Everywhere I ate in Chicago
If you have been to Chicago you know the food scene is top tier. In college I frequently made the 4-hour Amtrak commute from Ann Arbor to Chicago for weekend visits to see my sister so I’ve dipped into the Chicago restaurant scene but my hit list is long so this visit I requested to try all new restaurants. We hit a mix of coffee, lunch, dinner and drinks spots and I would go back to all again. Here’s everywhere I ate (and drank) in Chicago!
Coffee / Matcha
Necessary & Sufficient Coffee - Cutest coffee stand in Logan Square. It’s very much grab 'n go - you order and pickup at a window. Coffee was delicious. I’d skip the matcha.
Sawada - Sawada in West Loop was a repeat offender because the matcha can’t be beat. It comes slightly sweetened which cuts any of the bitterness.
Lunch / Dinner
Avec - Mediterranean restaurant located in River North and West Loop. When we sat down for our 5:15pm res we were happily surprised the happy hour menu was still available till 5:30pm. We quickly ordered the chorizo-stuffed bacon wrapped dates and the potato and salted cod brandade off the happy hour menu. The dishes were about half off original price and same size portions you’d get off the dinner menu. You also must order the short rib hummus!
Mott St. - Chicago is a burger city and Mott St. is high up on my list. The burger comes with sweet potato shoestring fries, aioli, pickled jalapeños, dill pickles, miso butter onions, and american cheese. Make sure you go before 7pm or they won’t be serving the burger! I could also eat the stuffed cabbage every night of the week. It sounds not that special but it’s a bed of crispy sticky rice layered with kimchi, cabbage, and braised pork shoulder. You’ll be fighting over the last bite.
Andros Taverna - Greek restaurant in Logan Square. Went for brunch. We ordered the mezze collection for the table and I split the baked feta & eggs with my sister. You can choose which three dips you want in the mezze collection - my favorites were the spicy whipped feta and tzatziki.
Yokocho - Omakase & handroll bar in West Loop. Sister concept to Sushi Dokku. I’m a tuna lover but also thought the salmon nigiri was melt-in-your-mouth good. I’d recommend the spicy tuna handroll and any of the fatty tuna nigiri and the celery & smoke cocktail.
Pizzeria Portofino - Come for the views, stay for the food. Located right on the river this is the perfect place to come in the summer and fall and eat some hot honey pepperoni pizza and sip on an aperol spritz.
Club Lucky - Classic Italian restaurant in Bucktown and if you like martinis this is the place for you! They don’t skimp on the stuffed olives - you can take your pick from blue cheese, pimento, anchovies, or Gibson onions.
Drinks
Easy Does It - Wine/cocktail bar and patio in Logan Square.
Inkwell - Cocktail bar in West Loop. It’s a little hard to find on the street because all the windows are blacked out but just look for the Inkwell sign. I ordered a dirty martini!
Bangers & Lace - Bar in Wicker Park serving beer, wine, cocktails and bites. Great happy hour menu, lots of seating, pool, TVs - what else do you need?
Lottie’s - Had the best time at this pub in Bucktown. They played bangers you wanted to dance to all night long and sold Lottie’s-branded trucker hats so you know we all left with matching hats.
See you soon Chicago!!!
xo Anna Kate
Best weekend in Chicago! Dreaming about all the food (and drinks)!