us being handed a check at 9:40 and out the door at 9:45. If your closing hours are posted at 10 then your kitchen stays open until 10 and you do not rush your customers. This was a birthday dinner and it was ruined by your unprofessional behavior. You lost a very dedicated customer (we pop in here for lunch and dinner at least a 10-12 times a year)

Kie-Gol-Lanee - Uptown

4.8

4.8 (273)

$30 and under

Mexican

Uptown

About the restaurant

Opened in 2016, this Uptown Mexican eatery continues to gather accolades, including a spot on The New York Times' recommendations "36 hours in Chicago" and four straight years of being a MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand restaurant right up to the present.

An immersive experience of Oaxacan cuisine featuring layudas (a.k.a. Mexican pizza), tamales oaxaqueños, enchiladas de mole, cornish hen and tacos de birria just to name a few. Their selection of margaritas made with homemade agua frescas with no artificial syrups and mimosas on the weekends is a must! Diners know to leave room too for the Oaxacan nicuatole (a flavored flan) and tres leches cake.

Kie-Gol-Lanee comes from the Zapotec dialect meaning "Piedra Antigua" (old stone). Its Spanish version "Quiegolani" is the name of a small village in Oaxaca, Mexico, where the owners and siblings are from. Maria and Reynel Mendoza run this operation with their spouses, Leo and Sandra, whose mission is to preserve their family’s original recipes.

Top review

jackieVIP

Dined on Jun 27, 2025

Excellent all around. Most delicious food. Can’t wait to return. Parking is easy which is an added bonus.

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