Resy Staff Picks in Chicago

If there’s one thing you must know about the people who work at Resy, it’s that we genuinely love restaurants. Here are our Chicago picks.

The Duck Inn

4.8 (3.4K) reviews · New American · $$$

You’ve got to love a restaurant whose two signature dishes are a beef and duck fat hot dog served Chicago-style, and a whole rotisserie-roasted duck with duck-fat potatoes — and there’s plenty more that you’ll crave at this neighborhood Bridgeport treasure from chef Kevin Hickey, of Allium fame.

The Village at the Italian Village

4.7 (8.2K) reviews · Italian · $$

Ryota

4.4 (194) reviews · Japanese · $

The team behind the buzzy Thai restaurant The Oliang turns to Japan with this West Loop spot, offering a flexible menu of sushi choices, including special chef-chosen selections, plus Tokyo-style ramen and brothless mazemen-style noodle dishes. It’s a great stop for Thai tea and specialty coffee drinks, too.

Trivoli Tavern

4.8 (18K) reviews · American · $$

Down the uneven cobblestone steps at this hidden tavern, build your perfect date night as follows: Vesper cocktails and elegant shrimp cocktail, followed by decadent truffle rigatoni, roasted prime rib with horseradish, and a bottle of Bordeaux. End on a towering slab of Butterfinger pie … because you deserve it.

Leña Brava

4.6 (6.2K) reviews · Mexican · $$$

This Baja cantina buzzes with the kind of excitement only found in live-fire eateries, and presents a menu on both ends of the temperature spectrum, from citrus-flecked aguachile to wood-roasted black cod amped up with heat.

Cruz Blanca Taqueria & Brewery

4.5 (3.5K) reviews · Mexican · $$

Come for the smoky tacos, slather them with the remarkable pico de gallo, and don’t miss out on the house-brewed beers.

Boqueria Fulton Market

4.5 (4.9K) reviews · Tapas · $$

Ciccio Mio

4.9 (9.7K) reviews · Italian · $$$

The fancified, nostalgic Italian dishes, along with the food-loving Italian wines, make this luxe River North spot the perfect place for date night.

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

4.9 (27K) reviews · Steakhouse · $$$

Every meal is a feast at Bavette’s. The modern steakhouse seduces with its speakeasy feel — and as with any Hogsalt establishment, the drinks are stellar. Pro tip: The burger is one of the city’s best.

Gilt Bar

4.8 (14K) reviews · American · $$

Brendan Sodikoff of Hogsalt bestows his magic on Gilt Bar, a temple to gastropub plates and free-flowing libations, within a moody setting that received a Michelin Bib no less.

STK Chicago

3.3 (181) reviews · Steakhouse · $$

Maxwells Trading

4.8 (4.6K) reviews · Contemporary American · $$

Because everything here is impeccably thought out, from chef Erling Wu-Bower’s attentive menus to the rooftop garden and apiary, the playlist, and retail pop-ups in the first-floor space.

Sifr

4.6 (519) reviews · Middle Eastern · $$

The chefs behind Indienne properly dazzle at Sifr, where the irresistible mezze platters are so generous, you’ll need to be careful in order to save room for what comes next… Think grilled specialties (like lamb kebab with Aleppo pepper) and large-scale shareables (like branzino with tahini) that’d be a shame to miss.

Yasemi Modern Mediterranean

4.4 (238) reviews · Mediterranean · $

Sophia Steak Chicago

4.7 (2.3K) reviews · Steakhouse · $$

Good things come in threes, and after opening beloved locations in Wilmette and Lake Forest, the steakhouse powerhouse that is Sophia Steak chose River North.

Eight Bar at Maple & Ash Chicago

4.8 (110) reviews · French-American and Japanese · $$

Right downstairs from his landmark Maple & Ash, Eight Bar is chef Danny Grant’s Gold Coast gem for everything from lobster pasta and steak frites to first-rate sushi. Don’t skip any of the cocktails either, like the namesake Eight Bar old fashioned, which positively redefines the classic.

Maple & Ash Chicago

4.7 (250) reviews · Steakhouse · $$$

One of the city’s essential see-and-be-seen spots since 2015, the glittery Maple & Ash also happens to be one of Chicago’s best restaurants. Case in point: a steakhouse menu created by two-Michelin-star winner Danny Grant, where wood-fired steaks and a killer wine list shine.

Happy Camper Old Town

4.4 (68) reviews · Pizza · $$

It’s impossible not to have a good time at Happy Camper. Sure, there’s an actual camper, tire swings, and swaths of twinkle lights that make you think you’re partying under the stars. But the pizzas — neither thick nor thin, but just right — never disappoint, the ornately garnished cocktails are fun, and an afternoon on the patio can fix many ills.

The Vig

4.7 (4.9K) reviews · American · $$

Goose Island Salt Shed Pub

4.7 (703) reviews · American · $$

Goose Island brews are on almost everybody’s list of America’s best craft beers, and you won’t find a better place to enjoy them — along with beer-friendly fare like hop-salted pretzels, smash burgers, and fried chicken sandwiches — than at the brewery’s own indoor-outdoor pub, on the banks of the Chicago River.