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Best of Chicago 2012: Food & Drink

Critics' Picks

Best Fine-Dining Restaurant to Reinvent Fine Dining

El Ideas

2419 W. 14th St. 312-226-8144

http://elideas.com

What's the best restaurant? Most aggravating question I'm ever asked. There is no best restaurant, and anyone who thinks they can name one doesn't… Continue

Best Culinary Historian

Paul Fehribach, Big Jones

5347 N. Clark St. 773-275-5725

http://bigjoneschicago.com

Between putting in face time at the Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium and plumbing the depths of his historic cookbook collection, the southern Indiana… Continue

Best In-House Pasta

Nellcote

833 W. Randolph St. 312-432-0500

http://nellcoterestaurant.com/

Jared Van Camp's ambitious grain-to-table program, which has the kitchen milling its own flour for bread, pasta, and pizza, achieves its highest pinnacle… Continue

Best Appetizer on Which Reasonable Critics Can Disagree

Fried lemon, onion, and jalapeño at Fish Bar

2956 N. Sheffield Ave. 773-687-8177

http://fishbarchicago.com

Critics can be thin-skinned motherfuckers, so I hope that resident Reader food guy Mike Sula doesn't take umbrage when I say that he is woefully… Continue

Best Secret Menu Item

Guapichosa, Scofflaw

3201 W. Armitage Ave.

http://scofflawchicago.com

Scofflaw chef Mickey Neely was inspired to create this delectable behemoth in tribute to the stacked "supertortas" served at Pilsen's Doña Torta Chilanga.… Continue

Best Barbecued Brisket

Brimstone BBQ

1354 W. Wabansia Ave. 773-227-4433

http://hideoutchicago.com
Local "pop-up" barbecue operation Brimstone BBQ, run by Arman Mabry and Mike Tsoulos of the band Rabid Rabbit and their friend Stacey Egan,… Continue

Best Fluorescent Dining Experience

Sunshine Cafe

5449 N. Clark St. 773-334-6214

There are situations in which candlelight is appropriate, such as seances, or an episode of The Red Shoe Diaries. The sensual aspects of a… Continue

Best Place to Eat Fried Green Tomatoes in a Once-Booming Industrial Area That's Fallen on Hard Times

Inspiration Kitchens

3504 W. Lake 773-801-0110

http://www.inspirationkitchens.org/
Most diners wouldn't think to drive west down Lake Street in search of good grub. Not so far beyond the Loop the street enters what… Continue

Best Antiquity

Bristol/Balena chef Chris Pandel's fish sauce

2152 N. Damen Ave. 773-862-5555

http://thebristolchicago.com

Garum was an ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine condiment made from fermented fish guts. Sounds gross, but it was the culinary equivalent of turning… Continue

Best Free Cheese

Pimiento cheese spread at Barnaby's of Northbrook

960 Skokie Ave. 847-498-3900

http://barnabysofnorthbrook.com

Every day at 4 PM this independent outpost of the once-mighty pizza chain puts out a deep, complimentary bowl of pimiento cheese. Owner… Continue

Best Eastern European Afternoon Snack

Ukrainian dumplings and a Molotov Cocktail flight of vodka at Russian Tea Time

77 E. Adams St. 312-360-0000

http://russianteatime.com

The potato dumplings—vareniky—are almost as good as the ones my grandmother made, and the vodka's more interesting than what my grandfather drank. The vareniky… Continue

Best Corner for Rowdy Latino Seafood

Ashland and Cortez

1035 N. Ashland Ave. 773-486-6850

http://elbarcorestaurant.com

I begin with a disclaimer: I do not know where to find the best mariscos in the city. I only know that there's one… Continue

Best Vegan Korean Buffet

Dragonlady Lounge

3188 N. Elston Ave. 773-267-1970

http://myspace.com/dragonladylounge

Though it's been scaled back from a weekly to a monthly event, Dragonlady Lounge's vegan Korean buffet is a holy shrine for the sometimes… Continue

Best Place for a Vegetarian to Take a Visitor Craving Pork Blood

Tank Noodle

4955 N. Broadway 773-878-2253

http://tank-noodle.com

I could stare at Tank Noodle's menu for an hour, but that might annoy my dinner companions. With numbered dishes stretching into the hundreds—spring… Continue

Best Eight-Tentacled Creature Served on a Stick

Baby octopus skewers at Chizakaya

3056 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-697-4725

Baby octopus isn't even close to the most challenging item on Chizakaya's eight-item kushiyaki (skewers) menu, which also features duck hearts and chicken gizzards.… Continue

Best Hunter Beef Sandwich

Spinzer Restaurant

2331 W. Devon Ave. 773-338-9804

Hunter beef is the Pakistani version of corned beef, a brisket cured in a masala that—depending on the recipe—may include salt, saltpeter, sodium nitrite,… Continue

Best Lentil Soup

Taste of Lebanon

1509 W. Foster Ave. 773-334-1600

It is an inexorable fact that Andersonville will become, over time, one long uninterrupted strip of vintage-furniture shops. The moment I take to the… Continue

Best Deli With Soup That Changes Daily

Al's Deli

914 Noyes St. 847-475-9400

http://alsdeli.net

Open since 1949, this Evanston shop charms in its attempt to replicate a French deli, with vintage posters and photos of France hanging… Continue

Best Coffee Shop That Is Nothing Like a Coffee Shop

Caffé Streets

1750 W. Division St. 773-278-2739

http://caffestreets.com

Tired of huge rooms full of grubby layabouts sitting on color-clashing vintage furniture gazing into MacBook Matrix portals? Not to mention establishments that serve… Continue

Best Ethiopian Breakfast

Royal Coffee

6764 N. Sheridan Rd. 773-761-8100

http://royalcoffeechicago.com

Judging by the name, decor, and website, the owners of Royal Coffee are proudest of their coffee. They're not wrong to be: it's… Continue

Best 500-Calorie "Sack Lunch"

Allium's Brown Bag special at Bloomingdale's

120 E. Delaware Pl. 312-799-4900

http://alliumchicago.com

In the bag—well, actually on china—are three courses: an asparagus-leek terrine, grilled wild salmon with beet quinoa and English pea relish, and a scoop… Continue

Best Bakery With a Cute Patio

Fritz Pastry

1408 W. Diversey Pkwy. 773-857-2989

http://fritzpastry.com

The bar patio may be the go-to summer destination for all right-drinking people, but you'll find a runner-up in the bakery patio, where… Continue

Best Lutheran Dessert

Lithuanian Napoleonas torte, Racine Bakery

6216 S. Archer Ave. 773-581-8500

http://racinebakery.com

I first encountered this extraordinary dessert at New Pioneer Coop in Iowa City, Iowa, where it was shipped in from Omaha's Lithuanian Bakery.… Continue

Best Nonalcoholic Cocktail

Strawberry-Rhubarb-Citrus Ade, Frog N Snail

3124 N. Broadway St. 773-661-9166

http://frognsnail.com

When Dale Levitski's new Lakeview bistro, Frog N Snail, opened without a liquor license this spring, he and his GM/beverage director, Briar Brackney… Continue

Best Bar for Rare Spirits

The Drawing Room

937 N. Rush St. 312-255-0022

http://thedrchicago.com/kitchen/

"This makes Malort taste like strawberry Kool-Aid," Charles Joly says, pouring me the last few drops from a bottle of Amaro dell'Erborista, an… Continue

Best $40 Pour of Whiskey

Suntory Yamazaki sherry cask, Yusho

2853 N. Kedzie Ave. 773-904-8558

http://yusho-chicago.com/

Barkeep Alex Bachman keeps a fascinating collection of spirits, in particular a bunch of fine, uncommon Japanese whiskeys. Among them, this marvelous… Continue

Best Bitters-Based Cocktail Menu

Balena

1633 N. Halsted St. 312-867-3888

http://balenachicago.com

"People say that a bottle of Angostura lasts longer than most marriages, but not here," Balena mixologist Debbi Peek says. She's based her… Continue

Best Cocktail List Rooted in Midwestern Pride

Watershed

601 N. State St. 312-266-7677

http://watershedbar.com

It's hard to imagine anything local and organic growing under Pops for Champagne, yet underneath the glitzy bar there has sprouted out of… Continue

Best Wine List Lyricism

Telegraph Wine Bar

2601 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-292-9463

http://telegraphwinebar.com

Let's play a game. I'll recite descriptions from sommelier Jeremy Quinn's swoon-worthy wine list. You tell me which rhapsodic passage sounds most like your… Continue

Best New Bottled Beer

Pipeworks Brewing's Ninja vs. Unicorn Double IPA

I've been banging the drum for Pipeworks, the nanobrewery founded by Beejay Oslon and Gerrit Lewis, for more than two years now—ever since… Continue

Best Beer That Tastes Like the Desert

5 Rabbit Cerveceria's 5 Grass

I'll admit that I have no idea what the desert tastes like. But I do have an imagination, and 5 Grass, the latest release… Continue
Readers Poll

Best Fancy Restaurant

Winner: Alinea Continue

Best Bang for Your Buck

Winner: Big Star Continue

Best Chef

Winner: Grant Achatz (Alinea, Next, the Aviary) Continue

Best Up-and-Coming Chef

Winner: Mickey Neely (Scofflaw) Continue

Best Food Blog

Winner: Eater Chicago Continue

Best Named Restaurant

Winner: Girl & the Goat Continue

Best Food Trend

Winner: Food Trucks Continue

Best Cocktail List

Winner: The Violet Hour Continue

Best Cocktail

Winner: Juliet and Romeo (the Violet Hour) Continue

Best Mixologist

Winner: Danny Shapiro (Scofflaw) Continue

Best Wine List

Winner: Telegraph Wine Bar Continue

Best Sommelier

Winner: Alpana Singh Continue

Best Local Distillery

Winner: Koval Distillery Continue

Best Local Brewery

Winner: Half Acre Beer Company Continue

Best Brewpub

Winner: Revolution Brewing Company Continue

Best Local Brew

Winner: Daisy Cutter Pale Ale (Half Acre Beer Company) Continue

Best Local Spirit

Winner: Lion's Pride Organic Whiskey (Koval Distillery) Continue

Best Wine Shop

Winner: Lush Continue

Best Liquor Store

Winner: Binny's Continue

Best BYOB

Winner: Ciao Amore Continue

Best Place Worth a Wait

Winner: Kuma's Corner Continue

Best Alfresco Dining

Winner: Piccolo Sogno Continue

Best Late-Night Eats

Winner: Pick Me Up Continue

Best Restaurant for Kids

Winner: Wishbone Continue

Best Waitstaff

Winner: Bellezza Gelato Caffe Continue

Best-Looking Waitstaff

Winner: Lula Cafe Continue

Best Food Festival

Winner: Ribfest Continue

Best Food Truck

Winner: The Southern Mac & Cheese Truck Continue

Best Gourmet Market

Winner: Fox & Obel Continue

Best Local Grocer

Winner: Dill Pickle Food Co-op Continue

Best Local Food Product

Winner: Upton's Naturals Continue

Best Local Farmer

Winner: Nichols Farm & Orchard Continue

Best Farmers' Market

Winner: Logan Square Farmers Market Continue

Best Butcher Shop

Winner: Paulina Market Continue

Best Cheesemonger

Winner: Pastoral Continue

Best Barista

Winner: Tim Ashorian (Bellezza Gelato Caffe) Continue

Best Restaurant With a View

Winner: The Signature Room at the 95th Continue

Best Restaurant for Romance

Winner: Geja's Cafe Continue

Best Restaurant for a Cheap Date

Winner: Big Star Continue

Best Neighborhood Restaurant

Winner: Lula Cafe Continue

Best Bagels

Winner: New York Bagel & Bialy Continue

Best Bakery

Winner: Bleeding Heart Bakery Continue

Best Barbecue

Winner: Smoque Continue

Best Breakfast

Winner: M. Henry Continue

Best Brunch

Winner: M. Henry Continue

Best Burger

Winner: Kuma's Corner Continue

Best Chinese Restaurant

Winner: Friendship Chinese Continue

Best Coffee Shop

Winner: Bellezza Gelato Caffe Continue

Best Desserts

Winner: Hot Chocolate Continue

Best Doughnuts

Winner: Doughnut Vault Continue

Best Falafel

Winner: Sultan's Market Continue

Best Frozen Yogurt

Winner: Forever Yogurt Continue

Best Greek Restaurant

Winner: Greek Islands Continue

Best Hot Dog

Winner: Hot Doug's Continue

Best Ice Cream

Winner: Black Dog Gelato Continue

Best Indian Restaurant

Winner: Hema's Kitchen Continue

Best Italian Restaurant

Winner: Ciao Amore Continue

Best Korean Restaurant

Winner: San Soo Gab San Continue

Best Mexican Restaurant

Winner: Frontera Grill Continue

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant

Winner: Sultan's Market Continue

Best Pierogi

Winner: Kasia's Deli Continue

Best Pizza

Winner: Lou Malnati's Continue

Best Polish

Winner: Maxwell Street Original Continue

Best Pub Grub

Winner: Revolution Brewing Company Continue

Best Sandwich

Winner: Jerry's Continue

Best Seafood Restaurant

Winner: Shaw's Crab House Continue

Best Soul Food

Winner: Soul Vegetarian East Continue

Best Steak House

Winner: Gibsons Bar and Steakhouse Continue

Best Sushi

Winner: Tie: Coast Sushi Bar / Tank Sushi Continue

Best Taqueria

Winner: Big Star Continue

Best Thai Restaurant

Winner: Opart Thai House Continue

Best Vegetarian Restaurant

Winner: Chicago Diner Continue

Best Vietnamese Restaurant

Winner: Tank Noodle Continue

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