This ten reads as a cultural map of downtown Chicago rather than a menu tour: behind almost every sign stands a named author. Quartino Ristorante opened in December 2005 as the Italian project of chef and co-founder John Coletta. The Purple Pig Restaurant followed in 2009 under Jimmy Bannos Jr., a fourth-generation restaurateur who sharpened his knives in New York. Girl & The Goat arrived in 2010, when Stephanie Izard turned a West Loop warehouse district into what is now America’s most famous Restaurant Row, and Alla Vita took over the former Bellemore space in September 2021 under Lee Wolen.
The second axis is scenography. STK Steakhouse plays River North as a club, with a rippling light installation crossing the ceiling and a DJ working through dinner. Duck Duck Goat rebuilds a decades-old Chinatown banquet hall out of woven banquettes, vintage fans and flea-market finds, while Aba floats above Fulton Market as a rooftop greenhouse of olive trees and vines. Choose by the stage you want your evening played on.
Highlights
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Editors' pick:
STK Steakhouse -
People's favorite:
Aba
Opening hours
Every place in this selection stays open late.
Check the hours before you set out — they shift on holidays and out of season.
Full ranking
1. STK Steakhouse · ⭐ 9.5
(17188 reviews)
+9 photos
9 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Cuisine: Steak & grill
A 4.7 over 17,000+ reviews — a must-visit for steak with nightlife energy. Premium steaks, a DJ atmosphere and cocktails.
«My boyfriend and I were here for our anniversary and really loved it! Our server, Cody, wa…»
2. Quartino Ristorante · ⭐ 9.5
(16121 reviews)
+9 photos
626 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Cuisine: Italian
A 4.7 over 16,000+ reviews — a reliable choice for authentic Italian.
«A wonderful high-end Italian spot that really stands out, especially for its focus on smal…»
3. Aba · ⭐ 9.7
(10305 reviews)
+9 photos
302 N Green St 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Cuisine: Mediterranean
A 4.8 and a lovely patio — a must-visit for Mediterranean food with a view.
«Ate here for the first time, stopped in for lunch on a Saturday. To start we ordered the c…»
4. The Dearborn · ⭐ 9.5
(9565 reviews)
+9 photos
145 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
Cuisine: American
A 4.7 and a handy location — a reliable downtown pick. Seasonal American food, a strong bar and a central spot.
«I found a real classy American burger at The Dearborn — with a farm Angus beef patty and W…»
5. Girl & The Goat · ⭐ 9.5
(7880 reviews)
+9 photos
809 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Cuisine: American
A 4.7 and Stephanie Izard's fame — one of Chicago's top gastro addresses. Shared plates, goat dishes and an open kitchen.
«When I found out I was coming to Chicago for a week, the first thing I did was book a tabl…»
6. The Purple Pig Restaurant · ⭐ 9.3
(7408 reviews)
+9 photos
444 N Michigan Ave Upper Level, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
Cuisine: Mediterranean
A 4.6 and cult status — a must-visit for Mediterranean bites.
«A tasty and filling lunch! We started with shared appetisers of pig ears and bone marrow,…»
7. River Roast · ⭐ 9.3
(5658 reviews)
+9 photos
315 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Cuisine: American
A 4.6 and a waterside patio — a must-visit for the views and roasts. A riverside location, shared roasts and a patio.
«On our last day here we had a wonderful breakfast. The menu was simple and compact, but ev…»
8. Provare Chicago · ⭐ 9.7
(5582 reviews)
+9 photos
1523 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, United States
Cuisine: Italian
A 4.8 and a modern approach — a good choice for Italian. Wood-fired pizza, house pasta and cosiness.
«The food was so tasty that I ate here twice during my vacation. You could tell it was fres…»
9. Duck Duck Goat · ⭐ 9.5
(5467 reviews)
+9 photos
857 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Cuisine: Asian
A 4.7 and a signature style — a must-visit for creative Chinese food.
«Overall, I was quite satisfied with the whole experience of today's lunch. Although the pr…»
10. Alla Vita · ⭐ 9.7
(5186 reviews)
+9 photos
564 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
Cuisine: Italian
A 4.8 and Boka-group quality — a must-visit for house pasta.
«Alla Vita is a wonderful place in the West Loop. The atmosphere alone makes it worth a vis…»
At a glance
| # | Place | Score | Reviews | Stands out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | STK Steakhouse | ⭐ 9.5 | 17 188 | Editors' pick |
| 2 | Quartino Ristorante | ⭐ 9.5 | 16 121 | — |
| 3 | Aba | ⭐ 9.7 | 10 305 | People's favorite |
| 4 | The Dearborn | ⭐ 9.5 | 9 565 | — |
| 5 | Girl & The Goat | ⭐ 9.5 | 7 880 | — |
| 6 | The Purple Pig Restaurant | ⭐ 9.3 | 7 408 | — |
| 7 | River Roast | ⭐ 9.3 | 5 658 | — |
| 8 | Provare Chicago | ⭐ 9.7 | 5 582 | — |
| 9 | Duck Duck Goat | ⭐ 9.5 | 5 467 | — |
| 10 | Alla Vita | ⭐ 9.7 | 5 186 | — |
Questions & answers
Which place tops the ranking? STK Steakhouse — score 9.5/10 (Editors' pick).
How many places are in the list and how were they chosen? The selection includes 10 places chosen by our editors based on rating and reviews.
What is the average rating in the top? 9.5/10 — average score of 10 places in the list.
Which place has the most reviews? STK Steakhouse — 17188 visitor reviews.
For a large table, the rooms built for company are Alla Vita, enormous under hanging plants and suspended curtains; The Purple Pig Restaurant, whose long communal tables turn strangers into tablemates; and Duck Duck Goat, a chain of rooms laid out for eating family-style. If you want a program, not only dinner, River Roast fills its riverfront floors with live blues on weekends, The Dearborn sets Sunday brunch to live jazz, and Provare Chicago hides a speakeasy-style lounge with DJ sets downstairs. Every room here takes guests until late and works on Sunday.
The limits are real. This is a downtown selection — River North, Fulton Market, the West Loop, the Loop and West Town — so the South Side and outer neighborhoods are absent. Italian and Mediterranean hold four of the ten places; apart from Duck Duck Goat’s Chinese kitchen and the Creole-Italian hybrid of Provare Chicago, no other Asian, Mexican or Indian cooking appears. And nothing here opens early: this is an evening list.
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