The Michelin Guide – Chicago, 2019

Bon Appetite – Chicago has one three-star Michelin-rated restaurant (Alinea), three two-star establishments, 18 one-star eateries, and hundreds of yummy joints throughout the city. I’m not in the business of reviewing restaurants, but here are the neighborhood places Robert Charles and I dine at again and again. 

Our newest favorite restaurant? Frunchroom, near Six Corners in the Portage Park neighborhood. We know and love owner Matt Saccaro, but we love his restaurant because of his trout salad. (Oh, and his Kale Salad ... and his cheeseburgers ... and his milkshakes made with Zarlengo’s gelato … and we haven’t even yet tried his pizza.)

Robert and I live in Edgewater and can walk easily to Andersonville and Uptown. Our neighborhood go-tos?

·       Edgewater Beach Café – located in the historic, pink Edgewater Beach Apartments building off of Lake Shore Drive; Owner Zung Dao works the front of the house; Chef Kim, Zung’s wife, is the wizard in the kitchen.

·       Andie’s – Mediterranean. I was introduced to Andie’s years ago by my beloved friend George Savino, back when this veteran of North Clark Street was a small storefront operation.

·       First Slice – Mary Ellen Diaz’s delicious café where the “first slice” of the profits helps to feed the homeless.

·       JB Deli – how can you not love a deli tucked inside a corner pharmacy?

·       Tank Noodle – Among the endless options in Little Vietnam, Tank Noodle has withstood the test of time.

·       Mia Francesca on Bryn Mawr – somehow the food tastes even better when you sit at the bar.

·       La Boulangerie – tres delicieux!

·       Calo – when you have a taste for everything.

·       Mas Alla del Sol – excellent food and Darcy, a server, lights up the room.

·       Income Tax – the hottest of the hot new places.

·       Tweet, M. Henry and Nookies – the triple play for breakfast.

·       Hot G Dogs – to hot dogs what the Billy Goat Tavern is to cheeseburgers.

·       Broadway Cellars – the epitome of a fine neighborhood restaurant.

·       Lao Sze Chaun – part of the empire of Tony Hu, the former ‘Mayor of Chinatown’ who had a little run-in with the feds over wire fraud and money laundering. (Hey, it’s Chicago.)

·        Lickity Split – the best corner ice cream shop

Other favorite haunts:

·       Caro Mio – delicious Italian fare and the best BYOB, in Ravenswood

·       Mario’s Table – yummy Italian food in the Gold Coast, with ten thousand memories of dinning here with Eugene Burger

·       Ann Sather’s – the best breakfast in Boystown … and those cinnamon rolls!

·       Yes, in Ravenswood, and Jin Thai, in Edgewater – there is no shortage of Thai options in Chicago; these are among the best.

·       Greek Islands – the quintessential Greek-American restaurant in, where else? Greek Town.

·       Bistro Campagne and Chez Moi – If you’re looking for French bistros, you’ll do no better than Bistro Campagne in Lincoln Square and Chez Moi has become our favorite destination for a New Year’s Eve-Eve get-together with Ross and Pamela Johnson.

As much as I enjoy dinning out, there’s no comparison to a home-cooked meal. For that, I turn to the Three Wise Men: (1) Robert Charles, though he says he more enjoys baking; (2) Jim Harisiades, a friend and neighbor here in Edgewater. We call Jim’s dining room our favorite Greek restaurant, and (3) Randy Zweiban, a true chef, the former owner of Province, and, yowzah, can Randy cook.