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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 (7303)
$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
Janae
Dined 4 days ago
The Staff was absolutely amazing and attentive! They made my Husband and I feel very comfortable. The tasting menu was a wonderful new experience for my husband and I and worth every moment. Thank you to the wonderful staff at Boka for making my Husband's and I experience exceptional!
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
Janae
Dined 4 days ago
The Staff was absolutely amazing and attentive! They made my Husband and I feel very comfortable. The tasting menu was a wonderful new experience for my husband and I and worth every moment. Thank you to the wonderful staff at Boka for making my Husband's and I experience exceptional!
Sepia
4.8 (5427)
$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
Heather
Dined 6 days ago
Crudo was incredible and the balance of flavors on point! Thank you.
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
Heather
Dined 6 days ago
Crudo was incredible and the balance of flavors on point! Thank you.
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
4.9 (17791)
$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
OpenTable Diner
Dined 2 days ago
Always a great experience at Joes!
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
OpenTable Diner
Dined 2 days ago
Always a great experience at Joes!
The Gage
4.7 (12155)
$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
BarbaraVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Exceptional. Cozy and a perfect lunch upon our arrival into Chicago.
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
BarbaraVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Exceptional. Cozy and a perfect lunch upon our arrival into Chicago.
Le Colonial - Chicago
4.8 (8012)
$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
Silva
Dined 1 day ago
We had a great time! The food is always wonderful and ambiance great!
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
Silva
Dined 1 day ago
We had a great time! The food is always wonderful and ambiance great!
RL Restaurant
4.8 (7447)
$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
TomWVIP
Dined 5 days ago
The atmosphere is great and the food and service is wonderful
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
TomWVIP
Dined 5 days ago
The atmosphere is great and the food and service is wonderful
Shaw's Crab House & Oyster Bar - Chicago
4.8 (14464)
$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
DaveVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Outstanding experience, Marco, our waiter, and support staff were on top of everything!
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
DaveVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Outstanding experience, Marco, our waiter, and support staff were on top of everything!
Mon Ami Gabi
4.8 (8271)
$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
JoeVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Always a fabulous dine at Mon Ami Gabi! Friendly and attentive staff. Delicious food and great wine 🍷
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
JoeVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Always a fabulous dine at Mon Ami Gabi! Friendly and attentive staff. Delicious food and great wine 🍷
Shanghai Terrace
4.9 (2349)
$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
CleoVIP
Dined 4 days ago
Our duck dinner was amazing. In addition, we had the spicy beef potstickers and Szechuan green beans. Everything was delicious. For a special occasion, I’d definitely go back.
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
CleoVIP
Dined 4 days ago
Our duck dinner was amazing. In addition, we had the spicy beef potstickers and Szechuan green beans. Everything was delicious. For a special occasion, I’d definitely go back.
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