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Logan Square’s Ugo’s Offers New Takes on Italian Favorites

Logan Square’s Ugo’s Offers New Takes on Italian Favorites

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Logan Square, Restaurants, Reviews

When I lived near the intersection of Armitage and California a few years ago, the food options were fairly limited and imbalanced. You could have a high-end foodie meal at Table, Donkey and Stick or grab a hot dog at the Tastee Freez. All of that has changed...
Artango Combines a Passion for Art, Dance, and South American Cuisine

Artango Combines a Passion for Art, Dance, and South American Cuisine

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Restaurants, Reviews

Ravenswood’s Artango serves authentic South American cuisine, but it’s also a dance studio and something of an avant-garde art gallery– all packed in a hundred-year-old former factory. That certainly makes Artango one of the most unique dining experiences in the city....
Tasting the Spring Menu at Unite Urban Grill

Tasting the Spring Menu at Unite Urban Grill

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Noble Square, Reviews, West Town

The West Town area over the past couple years has truly become a hip place to hang out thanks to trendy shops and boutiques and great restaurants. The latter includes Unite Urban Grill, a sleek and chill neighborhood steakhouse concept. I was invited to stop on by the...
North Center’s Kick is a Haven for Spicy Food Fans

North Center’s Kick is a Haven for Spicy Food Fans

by Chicago Traveler | North Center, Restaurants, Reviews

Kick, which replaced Sola in late 2015, is a gastropub in North Center focusing on spicy food. Though fiery burgers, sandwiches, and other casual pub food with a kick make up the bulk of the menu, the restaurant takes influence from all around the world. People from...
Blackwood BBQ Makes Getting Smoky Loop BBQ Easy

Blackwood BBQ Makes Getting Smoky Loop BBQ Easy

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews

While visitors to our city may have hot dogs and deep dish pizza on their minds, Chicagoans are well aware of our city’s rich, if not complicated, barbecue scene. There’s not exactly one specific Chicago-style barbecue with many rich traditions divided by...
Twisted Spoke Celebrates 20 Wild Years of Bikes, Beers, Burgers and Brunch

Twisted Spoke Celebrates 20 Wild Years of Bikes, Beers, Burgers and Brunch

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Drinks, Reviews, West Town

With its rusted metal exterior and a revolving skeleton motorcycle rider atop a ‘garden’ of motorcycle parts, Twisted Spoke may seem a little intimidating upon first glance. While biker-themed, the bar attracts a wide range of customers to its easily...
Porkchop offers Casual & Hearty Barbecue in Chicago

Porkchop offers Casual & Hearty Barbecue in Chicago

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews

Earlier this summer, the Chicago Traveler visited CHOP just before it opened to serve shoppers and residents of the Roosevelt Collection. This time around we visited CHOP owner Jovanis Bouargoub’s original restaurant concept: Porkchop. Porkchop serves a variety of...
Davanti Enoteca : How to turn Hunger into Satisfaction

Davanti Enoteca : How to turn Hunger into Satisfaction

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews

I found myself wandering the streets of Chicago one evening. I was aimlessly walking around snapping photos when the slight growl of my stomach made me realize that I had yet to eat anything that day. I made a couple phone calls to get recommendations from friends,...
New York Delicatessen Resurrects a Neighborhood Classic

New York Delicatessen Resurrects a Neighborhood Classic

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Lakeview, Reviews

Deli and sub sandwich fans are intensely passionate, even to the point where there are fierce rivalries around massive chains like Subway and Jimmy John’s. New York Delicatessen owner Isaac Work was once such a fan, driving regularly from Bridgeport to the...
Tasting the Wines of Rías Baixas at Little Goat

Tasting the Wines of Rías Baixas at Little Goat

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Drinks, Chicago Eats, Near West Side, Reviews, West Loop

Up a secretive set of stairs at Little Goat, the casual sibling restaurant of Girl & the Goat, lies a gorgeous private dining space featuring a sleek, modern kitchen, a homey and bright dining area, accompanied by a rooftop area with a gorgeous view of the...
Flagship Chicago – You Don’t Need To Be A Sports Fan

Flagship Chicago – You Don’t Need To Be A Sports Fan

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Lakeview, Reviews

Flagship, to many, may seem like just another typical sports bar. Upon first glance, I wouldn’t argue with you. However, being that sports games were flooding the copious amount of screens throughout the venue and my table didn’t pay attention to any of them one bit–...
Belly Up Smokehouse Brings Southern Barbecue to the South Loop

Belly Up Smokehouse Brings Southern Barbecue to the South Loop

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Restaurants, Reviews, South Loop

Walking into Belly Up, you’ll be astounded by how surprisingly huge it is. The restaurant is very long and has these really high ceilings. The vibe is Chicago warehouse industrial with lots of brick, exposed fixtures, and wood ceiling beams with some subtle cowboy...
Emporium Arcade Bar Unites Adulthood With Childhood at 3 Locations

Emporium Arcade Bar Unites Adulthood With Childhood at 3 Locations

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Drinks, Logan Square, Reviews, Suburbs, Wicker Park

Emporium Arcade Bar fuses retro with modern in a harmoniously entertaining way. Some of you may have been born slightly too late to remember the days when arcades were a place that you wanted to go almost as badly as you wanted to go to Disney World (those commercials...
Southport & Irving Transports the Jazz Age to Modern Day Lakeview

Southport & Irving Transports the Jazz Age to Modern Day Lakeview

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Lakeview, Reviews

Located in Lakeview’s Southport Corridor, Southport & Irving (SIP) is a classy yet relaxed cocktail bar and restaurant taking inspiration from the days of speakeasies and jazz clubs giving it the feeling it’s been around since the days of Capone and Machine Gun...
The Stretch Bar & Grill – Wrigleyville’s Best Burger

The Stretch Bar & Grill – Wrigleyville’s Best Burger

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, Wrigleyville

The idea of going to a Wrigleyville bar could either be the greatest or worst thing every depending on who you are. If that is your scene, there’s certainly no shortage of places to choose from to watch the game, grab some lunch, or have a boozy weekend. Located just...
The Gold Coast’s Coconutz Takes Chicago to the Tropics

The Gold Coast’s Coconutz Takes Chicago to the Tropics

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Drinks, Chicago Eats, Reviews

It’s clear with a name like “Coconutz” the owner’s of the Gold Coast’s newest bar don’t take themselves too seriously. Taking influences from traditional Tiki Bars, which has made a major comeback in recent years– and the Caribbean, Coconutz promises fun and the...
Q-Tine is Your New Favorite Logan Square Fast Food

Q-Tine is Your New Favorite Logan Square Fast Food

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Logan Square, Reviews

I’ll admit it: I’ve been there before. As a former resident of Logan Square, there would be many weekends where I’d be out with a group of friends, hopping from bar to bar on Milwaukee Avenue, and end up looking for some food. But, the kitchen at Revolution Brewing...
Kanela Breakfast Club = Sweet and Savory in Streeterville

Kanela Breakfast Club = Sweet and Savory in Streeterville

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews

Chicago has no shortage of breakfast and brunch options. Stumble out bleary-eyed on a Sunday morning and even the grease bucket on the corner is probably offering some fried egg hotdog nightmare’there are so many places to grab brunch that it’s easy to...
Madison Public House – A Logan Square Essential

Madison Public House – A Logan Square Essential

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Logan Square, Reviews

Madison Public House has been in business for nearly 3 years. Upon opening, they wanted to create an atmosphere that provided an all-in-one experience; they have succeeded. They may possess a bar appearance, but that is not strictly what they are. Rather than going to...
Boiler Room is Logan Square’s Best Dinner Deal

Boiler Room is Logan Square’s Best Dinner Deal

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Logan Square, Reviews

I almost put the claim in the title as ” Boiler Room Chicago’s Best Dinner Deal ” but that would be a hard claim to fully backup. However, even with Chicago being so expansive and the food scene constantly exploding– Boiler Room remains as one of the best bangs for...
Leghorn Café: Ukrainian Village Chicken Staple Comes to River North

Leghorn Café: Ukrainian Village Chicken Staple Comes to River North

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, River North

Since opening in March 2014, Ukrainian Village’s Leghorn Chicken has become a favorite of hipsters, neighborhood residents, and Chicago’s fried chicken enthusiasts. They boldly positioned themselves as the anti-Chik-fil-A with Sunday hours, branded condoms, and...
Imperial Lamian Brings Authentic Chinese Food to Chicago – Move Over Ramen

Imperial Lamian Brings Authentic Chinese Food to Chicago – Move Over Ramen

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, River North

Chicago has been taken over by a fever for Japanese ramen noodles. Within walking distance from my apartment alone, I can think of four places I could go for noodles. Jakarta, Indonesia-based Imperial Lamian, a restaurant group with more than 20 locations, picked...
Lottie’s Pub : aka 81 Years of Crazy History

Lottie’s Pub : aka 81 Years of Crazy History

by Chicago Traveler | Bucktown, Chicago Drinks, General Information, Reviews

On May 16, 2015, Bucktown neighborhood bar Lottie’s Pub celebrated an incredible 81 years in business. While the sports dive now seems like an outlier in the gentrified neighborhood, the pub was packed with people enjoying .81 cent burgers and beers and generally...
Mixed Greens Is Reinventing Fast Food in Chicago

Mixed Greens Is Reinventing Fast Food in Chicago

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews

While America may have exported the bulk of its manufacturing jobs overseas, more and more restaurants are adopting the assembly line model such as Chipotle. One of the more recent additions is Mixed Greens, fast food restaurant focusing on organic and healthy salads,...
Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya Overcomes its Competitors in the Chicago Ramen Scene

Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya Overcomes its Competitors in the Chicago Ramen Scene

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Restaurants, Reviews, West Town, Wicker Park

When we last visited Kizuki Ramen at the end of winter, it was their first night of service. Though Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya is a chain spanning from Japan to the Pacific Northwest, they were breaking in a new staff, trying to get the whole menu together, and...
Velvet Taco is a Welcome Addition to the Gold Coast

Velvet Taco is a Welcome Addition to the Gold Coast

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Gold Coast, Reviews

Does a Texas-based taco concept have anything to offer Chicago? While Chicago may already have an insane number of incredible taquerias, Velvet Taco in the Gold Coast manages to offer something different with tacos influenced by world cuisine. Whether you’re a fan of...
Wicker Park Goes Southern at Carriage House

Wicker Park Goes Southern at Carriage House

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, Wicker Park

Chicago is a lot more than hot dogs and deep dish pizza, proof of which is the city’s growing love for Southern cooking and barbecue. Evidence of this is Carriage House, which serves modern low country Southern food to Wicker Park at 1700 W. Division Street. We...
On The Border Naperville – Taco Tuesday Satisfaction

On The Border Naperville – Taco Tuesday Satisfaction

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, Suburbs

I found myself in Naperville on perhaps the most sacred day of the week– Taco Tuesday. With no lunch plans, my own two feet for transportation, a craving for tacos and wide eyes– I spotted the On The Border Naperville location just down the road. This Tex-Mex...
Riot Fest – the Good, the Bad & the Muddy

Riot Fest – the Good, the Bad & the Muddy

by Chicago Traveler | Entertainment, Events, Reviews, Top 10 Music Venues

Riot Fest is perhaps the oddest duck of the major Chicago summer music festivals. It feels something like a combination of Pitchfork, early 90s Lollapalooza, Warped Tour, and the Gathering of the Juggalos– thanks to its diverse, often random, lineup and collection of...
Eastman Egg Company is the Breakfast You Really Want

Eastman Egg Company is the Breakfast You Really Want

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews

An egg sandwich at brunch can be a wonderful thing; however, when you’re in the rush before work it always seems like your only option is to run into McDonalds or Starbucks. Eastman Egg Company is out to change that. They started with the idea that you can get an...
The Tastes of the New Spring Menu at the Stretch

The Tastes of the New Spring Menu at the Stretch

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Lakeview, Reviews

The last time I was at the Stretch, I was in pursuit of their award-winning Cortland Street Burger and walked away with a very happy stomach. I made a return trip to the Wrigleyville sports bar and grille to sample their new spring menu—launching March 12—created by...
De Noche Mexicana Embraces Mexican Cuisine in Logan Square

De Noche Mexicana Embraces Mexican Cuisine in Logan Square

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Logan Square, Reviews

Gentrification has drastically transformed Logan Square in the last few years from a primarily Latino neighborhood to hipster paradise with both positive and negative results. For all the cool bookstores like Uncharted and great restaurants like Lula Caf and Longman...
The General Direction For Your Beer & Taco Needs

The General Direction For Your Beer & Taco Needs

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews

The General, in Logan Square, is a hot spot for craft beer and satisfying food. Their focus is on soul food and artisan tacos– which is a mighty fine combination if you ask me. Their daily special is really one of the best in Chicago. For $8ºº you can have yourself...
Forno Rosso Creates Some of the Best Pizzas in Chicago

Forno Rosso Creates Some of the Best Pizzas in Chicago

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, West Loop

Forno Rosso owner, Nick Nitti spent a large part of his childhood in Italy where he fell in love with the simplistic pizza in Naples. That led him to attend culinary school in Italy, study Neapolitan pizza in Naples, and open Forno Rosso back near his home in...
Butcher & the Burger – the Perfect Burger, Created by You

Butcher & the Burger – the Perfect Burger, Created by You

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Lincoln Park, Reviews

While fun in concept, build-your-own burger places like Meatheads or Five Guys have always left me feeling a little let down. Either the toppings are good but the meat hovers around McDonald’s quality, or the toppings are pretty basic. Lincoln Park’s Butcher &...
With Steadfast, the Fifty/50 Group Embraces Fine Dining

With Steadfast, the Fifty/50 Group Embraces Fine Dining

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Restaurants, Reviews, The Loop

Chicago’s the Fifty/50 Group has so far been known for their eclecticism with restaurants ranging from the namesake sports bar to Roots Handmade Pizza to craft cocktail lounges like the Berkshire Room. With the recent opening of Steadfast in the Loop’s business...
LuxeHome Chill : raising money for charity with wine, food & boutiques

LuxeHome Chill : raising money for charity with wine, food & boutiques

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Drinks, Chicago Eats, Entertainment, Reviews

Wandering through the boutiques that make up LuxeHome (website), on the first floor of Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, you didn’t know what you’d find. Tucked away in model bathrooms, kitchens with Wi-Fi ready refrigerators, and next to paint...
The Fifty/50 Has Been Renovated and Reinvigorated

The Fifty/50 Has Been Renovated and Reinvigorated

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Restaurants, Reviews, Wicker Park

Chicago has a vibrant food scene with new restaurants and concepts constantly popping up. But how do you continue to stay relevant when your restaurant has been around for nearly a decade? Case in point: the Fifty/50. The sports bar was one of the first of its kind on...
Challenge Your Tastebuds and They’ll Side with Rojo Gusano

Challenge Your Tastebuds and They’ll Side with Rojo Gusano

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews

Chicago’s Albany Park is one of the most diverse areas in the city, if not the entire country. About half of the population of the neighborhood is made up of foreign-born immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Korean, Yugoslavia, Somalia, and many, many more...
Revival Food Hall Brings Neighborhood Charm to the Office

Revival Food Hall Brings Neighborhood Charm to the Office

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Restaurants, Reviews, The Loop

It’s noon and time for lunch. You’ve really got a craving for Antique Taco, but there’s definitely not enough time to go to Wicker Park and back on your meager lunch break. I guess you’ll have to settle for Taco Bell again… If this is the sad existence you’ve led as a...
SIP’s Late Night Brunch Menu Reinvigorates the Meaning of Eating Late

SIP’s Late Night Brunch Menu Reinvigorates the Meaning of Eating Late

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Lakeview, Reviews, Uptown

You’ve been hitting up the bars for a bit and have a solid buzz going. You’re thinking about calling it a night, but ready for one last stop and there’s got to be food. Pulling up Yelp, there’s not a lot options other than super greasy, but you’re looking for...
Caffè RoM Adds Italian Coffee Shoppe Flair To Downtown

Caffè RoM Adds Italian Coffee Shoppe Flair To Downtown

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, The Loop

Caffè RoM is an Italian-style coffee shop with three locations in downtown Chicago: Prudential Plaza, the Hyatt Center, and River East. They specialize in Fair Trade coffee creations, gourmet Panini sandwiches, and freshly made gelato. The River East location is the...
Relax With a Beer and Bar Bites at Tradition

Relax With a Beer and Bar Bites at Tradition

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Drinks, Chicago Eats, Reviews

As I approached Tradition, I thought to myself ‘oh no, not another sports bar.’ Not that there’s anything wrong about sports bars, but they can be very similar: sports memorabilia, dozens of flat screens, and pretty good burgers. Fortunately,...
A Classy Burger Dinner at Weber Grill Restaurant in River North

A Classy Burger Dinner at Weber Grill Restaurant in River North

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Restaurants, Reviews, River North

The red Weber Grill has been a staple of American backyards since the 1950s, but you may not be aware that the iconic kettle was born right here in Chicago. In 1952, George Stephen Sr. was a part-owner of the Weber Metal Works in Chicago crafting marine buoys....
Jackson Avenue Pub in Naperville – Killer Burgers & Malort

Jackson Avenue Pub in Naperville – Killer Burgers & Malort

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Naperville, Reviews, Suburbs

Whenever I find myself in Naperville, Jackson Avenue Pub seems to be my go to spot (followed by Quigley’s Irish Pub). The atmosphere is pretty low-key and their food is spot on– especially if you have burgers on your mind. Atmosphere The interior of Jackson Avenue Pub...
L’Appetito Chicago – the Deli You’ve been Looking for

L’Appetito Chicago – the Deli You’ve been Looking for

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Gold Coast, Reviews

As I’m sitting here reminiscing about my last visit to L’Appetito, which a friend of mine highly recommended, I find myself mowing down a sandwich that I just just whipped together in my kitchen. I’ve always had a deep appreciation for a simple, yet satisfying...
Cochon Volant Adds Full Service Sophistication to the Loop

Cochon Volant Adds Full Service Sophistication to the Loop

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, The Loop

Our recent list of the best Chicago burgers was not without its share of controversy. After its publication, I was told I had to go over immediately to Cochon Volant and try their Le Cheeseburger Royale. Translated as “Flying Pig,” Cochon Volant recently opened in the...
Wicker Park’s MAK Fuses Traditional Chinese and Modern Healthy Eating

Wicker Park’s MAK Fuses Traditional Chinese and Modern Healthy Eating

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, Wicker Park

Division Street in Wicker Park is rich in bar food, but if you just want a quick bite on your way home from work your options are pretty limited and pretty greasy. Thankfully, there’s MAK: Modern Asian Kitchen. MAK is a fast casual, counter-service restaurant...
Rosebud Celebrates 40 Year Anniversary at Carmine’s

Rosebud Celebrates 40 Year Anniversary at Carmine’s

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews

In 1975, following two years of success running a Loop luncheonette, Alex Dana took over a Little Italy Men’s Supper Club, reopening as Bocciola della Rosa. Soon rechristened in English as Rosebud, the restaurant became incredibly popular with locals, visiting...
The Commonwealth Tavern Brings Fine Dining to the Sports Bar

The Commonwealth Tavern Brings Fine Dining to the Sports Bar

by Chicago Traveler | Chicago Eats, Reviews, Roscoe Village

Have you ever wanted to go out and watch the game without having to eat the same old sports bar food? Sports bars are a dime a dozen in Chicago, but the Commonwealth Tavern (2000 Roscoe Street in Roscoe Village) stands out from the pack by merging your favorite bar...
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Reviews

  • Logan Square’s Ugo’s Offers New Takes on Italian Favorites
  • Artango Combines a Passion for Art, Dance, and South American Cuisine
  • Tasting the Spring Menu at Unite Urban Grill
  • North Center’s Kick is a Haven for Spicy Food Fans
  • Blackwood BBQ Makes Getting Smoky Loop BBQ Easy


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Reviews

  • Logan Square’s Ugo’s Offers New Takes on Italian Favorites
  • Artango Combines a Passion for Art, Dance, and South American Cuisine
  • Tasting the Spring Menu at Unite Urban Grill
  • North Center’s Kick is a Haven for Spicy Food Fans
  • Blackwood BBQ Makes Getting Smoky Loop BBQ Easy

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