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Your favorite top tier Chicago restaurants

post #1 of 21
4/22/11 at 1:33pm
Thread Starter 
So a couple of friends have asked me, since I eat out so much, to make my list of must go to places at various tiers. They asked me (I don't know why,) to talk about the recently Michelin starred places. I'm interested to see what some of you think. Sometimes I think my standards and opinions are a little weird so I'm curious. For example, what do you think of Ria? I've been and I quite like it. At this point, I prefer it to Charlie Trotters. And I'd also probably go to Avenues before Trotters. I also think that there's a huge difference between the 1 stars. On one end you have Tru, Everest, Spiaggia, GE and on another, Longman & Eagle, Blackbird, Topo etc. I think distinctions like this can be important, as arbitrary as lists can be, because these places cost a hell of a lot of money. Even in my fattest times financially I actually get rather offended and feel very stupid for spending a lot of money on crappy food, hence my interest in places that I feel offer superior food to some of the places Michelin picked. Like Les Nomades, Avec, and in some cases, The Bristol.
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post #2 of 21
4/22/11 at 2:31pm
Les Nomades is up there for sure, but nobody would consider that a value. The Bristol is my favorite restaurant in Chicago right now. I'm in there everytime I get a paycheck and I leave with just enough cash to pay the parking ticket I inevitably get b/c they have no parking around whatsoever. Ria is very nice. I actually like Elate too.
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post #3 of 21
4/22/11 at 3:37pm
So, here is the list for folks: 3 stars: Alinea, L2O 2 stars: Avenues, Charlie Trotter's, Ria 1 star: Blackbird, Boka, Bonsoirée, Crofton on Wells, Everest, graham elliot, Longman & Eagle, NAHA, NoMI, Schwa, Seasons, Sepia, Sixteen, Spiaggia, Takashi, Topolobampo, Tru, Vie. Having eaten at all of the two and three star places except Rio, and many of the 1 star, I would have to say . . . Alinea is the best restaurant in the United States. I have eaten at many of the other contenders and my first meal at Alinea was the single best meal I have ever had, while the second meal that I had there was very, very good (top five). Hopefully it will maintain its focus and creativity as Achatz starts to branch out. Charlie Trotters is the best of the two star blaces. The problem is that in a city with so much space age stuff (Alinea, Moto, etc.), it can be hard to relax and enjoy the high-level execution that CT puts out. If it was in NYC, it would have four stars from the times and three michelin stars. Schwa is very, very underrated. Michelin kills them because of the service/ambiance thing. But, if you can get past it (and I actually enjoy it), it is, dollar for dollar, the best meal in Chicago hands down. This makes me miss Chicago.
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post #4 of 21
4/22/11 at 4:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nmprisons View Post
So, here is the list for folks:

3 stars: Alinea, L2O
2 stars: Avenues, Charlie Trotter's, Ria
1 star: Blackbird, Boka, Bonsoirée, Crofton on Wells, Everest, graham elliot, Longman & Eagle, NAHA, NoMI, Schwa, Seasons, Sepia, Sixteen, Spiaggia, Takashi, Topolobampo, Tru, Vie.

Having eaten at all of the two and three star places except Rio, and many of the 1 star, I would have to say . . .

Alinea is the best restaurant in the United States. I have eaten at many of the other contenders and my first meal at Alinea was the single best meal I have ever had, while the second meal that I had there was very, very good (top five). Hopefully it will maintain its focus and creativity as Achatz starts to branch out.

Charlie Trotters is the best of the two star blaces. The problem is that in a city with so much space age stuff (Alinea, Moto, etc.), it can be hard to relax and enjoy the high-level execution that CT puts out. If it was in NYC, it would have four stars from the times and three michelin stars.

Schwa is very, very underrated. Michelin kills them because of the service/ambiance thing. But, if you can get past it (and I actually enjoy it), it is, dollar for dollar, the best meal in Chicago hands down.

This makes me miss Chicago.

Yes, I think Schwa is in a league with my favorite restaurants.

RE: Les Nomades isn't a great value but it's a place that I'd rank above quite a few places on the 1 star list.
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post #5 of 21
4/22/11 at 4:45pm
No love for Frontera Grill yet?
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post #6 of 21
4/22/11 at 4:49pm
trying to make it to Chicago for a day or two in July, I want to try something new. Not the biggest Chicago fan after several times there over the past 10 years, but I'll go where the food is.
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post #7 of 21
4/22/11 at 4:52pm
One of my favorite things in this world to do is dinner at Schwa and then walk up to Hot Chocolate, sit at the bar and drink and eat dessert. I agree with Les Nomades, strange that it was left off. And Moto, which is wildly overpriced when talking solely about taste, is still significantly more enjoyable than, say, Longman & Eagle. Anyone eaten at L20 recently?
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post #8 of 21
4/22/11 at 4:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JPYPSU07 View Post
No love for Frontera Grill yet?

Topolobampo got a star (same kitchen), which it deserved. Frontera is very enjoyable but not quite there, imho.
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post #9 of 21
4/22/11 at 5:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by impolyt_one View Post
trying to make it to Chicago for a day or two in July, I want to try something new. Not the biggest Chicago fan after several times there over the past 10 years, but I'll go where the food is.

No, I'd come for a week with a generous budget. Fine dining here to be very honest, is quite amazing. There's quite a few places that you really should be trying.
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post #10 of 21
4/22/11 at 5:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nmprisons View Post
One of my favorite things in this world to do is dinner at Schwa and then walk up to Hot Chocolate, sit at the bar and drink and eat dessert.

I agree with Les Nomades, strange that it was left off. And Moto, which is wildly overpriced when talking solely about taste, is still significantly more enjoyable than, say, Longman & Eagle.

Anyone eaten at L20 recently?

Hot Chocolate has nice deserts. Rather mediocre food I'm told, but I went recently and liked the deserts, which isn't normal for me.
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post #11 of 21
4/22/11 at 5:29pm
I tried going to Hot Chocolate one night for dessert after eating at Branch 27, but the bastards had closed due to the blizzard.
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post #12 of 21
4/22/11 at 5:31pm
Oh I have to add Boka to the mix as well. One of the best meals of my life.
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post #13 of 21
4/22/11 at 5:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SField View Post
Hot Chocolate has nice deserts. Rather mediocre food I'm told, but I went recently and liked the deserts, which isn't normal for me.

The savories are hit or miss (though they have improved dramatically in recent years), but the desserts are my favorite on this planet. I use to live on Ashland and Division and would eat there 1-3 times a week (brunch and dinner). Mindy does spectacular things with citrus.
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post #14 of 21
4/22/11 at 5:37pm
How sad is it that I'm in Chicago every other month (including today) and never went to any of the places mentioned in the thread. Not one! I need better Chicago friends... (PM your applications)
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post #15 of 21
4/22/11 at 5:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SField View Post
No, I'd come for a week with a generous budget. Fine dining here to be very honest, is quite amazing. There's quite a few places that you really should be trying.

This. Last August I came for five nights:

Dinners: Alinea - Hot Chocolate - Moto - Schwa/Hot Chocolate - L20

Lunch/Brunch: Blackbird - Kuma's Corner - Publican - Hot Chocolate

[You see my bias, clearly]

Moto was a total waste of time and money, but otherwise I really enjoyed my meals.
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