Chicago

If you have four hours and $265 to spare, the 18-course tasting menu that showcases Grant Achatz's stunning, cutting-edge food is a fantastic experience. — Fodor's

The brilliant Chicago restaurant that launched a thousand wood-burning ovens. — Bon Appétit

The savory menu is well crafted, too, with choices such as a pork chop with sausage and spaetzle and a tuna melt made with tuna poached in olive oil, wild capers, and Havarti cheese. — Fodor's

A former Arts and Crafts–style warming house for ice-skaters at Lincoln Park's North Pond, this gem in the woods fittingly champions an uncluttered culinary style. — Fodor's

Owners Rick and Deann Bayless are widely credited with bringing authentic Mexican regional cuisine to a wider audience. — Frommer's

A "special-occasion place", this seafood-focused South Loop New American impresses with Ryan McCaskey's "imaginative", "delicious" prix fixe meals presented "beautifully". — Zagat

Bravo's Top Chef Season 4 champion Stephanie Izard's highly anticipated restaurant lives up to the hype, serving sharable plates of seasonal Mediterranean fare. — Fodor's

Named for the French slang for Merlot, Blackbird has remained relevant for nearly two decades via stunning presentation of modern Midwestern fare. — Condé Nast Traveler

At some point during a recent meal at Schwa—between the pad thai and the arctic char roe, I believe—a chef came out of the kitchen with two small plates. — Time Out

Simple farmhouse fare. — On the Grid

It has all the trappings of an authentic East Coast seafood house, one brought up to modern day speed. — Gayot

There’s no question what you’ll get if you score a seat at Big Star: tacos. And we’re not talking about boring old Americanized tacos. — Frommer's

There are many small-plate Italian enotecas in town. But only one features the tagline “cheese, wine, and swine.” — Travel + Leisure

If you're looking for rustic French fare on the North Side, this is the place to come. — Fodor's

Le Bouchon is Le Sh*t. We don’t know how well that translates into French, so let’s make it clear that Le Bouchon is one of our favorite restaurants around. — The Infatuation

Chef-partner Chris Pandel is a big believer in seasonal, made-from-scratch ingredients, and that goes for the ketchup, vinegar, pickles and preserves. — Gayot

This addition to the West Loop, run by “Top Chef” winner Stephanie Izard, is not just a diner—it’s a full coffee bar, all-day breakfast eatery and fresh bakery. — Where

The Thompson Hotel is one of Chicago’s hottest hotel destinations, so it seems fitting to tap one of the city’s finest chefs to make its restaurant a culinary destination. — Fodor's

Come nightfall, well-heeled noshers join the nine-to-fivers, elevating the glitz factor to typical Chicago steakhouse caliber. — Gayot

There are some major indulgences on the menu... but a more approachable option would be the lobster, served as two split halves stuffed with rock shrimp, brioche and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. — Chicago Tribune