The Most Delicious Modern European in Chicago

Alinea

★★★★☆ 4.4 (2643) • $$$$

"Where do I even begin to describe my ultimate dining experience at Alinea? From the moment we stepped through the doors of this iconic three-star Michelin restaurant, it was clear that we were in for something truly extraordinary. Booking our reservation a month and a half in advance, we eagerly anticipated the arrival of our friends from Miami to join us for this special occasion. To make the evening even more memorable, I reached out to the Alinea group and asked if we could meet the culinary genius himself, Chef Grant Achatz, and have our menus signed. While there were no guarantees, we were overjoyed to find ourselves seated with a direct view into the kitchen, where Chef Achatz was tirelessly working his magic. Despite our star-struck awe, he graciously took a photo with me, signed our menus, and even autographed copies of the Alinea cookbook and Aviary Cocktail book that I purchased while we were there!From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed and our coats were taken care of. Then, we were led to the ultimate dining experience: a table set up just for us in the kitchen, where we could witness the culinary performance unfold before our eyes. Adding a wine package only enhanced the experience, with our knowledgeable and entertaining host, Kellen, and sommelier, Branson, guiding us through each course.Every dish we encountered was a masterpiece of creativity and execution. The presentation, the flavors, and the way we were meant to enjoy each dish were all meticulously planned. Each course was a journey in itself, with the ambiance changing seamlessly from one dish to the next. I would review each course we savored which were too many to recount, but that would ruin it for anyone thinking of experiencing Alinea because you must try this for yourself at least once in your lifetime! And the menus change as new items get introduced so why review each and every dish. There were so many courses that left you in awe and so I'm thankful we got the menu to remember what we ate! One standout moment was the French onion soup, where we felt like dancing as the soup was prepared right at our table on a communal-style copper fire stove, accompanied by the perfect soundtrack of 'Fire' by the Ohio Players. But the highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the Paint Dessert, a mesmerizing performance by Chef Grant Achatz himself, along with another talented chef. It was a breathtaking finale to an unforgettable evening that will forever be etched in our memories.The experience was worth every penny! Yes we spent a lot but we left Alinea feeling not only satisfied but also deeply fulfilled, and our hearts and bellies full of gratitude. Thank you, Alinea, for exceeding our every expectation and making our evening so special. Thank you for making a special reservation afterwards to your speakeasy, The Office. What a nice touch that Alinea provided us complimentary transportation to The Office. They even offered to comp the valet fees but we didn't use the valet. Words cannot express how much we enjoyed every moment, and we can't wait to return for another remarkable culinary adventure."

Sunset Pho Caffe

★★★★★ 4.7 (469) • $$

"Vietnamese and Yugoslavian fusion means spring rolls with cevapcici in them, an EXCELLENT combination. It doesn't mean that the classic pho isn't done right though, it's still hearty and meaty and loaded with everything you need. I will say the pho was heavy on black pepper and the noodles were a little fused BUT it's still a decent bowl of pho. I will say the real highlights are their non-pho dishes and their fusion and Yugoslavian dishes, I highly encourage you to branch out and explore the menu. I love cevapcici and it was so good in the spring roll!! The space is soo neat, it looks like the inside of a chapel, and the staff and service is EXCELLENT, owner offered us green plum brandy shots for St Patty's too hehe"

Table, Donkey and Stick

★★★★☆ 4.1 (505) • $$

"Came here for restaurant week and the food DEMANDS a five star rating, but... Some might think the quirky building and seating arrangements adds to the experience. But I'm not one of them. It was extremely cold out, so their heater was running, and when it was on, it was blasting us too warm, and when it was off, it was cold. Distracting to say the least. Not comfortable. The food was TOTALLY AMAZING though and the service was great. I'm just not a fan of the physical set up. Especially for the price one pays..."

Cafe Beograd

★★★★☆ 4.2 (257)

"Where should i begin...It's been 15 years ago when i stepped first time in Cafe Beograd and i am still coming back. Everything and i mean everything on the menu i did try and it's delicious. From cevapi, mix meat platter, beo burger, gourmet burger , sausage , stuffed burger, chicken to karadjordjeva, panini, pizza, crapes, cakes...Staff is always friendly, professional and knowledgeable. They will make your stay pleasant as possible.With few renovations that were done in the past, place is super cozy and has that European vibe all the way - great patio in the summer time.Can't believe i forgot to write this review earlier( thought i did ) but i am highly recommending this place to anyone that wants to try Serbian food.ZIVELI!!!"

Chicago Diplomat Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (175) • $$

"I was lucky enough to come with four people and have a feast. Unluckily, I was traveling alone when I was in Georgia back in 2018, and was never really able to eat in my favorite manner, which is to graze from a tableful of dishes at once. Chicago Diplomat gave me back what could have been. Because really, since I left Georgia, I haven't found that many restaurants that do it justice. This did.First and foremost, you gotta have the big, crazy-rich, unfinishable bread boat (adjeruli khachapuri). I would say that this one landed on a cheesier (rather than butterier) side and the cheese was stretchy like a pizza, not crumbly like a feta.I could have taken or left the beet salad - it seemed like it was just beets out of a can covered in a metric ton of cilantro - but their version of eggplant/walnut salad (also covered in a metric ton of cilantro but I think it worked better here) was really good, not dry like it can easily be.The real stars of the show were the two stews: lobio and chakapuli. The chakapuli was impossibly rich, stuffed with lamb meat, overgrown with tarragon, and this strange part-meat-part-fat-part-oil-part-soup texture that would have been perfect with dipping bread had a) it come with it and b) we been able to fit any more food in our stomachs. The lobio was bacon-heavy and tasted like it, but it was herby enough to not weigh you down. This I ate leftover with a roll of paratha, which worked very well.We finished the meal with honey cake and another pastry I can't remember the name of, neither of which I initially had any interest in because I'm not much of a bread heavy dessert person, and also, see above re: not being able to fit any more bread in. But some of us ordered it anyway and I ended up eating three slices of the honey cake because of the grainy, sprout-y heartiness and the sweetness of the layers of honey."

Coffee Slasticarna Drina

★★★★★ 4.9 (76) • $

"It's about time to receive our W2s. Are you happy with your potential tax returns, or are you getting ready to pay because you're happy to do so? Regardless what your situation will be, let's have some pocket money ready for "Coffee Slasticarna Drina," inside the strip mall on the corner of Lawrence and Campbell. Hubby and I had two (2) orders of Bosnian coffee, one (1) order of cheese pie (burek), and one (1) order of beef sausages (cevapi) for $20! We ate like royals. The gentleman in charge had a very soothing voice, and he was kind to provide some recommendations and introduce the most popular items. Everything was made to order, so wait was to be expected. Unless you would like to call ahead, I saw a few patrons coming in and out pretty quickly because they had already done so.Don't think about the "burek" as an average cheese pie you see in a coffeeshop or a pie shop specializing all-American style bakeries. They used the semi-sweet type of cheese and appeared a bit "crumbly" like egg white. The portion was quite generous; hubby and I shared the plate. On the other hand, "cevapi" was presented as a Balkan sausage sandwich, with freshly diced onion and sour cream on the side. Pieces of skinless beef sausages were embedded inside the warmed pits bread. It wasn't the easiest thing to eat, yet we managed to devour the entire hamburger just fine. Once again, this entree was also shareable. Everything that was sent to our stomaches was fantastic! They apparently had their regulars and were making themselves at home. They had a washroom all the way in the back of the kitchen. Parking should be effortless. A large strip-mall lot is available. It's also located within a walkable distance from the CTA Rockwell Brown Line station."

Cafe Dacha

★★★★★ 4.7 (78) • $$

"Eastern European cuisine has never been much better than from here. It includes plenty of Ukrainian specialties. Cafe Dacha is one of the best places in Highland Park for ethnic food. Good choices that are priced not too bad for the quality. The menu is kind of small but has a good variety of things. A charming atmosphere is inside but the patio is also cool. It specializes in Eastern European cuisine. The menu proudly has many Ukrainian options, including beer and food. It's only open for dinner. We came in and there was plenty of room. Beer list has lots of imports. It's about $8 for a bottle, but these are big ones. An Ukrainian beer they have is Lvivske 1715, in a bottle. This has notes of apricot, cereal, citrus, ginger, and rye grain. As for the food, we were limited in choices. We got the Vinegret. It's $13 for a big bowl. This basically is a salad made with beets, carrots, green onions, peas, pickles, and potatoes. Good stuff and the starches made it filling. The rest of the menu has meaty options.Good place for exploring some not so familiar cuisines. It has pretty okay prices for being a small place with good quality food. There's not many of the food items that aren't meat, but there's a few salads for vegetarians."

Social Inn

★★★★☆ 4.4 (80)

"I made reservations online to meet with a friend here for dinner. Once we checked in with the host, we were greeted and seated right away. Since I came here during the summer months, they also had outdoor seating but both times I visited, I opted to dine inside. I liked the nice and simple interiors of the place. After my first visit, I came back after a month because I wanted to try their other dishes.They have a good selection of cocktails, wines, and beers. For food, I've tried:FRESCA BARBA- fresh and deliciousSOCIAL BURGER- The meat was juicy and done wellACROSS THE BOARD- I wish there were more than 2 kinds of cheesesSLOW ROASTED LAMB- great flavors, super tender lamb, but it took quite a while for this dish to come. NAPOLEON CAKE- light and very enjoyable. This dessert also took a while to be served.Overall, I am glad that Social Inn opened in this Glenview neighborhood. I like the variety of dish options and so far, everything that I have tried has been pretty good. The place was neat, the bathrooms were clean, and the service was consistently pleasant. 'Til next time!"

Sandy's Bakery & Deli

★★★★☆ 4 (74) • $$$

"Best Serbian meats and bread! This is old world baking, cooking, and butchering. A must try local European deli."

Balkanika Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (64)

"We arrived at 1 for a buffet banquet. The sausage is king here. I couldn't decide which is my favorite. The thin, snake like one or the darker fat one that is more garlicky. Shashlick salad was so good and loaded with tomatoes. At 1 PM the lot was full and we parked easily across the street. It feels like there's always a party. We even got to meet the chef."

Balkan Taste

★★★★☆ 4.4 (55) • $$

"This place is darling, the food was truly delicious, the chicken had a really nice smoky flavor to it.The homemade bread was too good. Super friendly, highly recommend this spot."

Pavilion Restaurant-Northbrook

★★★★☆ 3.6 (66) • $$

"Impressive dinner at Pavilion! Honestly I didn't expect so much for this restaurant before I go, it's new in Northbrook area. Last Saturday I went there with my boyfriend, it's not a big restaurant but atmosphere is classy, small lounge looks nice too and serve variety of alcohol, they also have live music on specific days, its very nice to have dinner with live music, when we got there it was empty but right after one hour later, the whole restaurant was packed! It's a good place for late dinner during weekend too, since they open till 3am. Service was outstanding, our waitress is knowledgeable of the food and she was very nice! We ordered Lobster bisque for soup, it's a little too salty and didn't have too much lobster meat, but it's only 5 dollars, not bad to try. For main course I ordered sea bass and my boyfriend had salmon, didn't overcook my sea bass and it was a big portion. Dinner better than what I expected, we also order chocolate martini too, so overall I like this restaurant. Menu price is fair, not too expensive, food was standard, European style. There is another restaurant called Petergolf right next to Pavilion, it's a banquet hall and I think they do serve dinner too. Worth for 4 stars!"

Toscana Grill

★★★★☆ 4.2 (45) • $

"Wow! My friends have talked this restaurant up so much that I had to go check it out for myself. Nestled in a small plaza a couple of blocks away from Foster and Lincoln, this restaurant is accessible by both CTA and car. Bonus points, there's free parking!! The restaurant itself is very clean and organized. You can tell that the owners take very great pride in keeping it clean and putting their heart into the business. We were greeted by a very nice lady who explained to us the menu, in there end I ordered a pita made from cheese and the chicken sandwich (#5). We also ordered drinks and then selected a seat. It was a super snowy day so there wasn't much foot traffic but it was also still early for lunch. Our food didn't take long to arrive and when it did, all of a sudden the lunch time traffic began! There were so many people in and out- some stayed and kept their social distance but most took out. The lady at the cashier which I assume is the owner always greeted everyone with so much zeal and respect, you can tell that they really appreciate their customers and many of them appear to be regulars. Our food was so good and so warm- my husband is such a stickler for cold food and will literally complain if the food is not hot hot so the fact that the pita was steaming hot was a major win for Him. I'm not crazy about hot hot food so I waited until it cooled down but I loved that the pita wasn't overly salty, I loved that it was flaky and that the filling was "fluffy" in the sense that there was an equal ratio of eggs and cheese inside that filled up the inside. I love love love a good thick pita that has a lot of filling and this pita definitely had that. There is nothing worse than getting a pita that is flaky on the outside but has very little filling- that was not the case with Toscana!! As for the chicken sandwich- well, it's amazing. I now understand why my friends praise Toscana so much for their chicken sandwich- the bread of their sandwich was perfectly toasted, the chicken was really well cooked and seasoned and the toppings only added more flavor to the entire sandwich. The owner was also attentive and stopped by to ask if we needed anything- you don't find hospitality like that everywhere and so I was really appreciative of her kindness. I can't wait to go back and try more food! Highly recommend this restaurant if you are in the Lincoln Square area or looking to try traditional Bosnian Herzegovinian cuisine!"

Milano's Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (29) • $

"Neighborhood bar. Plenty of Regulars. Divey bar booze prices. Excellent simple basic food. Superbly clean. Open till 2 am on a Sunday AND there are many humans having fun! Monika says, ALL Polish Women make good food. Therefore, the plump housemade PIEROGIS are rightfully & befittingly delicious! The MEAT. My first lightly pickled CABBAGE & MUSHROOM, like a sauerkraut. I'm drooling! I don't mind the $1 add-in for Pan Fry as I prefer it. Plus, 8 pcs is a hearty portion.A Regular Patron said, there is a little something something in the CHICKEN WINGS here. Did you get it? Did you like it? I look forward to it.Just like in Europe, FOOD MENU highly depends on availability.Say HELLO to the beautiful & fabulous MONIKA! The cook. The Bartender. The Barista. Your Girl. ;-)"