I’ve been lucky this past year to enjoy some great food/eating experiences in Chicago.  Client dinners always lead to great eating locations; that’s just a given. But this year, I made time to venture out on my own and sample a variety of places across the city.  In no particular order, here’s a high level recap of some of the places I’ve checked out.

EPIC (Eaten At 6 Times)

Quickly becoming one of my favorite places.  The first time I ate there was actually on their soft opening.  Since then, I’ve been there a 1/2 a dozen times.  The location is great, the overall decor is hip in a East Village way, the food delicious and the waiters lacking snootiness.  In a year, I’ve had 3 truly memorable meals there.  I think you will too.

Table52 (Eaten 4 Times)

Southern style home cooking at it’s best.  Though it’s located in the relatively posh and snobby Gold Coast area, the food, service and decor feel much more “real.”  The food from Chef Art Smith is off the hook.  How he’s able to make things like fried chicken, mac and cheese and pork chops seem more than just…well fried chicken, mack and cheese and pork chops is beyond me.  You won’t leave hungry and that’s a good thing.  This is easily my favorite place to eat at in the city.

Mercadito (Eaten At 4 Time)

I’m split on Mercadito.  On one hand the tacos are good.  On the other hand, you can find better and more authentic tacos anywhere on California Avenue.  I dig the location, the drinks are great and the presentation fun.  But, it kills me to think how much I’ve overpaid for a meal that’s not as good as one 1/5 the cost.  To be honest with you I actually prefer the tacos at Flash Taco.  Here’s what you need to remember about Mercadito, you’re paying for the experience, not the food.  And honestly, sometimes, that’s ok.

Gilt Bar (Eaten At 4 Times)

Delicious. Fun. Hip. Memorable.  I love Gilt.  They know how to make a great sidecar and that says a lot about how good the bartenders are at this river west piece of heaven.  I’m a huge fan of the pork belly.  It’s the right portion size and the flavor is unmistakably fantastic.

Charlie Trotters (Eaten At One Time)

I’ve been to Charlie Trotters before.  This year I got to eat their once.  As usual, it was an experience to remember…that still left you hungry.  Charlie Trotters is a cool place for that 7 course meal excursion.  The presentation is lovely, the waiters attentive and the food exquisite, but the portions will leave you needing a cheeseburger after you leave.

Le Colonial (Eaten At Two Times)

Love this place.  Was introduced to it by our executive creative director.  The vietnamese/asian/french fusion thing they have going on makes for some awesome dishes.  The only down side is how dark the place is.  More night club than romantic restaurant.  You’ll enjoy yourself.

Naha (Eaten At One Time)

Solid dining experience.  Great wine list.  It’s the kind of place you can lose yourself in amongst the other diners.  There’s a certain intimacy created by the whole experience that makes it a wonderful location for date night.

XOCO (Eaten At Three Times)

I really want to like this place.  I mean it’s a Rick Bayless restaurant.  I’ve tried to trick myself into liking it.  But, honestly, I can’t recommend it.  The lines are long, the food is so-so, the portions small, and the bill large.  There’s better eating to be had out there.

Bin36 (Eaten At Two Times)

Great wine selection, as you’d imagine.  The food was better than I thought it would be.  Honestly, it was a pleasant surprise.  I had the lamb which was well prepared and full of flavor.  Highly recommend Bin36 as a nice place for date night or after work drinks.

Belly Shack (Eaten At One Time)

It’s a fun, little hole in the wall that just so happens to have earned a Michelin award.  The menu is sparse, you can’t edit or make substitutions, but with how great the food is you won’t care.  The tostones are to die far. Almost as good as my mom makes.  But, you didn’t hear that from me.

TRU (Eaten At One Time)

Simply put, one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had.  But, not necessarily one of the best meals I’ve ever had.  TRU is a culinary delight that makes you wish you loved food more than you already do.  But, like Charlie Trotters, you may find yourself yearning for a hotdog or a hamburger after your meal.  Where Tru does beat Charlier Trotters though is with the presentation and the pacing of the courses.  You’ll never feel rushed and each course is so well put together, you almost don’t want to spoil the art by eating it.

Smoque (Eaten At One Time)

I can’t say it any clearer than, it’s the best BBQ I’ve ever had north of the mason-dixon line.  There’s no fanfare, no fuss, no ambience, just damn good BBQ.  Be prepared to get messy…and that’s a good thing.

The Purple Pig (Eaten At Twice)

Cool name, ok food, horrible service and a miserable dining experience.  Where to start?  It’s a tapas styled restaraunt focused on meat and cheese.  Cool. I dig that.  But, the options are limited, they take too long to prepare and unless you sit at the bar, you’ll be doing a communal dining experience.  That’s right, you share a table with people you don’t know.  It’s just not my cup of tea.  Over priced for what it is.  Avoid.

Cafe Central (Eaten At Too Many Times)

As I wrote on Yelp!, “As close to my mom’s authentic Puerto Rican cooking as I’ve ever found.  These folks know how to bring the flavor of the island to the Midwest.  Keep in mind, that means plenty of garlic!  Go for the pork plate and make sure to get both types of platanos as the sides.” I’m so happy I found this place.  It’s a hole in wall on Chicago Avenue, but well worth the trip.

Havana (Eaten At 7 Times)

The best mojito in the city and the best mojito deal in the city.  On Friday nights you can get a pitcher of mojitos for half price (roughly $15.00).  That’s ridiculous.  The food is solid, but not exceptional.  I’ve never had a bad meal, but I’ve neer had one I’d call top 5 of all time.  You’ll enjoy the low maintenance eaters and the fantastic wait staff.  It all contributes to a wonderful experience.

Piccolo Sogno (Eaten At One Time)

My friend Giorgio was born in Italy.  He claims this is one of the 3 best italian restaurants in the city.  He’s right.  It’s authentic, it’s real, it’s simple, it’s decadent and it’s fun.  I sat outside during the fall and it was a great scene.  It’s a bit hard to get to and the parking situation is confusing, but don’t let that stop you.

YES Thai (Eaten At One Time)

I love Thai Food. My favorite Thai place, Singha, closed their doors this year.  Their sister offering Star of Siam is wonderful and would probably be my favorite Thai place.  That said, YES Thai, which I recently tried, is damn good.  It’s a BYOB that offers the ambience of an Apple Store. I know it sounds crazy, but everything is white, simple and minimal.  The food speaks volumes and tells the real story.  Great flavor.  It’s a haul to get to for those of you working and living in the loop, but I think it’s worth the drive. It was easily one of my favorite dining experiences of the year.

Orange (Eaten At Two Times)

Tried this place a few weeks ago.  I really like it.  It’s exactly how a breakfast place should be and it’s only 3 blocks from my place.  The meals are creative and the options are limitless.  It’s a great value in terms of cost, portions and quality.  On Saturday mornings you’ll enjoy watching the hungover crowd.  Everyone, including the patrons, are fun and friendly.  The only complaint is how cramped it is.  They really pack a lot of people into the space.

Flash Taco (Eaten At More Times Than I Should)

LOVE this little taco stand.  Honestly, that’s what it reminds me of.  GREAT food.  The service is all over the place, but the food is worth it.  Don’t expect great presentation. We’re talking tin foil, styrofoam and plastic utensils.  But, don’t let that concern you.  When you dig into one of their amazing tacos you’ll be transported south of the boarder and realize it doesn’t get better than this.

There’s so many more places I could write about, but those are the ones making the cut right now.  I’m pretty excited about some of the places I’m going to be trying in the next few weeks.  Volare (an old favorite) and Osteria Via Stato will close out the year.  Then next year I’ll be checking out Alinea, Moto, Avec and Blackbird.  There’s also a few hole in the walls and guilt pleasures I’ll be enjoying, like Hot Doug’s.

Chicago is a great city for foods. There’s something for everyone.  Get out there and eat up!