Looking for a culinary adventure that's off the beaten path? Try any one of these fabulous Chicago restaurants for an experience you won't soon forget!
LA PETITE FOLIE 1504 E. 55th St., 60615, 773-493-1394. Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 11:30am - 10:00pm. Saturday – Sunday, 5:00pm - 10:00pm.
This amazing Classic French find is unexpectedly located in a courtyard of the bustling Hyde Park Shopping Center. But don’t let the address deceive you. Once inside, you’re transported to a lovely Parisian dining room with white linens, quiet walls and a top-notch traditional menu. The kitchen, run by neighborhood resident Mary Mastricola (a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Paris), delivers pure French flavors with simply elegant options like Escargots Persillade, Wild Mushroom Crepes and Medallions of Venison. Along with the affordable French wine list, the changing Prix Fixe menu (offered 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm daily) is an excellent value. For $30, you’ll enjoy a choice of first course, main course and dessert. A freshly made Fruit Tart of the Season or Chilled Blood Orange Soufflé will have you singing, “ooh la la.”
The average cost per diner is $25-$40.
Reservations are recommended.
La Petite Folie is closed on most major holidays.
THE PARROT CAGE 7059 S. South Shore Dr., 60649, 773-602-5333. Hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 5:30pm – 9:00pm.
This hidden gem is situated inside the architecturally stunning South Shore Cultural Center on the city’s south side. While a trip for some, this destination restaurant does not disappoint. As soon as you pull up to the romantic 1906 Mediterranean Revival style building you know you’re somewhere special. Inside, the intimate 50-seat dining room is the creation of the Washburne Culinary Institute, one of the best and oldest cooking schools in the country. Here, advanced students gain real-world work experience under the guidance of acclaimed culinary pros, turning out precise, top-quality dishes at affordable price points. The contemporary American menu is an elegant lineup of gourmet entrees such as Artichoke & Tomato Ravioli or Peppered Australian Filet Mignon with Maine Lobster Mashed Potato. Order a special dessert like the Crepes Suzette (prepared tableside) and enjoy the gorgeous water views through the restaurant’s large, arched windows. This is one of the few Chicago restaurants located right on the lakefront.
The average cost per diner is $20-$30.
Reservations are highly recommended.
The Parrot Cage is closed mid-December to mid-January and most major holidays.
4 TASTE 415 N. Milwaukee, 60610, 312-226-7850. Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 4:00pm to 2:00am; Saturday, 6pm to 3am. Closed Sunday and Monday. 4 Taste is a hip, urban gem tucked among factory buildings and railroad buttresses. The décor is low-lit and swanky, with original paintings and intricate metalwork adorning walls and doorways. An intimate and cozy patio is open during the warmer Chicago months. The unique menu is composed entirely of appetizers, offering diners the opportunity to sample a variety of tastes in one meal. 4 Taste's menu is divided into warm and cold, much like that of a traditional tapas restaurant. Specialty appetizers include the popular buffalo carpaccio, the free-range beef, the succulent chilled duck nestled on a bed of mixed greens, and the apple-stuffed ravioli covered in a cream sauce with smoked chicken and walnuts. Special desserts are also offered, such as 4 Taste's version of crème brulee. For this rich treat, a caviar dish with six small cups is used to serve six varieties of the custard, such as mocha, chocolate and lemon. A full bar serves up beer, wine and cocktails.
The cost per diner is $25-$30.
Reservations are accepted for parties of six or more.
4 Taste is closed all major holidays.
PAULINE'S 1754 W. Balmoral, 60640, 773-561-8573. Hours: Monday - Sunday, 6:00am to 3:00pm. Traveling along the quiet tree-and house-lined streets of the Ravenswood neighborhood, one would never suspect they were about to happen upon one of Chicago's best diners. The environment is bright and friendly, and kitsch is the order of the décor. Almost all available space in the main front room is decorated with a pop culture memento, and the red vinyl booths and stools that line the walls and counter evoke the days of soda shops. The service, as well as the food, is fast and good. Lunch is served all week long, but Pauline's real specialty seems to be breakfast. The diner is an extremely popular spot for morning "regulars" who come in to chat with the friendly waitstaff and order from breakfast items such as corned beef hash and fluffy biscuits with sausage gravy. Pauline's omelets are huge and made with the freshest ingredients - the peppers in the Denver omelet are so crisp, they actually snap!
The average cost per diner is $10-$15.
Reservations are not accepted.
Pauline's is closed most major holidays.
LA FONTANELLA 2414 S Oakley Ave, 60608, 773-927-5249. Hours: Monday - Thursday, 11:00am to 10:00pm; Friday, 11:00am to 11:00pm; Saturday, 12:00pm to 11:00pm; Sunday, 12:00pm to 10:00pm. Hidden in the quiet neighborhood just west of Pilsen, this eatery is truly a find. La Fontanella is the very definition of intimate, with its rustic décor, small dining area (which includes tables set back into alcoves) and casual atmosphere. La Fontanella specializes in authentic Italian cuisine that is simple but deliciously effective. The chefs seem to appreciate the importance of each food's flavor, whether it's a piece of fruit or a cut of meat, and don't rely on heavy-handed sauces or spices to make the dish. Specialty appetizers include figs or melon slices wrapped in tender proscuitto. The entrée menu features homemade pastas, chicken vesuvio, chicken cacciatore, and lamb scallopini with artichoke hearts. A dish that really sets La Fontanella apart is their braccioli, a thin steak stuffed with bread crumbs, a hard-boiled egg and proscuitto and topped with a tomato-wine sauce. The cozy bar area at the front of the restaurant offers patrons a quiet place to wait for a table or have a quick predinner drink.
The average cost per diner is $15-$20.
Reservations are accepted during weekends.
La Fontanella is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
TRE KRONOR 3258 W. Foster Ave., 60625, 773-267-9888. Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 7:00am to 10:00pm; Sunday, 9:00am to 3:00pm; Closed Mondays. Situated in the heart of Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood, this Swedish treasure is worth the trip. The atmosphere at Tre Kronor is quaint and otherworldly with wood floors, delicate white lace curtains, and colorful folkloric characters and meadow scenes painted on the walls. For breakfast, Tre Kronor offers omelets, benedicts and pancakes with lingonberries, but by far the restaurant's specialty is their incredible pastries, including pecan and lemon cream danishes. The lunch and dinner menu changes periodically, but it usually offers soups, sandwiches, pickled herring, potatiskorv (potato sausage), gravlax (cured, unsmoked salmon) and roast pork with prunes. Patrons can bring their alcohol of choice to complement their meals.
The average cost per diner is $10-$15.
Reservations are accepted.
Tre Kronor is closed most major holidays.
COROSH 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., 60622, 773-235-0600. Hours: Monday - Saturday, 11:00am to 2 am; Sunday, 9:00am to 2:00am. Located on a stretch of Milwaukee Avenue just southeast of the Wicker Park neighborhood, Corosh is an excellent culinary discovery that keeps diners coming back. Most nights find the owner, Corosh himself, greeting patrons as they enter the restaurant. The interior of Corosh is large and open with an enormous dark wood bar lining one wall. The lighting is low and intimate with candles on each table. A wooden staircase leads to a bottom second floor area that has more of a lounge feel to it. The service is courteous and professional without being intrusive or overbearing. The food is an eclectic mix of ingredients. The regular menu offers a variety of appetizers and entrees including bruschetta and Corosh's own Linguini con frutti di mare - a spicy combination of seafood and pasta. Specials, such as an appetizer of coconut-encrusted shrimp with mango salsa and an entrée of lobster ravioli, are also offered on weekends. Patrons can complete their dining experience with dessert specialties, such as the decadent bananas foster. The full bar offers an extensive list of premium cocktails, wine and beer.
The average cost per diner is $20-$25.
Reservations aren't necessary.
Corosh is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
PASTEUR 5525 N. Broadway, 60626, 773-878-1061. Hours: Monday - Wednesday, 5:00pm to 10:00pm; Thursday, 12:00pm to 10:00pm; Friday - Saturday, 12:00pm to 11:00pm; Sunday, 12:00pm to 10:00pm. Venturing into the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago, diners will be delighted by the exquisite experience awaiting them. Pasteur is a blend, in both décor and cuisine, of Vietnamese and French colonialism. The restaurant itself is a large open space, yet Pasteur also has a very romantic, exotic atmosphere. Large rattan ceiling fans spin lazily overhead, and the enormous front windows of the restaurant are opened in the summer months, creating an al fresco feel. The colors and décor of Pasteur seem to be deliberately chosen to transport diners to another time and place. The culinary experience offered by Pasteur's menu is truly unique. Delicacies such as the whole red snapper and the duck are widely considered to be the best around. For a one-of-a-kind dessert, diners can choose from various sorbets, such as the peach sorbet, which is served in a frozen hollowed out peach. Wine, beer and cocktails are also available.
The average cost per diner is $30-$35.
Reservations are highly recommended.
Pasteur is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
CLUB LUCKY 1824 W. Wabansia St., 60622, (773) 227-2300. Hours: Monday - Thursday, 11:30am to 11:00pm; Friday, 11:30am to 12:00am; Saturday, 5:00pm to 12:00am; Sunday, 4:00pm to 12:00am. The lounge is open a little later, all nights. While far from being a secret - Club Lucky is generally bustling, especially on weekends - this popular Italian restaurant is tucked away among residences on a quiet corner in the Bucktown neighborhood. Upon entering Club Lucky, it's hard not to get caught up in the Rat Pack vibe. An art deco bar is along one wall with vintage-looking booths and tables available for waiting patrons. The dining areas themselves are open with tables that can accommodate both intimate dates and large parties and the servers are knowledgeable and friendly. The large menu is composed of delicious, uncomplicated Italian fare. Club Lucky's calamari appetizer is widely touted as the best in the city by repeat diners. Pasta entrees include a unique marinara loaded with mushrooms or Club Lucky's amazing version of linguini with clams, which features ample amounts of little neck clams. The restaurant's style of cheesecake offers a unique take on a traditional recipe; Club Lucky substitutes ricotta for cream cheese. The result is a light, smooth dessert that compliments any meal. A full bar is available, and the martinis are highly recommended.
The average price per diner is $25-$30.
Reservations are accepted for parties of six or more.
Club Lucky is closed most major holidays.
RED ROOSTER WINE BAR AND CAFÉ 2100 N. Halsted St., 60614, 773-929-7660 Hours: Monday - Thursday, 5:00pm to 10:30pm; Friday - Saturday, 5:00pm to 11:30pm; Sunday, 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Red Rooster is located in the center of the Lincoln Park neighborhood, next to the well-known Café Bernard. Patrons say it's worth the time to look for the smaller of these two restaurants, which are both owned by Chef Bernard Le Coq. The restaurant has the feel of a cozy French Inn with rustic, raw wood walls adorned with quaint bundles of dried herbs and copper pots. The gourmet food at affordable prices has customers raving. Red Rooster's menu includes specialties such as duck a la orange, and grilled salmon with cabernet sauce along with recommended appetizers such as the Brie en croute. A variety of reasonably priced wines are available to pair with dinner.
The average per diner is $10 - $15.
Reservations are accepted for parties of three or more.
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