Phil Vettel – Page 22

The strawberry sundae with sea-salt ice cream.

No. 43: Cafe Cancale, a coastal-French breeze in Wicker Park

November 13, 2019 at 9:37 a.m.

Paul Kahan's 50th-birthday vacation to Brittany resulted in this French restaurant, which opened in early 2019. Six oyster varieties are on offer daily (only $1 during weekday happy hours); other...

Evoke nostalgia with a flurry of chocolate, including warm chocolate cake.

No. 4: Topolobampo, Mexican fine-dining at its most cerebral

November 12, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.

Arguably the finest Mexican restaurant in the country, Topolobampo is where Rick Bayless challenges himself and his guests with creative themed menus (the ones linked to Mexican fine art are...

The Guacamole is a wonderfully refreshing mezcal cocktail containing avocado and spicy tomatillo.

No. 45: Bar Sotano, where Lanie Bayless takes the spotlight

November 12, 2019 at 6:59 p.m.

Lanie Bayless, daughter of Rick and Deann, has been the spirits director for the entire Frontera empire for some time, but she's really flexing her muscles in this basement lounge,...

No. 46: The Purple Pig, a Michigan Avenue gem

November 12, 2019 at 6:58 p.m.

Jimmy Bannos Jr., the 2013 winner of the James Beard Foundation's Rising Star Chef award, packed up his restaurant and moved it all of 150 feet south, in the process...

The staff prepares to open up at El Che Bar in Chicago.

No. 47: El Che Steakhouse & Bar, a new name with the same sizzle

November 12, 2019 at 6:58 p.m.

(Down from 28) A minor name change (it was El Che Bar originally) reflects less on what this Argentinian-inspired restaurant offers than what its customers order, and clearly meat is...

No. 48: Passerotto, taking wing in Andersonville

November 12, 2019 at 6:57 p.m.

An homage to the food of chef/owner Jennifer Kim's childhood, Passerotto offers well-composed small plates and family-style platters, all of which underscore the restaurant's "Fun Korean fare in Andersonville" mission....

Oriole restaurant is in an obscure area west of the Loop, on a blocklong stretch of Walnut Street east of the Kennedy Expressway.

No. 3: Oriole, taking flight in the West Loop

November 12, 2019 at 6:57 p.m.

One of the most complete dining experiences in Chicago, from the complimentary cocktail that greets you at the door to the take-home goodies when you make your exit. Noah Sandoval's...

The lamb and duck composition features 20-day dry aged rohan duck, 20-day dry aged Colorado lamb saddle and is served with fermented-pistachio miso, compressed persimmon and a fermented-vegetable condiment Katsumura calls her "in-house Vegemite."

No. 49: Yugen, stage for a rising star of Japanese cooking

November 12, 2019 at 6:57 p.m.

Mari Katsumura is hardly a new face in Chicago's dining scene, earning a reputation as a first-rate pastry chef at several restaurants. At Yugen, however, Katsumura flexes her savory muscles...

Chef/owner Mark Steuer likes to describe Funkenhausen as "German heritage and Southern hospitality."

No. 50: Funkenhausen, a pun-filled Germanic-Southern mashup

November 12, 2019 at 6:56 p.m.

Welcome to Bavaria, y'all! Mark Steuer combines seriously good cooking with a punster's sense of humor at Funkenhausen, stirring together his German heritage and Southern upbringing to create mashups that...

Milk chocolate with huckleberry and preserved shiitake mushroom, front left, begins the desserts on Smyth's eight-course menu. A few courses before that, a savory doughnut is made from brioche fried in beef fat.

No. 2: Smyth, endlessly experimental, yet homey

November 12, 2019 at 6:56 p.m.

No restaurant handles the tricky balance of culinary excellence and unaffected familiarity better than Smyth, the product of John B. Shields and Karen Urie Shields. The set menu is full...

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