This Lincoln Park hotspot opened with a splash in May 2005, garnering widespread praise from national media. Phil Vettel of the Chicago Tribune gave Alinea a four-star review, writing, "Whichever tasting menu you choose (pick from 8-, 12-, and 24-course tastings, priced at $75, $110 and $175), you can expect a constant barrage of the familiar and exotic ingredients you know paired with ones you do not, or featured in surprising forms." Chef Grant Archatz was named "Rising Star Chef of the Year" by the James Beard Foundation in 2003.

This long, narrow wine bar features communal tables and Mediterranean-inspired, small and large plates for sharing. Many of the rustic dishes are prepared in a wood-burning oven, and an on-site cheese cave boasts artisan fromage from Italy, Spain, Portugal, and France. Diners rave about the chorizo-stuffed dates and focaccia with taleggio cheese and white truffle oil. (Avec is the sister restaurant of Blackbird, located next door.)

Bandera offers a cozy setting with great views of Michigan Avenue and jazz nightly. American comfort food is the star here, where rotisserie chicken and cornbread served in a cast iron skillet are favorites.

Wine enthusiasts can find a little bit of everything at this lofty setting next to the House of Blues: the Market section of BIN 36 sells wine and related products; the Tavern's oval-shaped bar is the place to go to sample a flight of wine and light dishes; and the Cellar boasts a full New American menu and suggested wine pairings in a comfortable yet sleek setting.

Named one of the 50 Best Restaurants in America by Gourmet in 2001, Blackbird features a seasonal New American menu that will "knock your socks off," according to Zagat reviewers. Acclaimed chef Paul Kahan turns out such dishes as seared foie gras and duck confit, and lamb chops and shank cassoulet with braised endive. This West Loop restaurant seats just 60 people in a narrow, minimalist space. (Blackbird is the sister restaurant of Avec, located next door.)

If it swims, it's served here. Catch 35's fresh seafood is often served with an Asian twist, like the seared yellow fin tuna with Szechuan glaze, or the grilled jumbo Panama shrimp with Panang curry sauce and jasmine rice. Seafood-shy diners can pick from several cuts of steak, from bone-in ribeye to New York strip. All dishes are enjoyed in the clubby dining room featuring piano playing nightly.

Selected as the No. 1 steakhouse in America in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, the Chicago Chop House is located in an historic Victorian brownstone studded with some 1,400 framed photos of Chicago mayors, meat-packers and mobsters. While diners can enjoy traditional steakhouse accoutrements - like fried calamari, oysters and Caesar salads - beef is the main attraction and comes in all cuts and sizes, from a 10-oz. filet, to a gargantuan 64-oz. porterhouse. The Chop House also boasts a wine list with 550 selections.

This casual counterpart to the upscale and more expensive Coco Pazzo specializes in Northern Italian and rustic Tuscan fare. Enjoy the wood-walled, cozy dining room, or breezy outdoor seating in warm-weather months.

Frontera Grill is more rustic and casual than its swankier sister dining room, Topolobampo, but both spots share the same festive, colorful location and the masterful Mexican stylings of acclaimed chef Rick Bayless. Heralded as serving some of the best Mexican food in the country, Frontera Grill and Topolobampo ("Topolo" for those in the know) turn out such specialties as roasted lamb in an almond-thickened sauce of chilies and spices, seviche sampler platters, and six kinds of tacos. Waits can be long, but the divine margaritas help pass the time.

This mostly vegetarian restaurant with a soothing contemporary space specializes in small-plate cuisine using locally raised produce and organic, seasonal ingredients. One or two free-range poultry and fish items also appear on the changing menu, but even meat eaters will be wowed by chef Shawn McClain's veggie-friendly creations like artichoke cassoulet and roasted eggplant tart with goat cheese and smoked yellow tomato sauce.

Diners rave about the Vesuvio-style dishes and prime, aged steaks at this Italian steakhouse, where white-jacket-clad waiters fawn over Chicago Cubs devotees and non-sports fans alike. A bronze bust of Harry Caray greets incoming diners and often Dutchie, wife of the late Cubs' broadcaster, does as well. More than 1,500 pieces of baseball memorabilia add character to this comfortable restaurant, where the bar is a popular spot to watch a game.

Trendy Japonais has earned high marks - including a three-star review by the Chicago Tribune - for its industrial chic setting and creative, international take on Japanese fare. Hot and cold appetizers, salads, cooked entrees, sushi and excellent sashimi comprise the somewhat eclectic French-Asian menu, which also features almost 20 varieties of sake. Lighter fare and stylish cocktails like the Floating Orchid are available in the downstairs lounge and riverfront terrace overlooking the Chicago River.

This legendary South Miami Beach restaurant has come north and brought its signature meaty stone crab claws. Stone crab, fresh fish, lobster, shrimp and scallops dominate the menu at Joe's, but land lovers will enjoy prime cuts of beef or bone-in steaks. Don't miss the Key lime pie.

Kamehachi features fresh, consistent sushi, such as more than 40 maki rolls, and 25 kinds of nigiri. The full Japanese menu includes hot and cold appetizers, eight noodle dishes, and traditional entrees like chicken teriyaki. The Streeterville location is stylish and comfortable, while the Old Town locale features an outdoor garden.

This chain of steakhouses has 69 locations nationwide, but the original on State Street is still a favorite of meat lovers in search of rich, mammoth cuts of beef. Bone-in ribeye, prime rib, porterhouse, lamb chops - they're all here, as are salmon, jumbo crab cakes and traditional steakhouse sides like creamed spinach and chopped salad. Tuxedo-clad waiters, white tablecloths and dark walls lend a clubby feel.

Hailed as "first-class," "superb," and "innovative" by Zagat reviewers, NoMI serves Asian-influenced contemporary French cuisine in a stylish setting that includes a 50-seat lush terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows offering grand views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. In addition, NoMI boasts a 1,200-label, award-winning wine list. Diners, including Chicago Tribune restaurant critic Phil Vettel, sing the praises of NoMI's wild mushroom risotto with creamy marscapone cheese and flecks of crispy prosciutto.

Room-length windows provide views of the Chicago skyline and Millennium Park at this contemporary American eatery. Adjacent to Millennium Park's ice-skating rink, diners can enjoy watching skaters in the winter and dining outdoors to live entertainment in the summer. The Park Grill's burger, a half-pounder served on a seeded brioche bun, was named Chicago's best by the Chicago Tribune.

A national chain specializing in Americanized Chinese food, P.F. Chang's Chicago outpost offers a sleek setting for enjoying crowd favorites like spicy chicken lettuce wraps and orange-peel beef with chili peppers.

This upscale steakhouse with a country-club feel netted a three-star review from the Chicago Tribune in 2004 for its signature beef entrees like prime Kansas City strip. Seafood items and Italian specialties round out the menu.

Like its sister locales in New York and Miami, Chicago's Sushi Samba serves up Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian fare in a chic space with an energetic vibe. Choose from Asian-influenced seviches, samba rolls with eclectic fillings - such as the Yamato with tuna, foie gras, caviar and gold leaf - or traditional Brazilian churrasco.

Rich red walls and floor-to-ceiling windows lend a vibrant mood to this chic French-Thai restaurant by New York's heralded chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Start with the popular Black Plate appetizer assortment or VTK Rocket Rolls wrapped in lettuce leaves. Diners also can choose from six varieties of pad thai, several curries made fresh on the premises, or opt for a group dining option in which select dishes are served family style for a flat rate.