50 Best American Restaurants in Chicago

“The food sounded fancy and tasted SO good! Our server, Andrew, came up with the most delicious drinks! Superb service! We’ll be back!!“

“Esme is truly an experience to have. We did the menu and the wine pairing and it was amazing. From the presentation to the food was unbelievable and will definitely do it again as it changes quarterly“

“By far the best 🍔 I’ve ever had! The fusion of flavors 🤯“

“We went last night for the first time… Great menu options, food was delicious, portions were perfect, staff was really nice. I had the Grilled Salmon, he had the Braised Pork Shoulder…definitely recommend both.“

“Amazing food here! Sticky bun with cream cheese frosting? And cheese curds fried on duck fat?!? Hell yes!“

“Went with my daughter and her bestie for brunch.. cute place, my food was really good(avocado toast) and they enjoyed their food and the endless mimosas.. friendly staff,relaxed atmosphere , overall pleasant experience for us😊“

“We stopped in today on a tip and what a delicious treat! Highly recommend!“

“In August, my friend and I stayed in Chicago for a few days. One of our acquaintances recommended visiting this restaurant. It's an amazing place! Tender meat, flavorful wine, fresh vegetables, and outstanding service.
If you're ever in Chicago, make sure to visit this restaurant.“

“This place has a cool, hip vibe and it’s fun to eat at the communal tables. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Great variety of beer and creative craft cocktails. Food is beautifully plated and delicious - make sure to try the potatoes, baby gem salad and hanger steak.“

“What a great experience! All four of us enjoyed everything we ordered. The food was delicious and fresh and the service was friendly. We are going putting Blue Door on our list for when we are in Chicago next.“

“Great food and ambience! Can’t wait to come back! 👍“

“Amazing, a perfect evening.“

“Fabulous as always A Chicago go to for me“

“Great place! The farmers market was a bonus! Enjoyed the exhibits , Calder was an inspiration in my youth! Lunch was superb! To bad we live in Virginia Beach or I would be a regular!“

“We’re huge fans of The Bear, which steered us here on our Chicago trip - so glad we found this place! We loved the mushroom adobo and longnanisa breakfast sandwich! The mango tarts were amazing, as were our lattes. We left with an apple hand pie to eat the following morning, which was still had perfectly crispy pastry. Definitely worth the hour wait to get in.“

“Great variety and unique flavors. Great vibe.“

“Many of the most beautiful meals of my life have been at Cellar Door. Their food, the atmosphere at the restaurant, and the care put into the menu and wine selection create a magical dining experience. We ate there this week for a special occasion and loved the steak, radishes, asparagus, and a lovely tortellini with subtle herb flavors. The bread and house-made pickles are a must-order. Perfect spot for a special occasion, dinner with friends, or meal with a book at the bar.“

“Jacob was an amazing server. We loved the food (Thai shrimp and charcuterie) and drinks (Autumnal Shift and Karma Chameleon) We will definitely return for another Karma Chameleon.“

“soy de puerto rico es la primera vez que los visito y fue la mejor experiencia gastronómica de todo mi viaje en este espectacular restaurante, El gerente MIGUEL excelenteeeee el mejorrrrrr gerente, servicio de excelencia 100%, el trato fue increible ademas de Luis que fue sin duda alguna mas que excelente tambien. En fin todos muy amables y la comida omg ! divina !!!!!!!“

“The food was great. The wait staff was courteous and professional.“

“The best food !!!Thank you guy.“

“Great happy hour daily 5-6pm The burgers are so good !! Always fun“

“Wonderful food, really would suggest adding the beverage package to the experience. If you haven’t been to the after bar that’s also a good addition to the experience. Really enjoyed the complexity of the flavors, creativity of the dishes and plating, if you’ve not experienced a Michelin star restaurant yet, definitely give ever a try. 10 courses and they do fill you up.“

“Mind blowing food, minute attention to service, friendly, warm staff, a calm, happy kitchen. The wines were outstanding and perfectly paired. Nothing short of perfection. This was the best dining experience I’ve ever had. Do not miss it. My only question is, why doesn’t Oriole have a third star?“

“Atelier in Lincoln Square is a gem. Opted for the 5-course tasting menu on a weeknight—every dish was a creative hit, especially the Thai peanut rutabaga noodles and carrot gnocchi. The intimate setting felt like dining in a friend's cozy kitchen. Service was warm and knowledgeable, making the experience even better. Spent around $150 with a glass of wine. Can't wait to return for the full 12-course menu.“

“Gilt Bar "gets it". A foodies playground. Top notch flavor and beautiful decor throughout. The Ron Zacapa 23 Rum is 🤌🏾 Oh, and don't forget to take a few pics in the photo booth downstairs 📸“

“Enjoyed the Christmas pop-up, very festive and the food is fantastic!“

“Absolutely loved this place. My wife and I try to find local places, when possible. The service was fantastic, and the severs were so nice and enjoyable to talk with as well. The food was fantastic. We had breakfast. Great value for the money! My omelette had tons of bacon, sausage, and ham. My wife had pancakes and eggs. Huge bonus, they had amazing coffee! Dark Matter brand.“

“Food is meant to be enjoyed but food can also be an experience and I have never been anywhere that did this quite as well as Schwa. Every dish was both beautiful and delicious and you could see the intentionality behind every decision. I particularly loved both the wagyu and the quail which were probably the best meats I’ve ever had.

As far the experience itself, I can acknowledge it’s not for everyone but it was certainly for me. The music is loud but not overwhelming and I felt like they were playing one of my playlists. Really I just had a lot of fun dining here. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday experience and hopefully I can come back for another special occasion soon.“

“Amazing food. Great atmosphere. What more can be said?“

“Stopped by for a brunch date with my husband. We had bottomless mimosas which was a great option. The breakfast nachos and churro French toast were both very good. The views were beautiful and you can’t heat that. Service was a tad slow but overall a good experience and would come back!“

“I went for a friends graduation brunch, and it was definitely a hopping spot in the city, and I can see the appeal for the rooftop views alone, but I think it’s a bit overpriced for what you’re getting in my opinion. I had the biscuits and gravy ($25) which was fine but also strange in that it tasted more like a chowder than gravy. I also got the chocolate chip cookies which were and came in an order of 3 for $12. As I said, a bit overpriced for cookies, but actually felt worth it for their size and deliciousness. Of course, part of why you’re coming here is for the views and this place did not disappoint! Despite it being a very hot day outside, there was a good crowd out there especially because there’s a bar on the patio as well. And even though it was very busy throughout the entire time there, my party and I had fairly consistent service, although I did have my drink order forgotten, but the server ended up comping me for it, which made up for it.“

“Girl & the Goat completely exceeded my expectations! very good food“

“Chicken is very delicious“

“my best friend and I just had the BEST experience at the whale! Our waitress taylor was incredible and the manager (so sorry but we never got his name because he was just being so nice to us) was incredible as well. We will definitely return with friends and recommend anyone to try it out! classy, but not snobby, cool decor, warm kind and accommodating staff, and great food and cocktails are just the cherry on top! try the carrot cake after your meal :) Thank you again to taylor and the manager again <3“

“Excellent customer service. Food was delicious and the prices weren’t bad at all. Highly recommend!“

“Beautiful food. Always a good experience“

“I love this place and I love Giant. The crust is great, good texture and flavorful, and the cheese they use is top notch. Pepperonis were also high quality, if there’s a problem it lies with the sauce. There's hardly any, not even close to enough on either their tavern or NY style. Order the NY style with extra sauce. The tavern is so thin that there’s barely any room for sauce, if you care. Still solid tavern.“

“Cozy atmosphere and great food.“

“My bf took me here to celebrate my golden bday. The food was amazing, the drinks were tasteful, and our server was kinda. HOWEVER THE MANAGER tainted my night. Our reservation was for 6:30, we arrived at 6:33 and were told we had to wait to seated bc the table wasn't ready until after 6:45. The server regularly checked on us and made sure we were set. By the time we were heading out my bf at the time PROPOSED! We asked our server to take pictures of us infront of the fountain. Then he noticed my fiancé had proposed and offered us prosecco as a congratulations. We said yes and within 10 mins the bald headed manager passive aggressively asked us to leave bc everyone else was gone. I STRONGLY BELIEVE had we been seated closer to our reservation time and/or said no to the complimentary drinks our night would've been perfect. Unfortunately I'll always remember this night as my golden bday that my fiancé surprised me on, being spoiled by the manager asking us leave.... DO NOT PROPOSE HERE IF YOUR RESERVATION IS THE LAST TIME SLOT.“

“One of my favourite breakfast spot! They have grits!!“

“OMG!!! This place is the bomb, the inside of the restaurant is gorgeous, the customer service is phenomenal and the food is fantastic. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for some delicious soul food. I love the dressing, baked chicken, sweet potatoes and muffins. The portions are good, I had enough left over to take some home for a late night snack. Our hostess Ms. Lyn has outstanding service she made sure that my glass was full at all times and that I had everything that I needed. Her smile can light up a room, keep doing a great job and we will see you again very soon. If you have not been here RUUUUUUN‼️“

“This is possibly the most amazing place I think I’ve ever eaten. I had the mushroom omelette with a Greek bread toasted.
The servings are extremely large. Someone back there really knows how to make an omelette. It is so fluffy.
Now if you think that can’t get any better the topper is they offer ice cream with your breakfast for dessert .
I was here on the marathon weekend this Sunday so it was extremely chaotic and they just really handled it so well .
PAYTON 34. You are the calm during the storm. Come on 2pm?“

“January 25, 2024. Dinner with Moxie. Incredible fried chicken & mashed potatoes. Moxie had the kid’s cheeseburger & mashed potatoes. Friendly staff!! 💞“

“I awoke this morning, filled with regret and resentment. I nearly stayed under my supple, cozy sheets. Yet, I prevailed. I stumbled upon this Elegant establishment. I needed something greasy and practical for a hangover. I also needed to watch the Minnesota gophers beat up Rutgers (do they even have a mascot)? I ordered the double smash burger, and went to work. The service was quick, very quick, which made me believe the burger would be subpar. My first bite awoke me. I was so back. Every following taste left me with childlike joy, much like a young Jack Slunecka frolicking through the South Dakota prairies. I can not recommend this establishment more. Thank you Parlay, not only for giving me strength. But, giving me the motivation to carry on, and make the world a better place. I Love you so so much.“

“good to sit and foods also good“

“I'm from Iowa, took a little weekend trip to Chicago. A friend told us we HAD to try Lula's. SO thankful we did. I will be traveling back to Chicago just to take my mom here. Outstanding service from every single employee, incredible food, and just overall 10/10. Absolutely recommend.“

“I had the mac and cheese with the steak on top absolutely divine🤍“

“Great food and service. Tuesdays kids night is wonderful other than that great fine dining spot. Although they did pare down the menu which I have not tried but am a little bummed about“

“This late night vegan food really hit the spot! So yummy!“