Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
Restaurant list

Chicago's Most Iconic Restaurants

A photo of Red logo
by The OpenTable team
Updated December 15, 2023
Seasons change, trends come and go, but these restaurants have withstood the test of time—and have become integral parts of the Chicago dining scene. Here are Chicago’s OpenTable Classics: the places that continue to excel after 10+ years. There’s a reason they’re still around: they keep giving us a reason to come back.
Boka
4.8 (7321)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Lincoln Park
Boka is the flagship restaurant of the Chicago empire Boka Restaurant Group, the place that launched no less than a dining revolution. The contemporary-American menu still feels contemporary—we love the vegetable-heavy dishes in particular—and the space is both upscale and cool. The excellent service doesn’t hurt, either.
Top review
JohnVIP
Dined 2 days ago
An amazing dining experience as always. The duck was beyond magnificent, and Augustus as always is a rock star!
Boka is the flagship restaurant of the Chicago empire Boka Restaurant Group, the place that launched no less than a dining revolution. The contemporary-American menu still feels contemporary—we love the vegetable-heavy dishes in particular—and the space is both upscale and cool. The excellent service doesn’t hurt, either.
Top review
JohnVIP
Dined 2 days ago
An amazing dining experience as always. The duck was beyond magnificent, and Augustus as always is a rock star!
Sepia
4.8 (5443)
$50 and over
Contemporary American
West Loop
Upon walking into Sepia, it’s clear that this is a special restaurant; the exposed-brick walls and crystal-dripping chandeliers make this one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city. The food is just as wonderful as the ambiance, with a modern American menu that incorporates touches of Southeast Asian, Korean, and Mediterranean cuisines. It’s no wonder Michelle Obama called it one of her favorite restaurants.
Top review
Troy
Dined 2 days ago
Finally had a chance to eat here and it was simply amazing. One of the best starred restaurants my wife and I have been to. The food was so good, great flavors. Ashley our server was 6/5 stars!
Upon walking into Sepia, it’s clear that this is a special restaurant; the exposed-brick walls and crystal-dripping chandeliers make this one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city. The food is just as wonderful as the ambiance, with a modern American menu that incorporates touches of Southeast Asian, Korean, and Mediterranean cuisines. It’s no wonder Michelle Obama called it one of her favorite restaurants.
Top review
Troy
Dined 2 days ago
Finally had a chance to eat here and it was simply amazing. One of the best starred restaurants my wife and I have been to. The food was so good, great flavors. Ashley our server was 6/5 stars!
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
4.9 (17861)
$50 and over
Seafood
River North (Chicago)
Joe’s Stone Crab is a Miami institution, and when it opened in Chicago, it became an instant institution of its own. You’re here, of course, for stone crab, platters of it that you’ll crack open and devour—but don’t sleep on the steaks, too, which are some of the best in the city.
Top review
SusanVIP
Dined 1 day ago
Such a wonderful Chicago dining experience! Service and food are excellent!
Joe’s Stone Crab is a Miami institution, and when it opened in Chicago, it became an instant institution of its own. You’re here, of course, for stone crab, platters of it that you’ll crack open and devour—but don’t sleep on the steaks, too, which are some of the best in the city.
Top review
SusanVIP
Dined 1 day ago
Such a wonderful Chicago dining experience! Service and food are excellent!
The Gage
4.8 (12196)
$30 and under
American
Downtown / Loop
The menu at The Gage, a handsome, elegant gastropub in Millennium Park, spans the globe, with dishes like crispy harissa drumsticks, poutine, Thai coconut curry, and a perfect rendition of fish and chips. And if you’re game for game, The Gage has some of the city’s best examples of it, with an excellent bison tartare, venison burger, and roasted New Zealand rack of elk.
Top review
DerekVIP
Dined today
The service was excellent and I would thoroughly recommend the pub scotch egg - it was delicious!
The menu at The Gage, a handsome, elegant gastropub in Millennium Park, spans the globe, with dishes like crispy harissa drumsticks, poutine, Thai coconut curry, and a perfect rendition of fish and chips. And if you’re game for game, The Gage has some of the city’s best examples of it, with an excellent bison tartare, venison burger, and roasted New Zealand rack of elk.
Top review
DerekVIP
Dined today
The service was excellent and I would thoroughly recommend the pub scotch egg - it was delicious!
Le Colonial - Chicago
4.8 (8061)
$50 and over
Vietnamese
Gold Coast / Streeterville
For a quiet, lovely, and delicious dinner, head to Le Colonial, a French-Vietnamese restaurant in Gold Coast that’s been serving top-notch dishes like spring rolls, banana-leaf-steamed trout, and lemongrass chicken since 1996. The service is friendly and attentive—and if you’d like, they’re more than happy to help you navigate the expansive menu.
Top review
SandraVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Awesome service and delicious food! Beautiful ambiance.
For a quiet, lovely, and delicious dinner, head to Le Colonial, a French-Vietnamese restaurant in Gold Coast that’s been serving top-notch dishes like spring rolls, banana-leaf-steamed trout, and lemongrass chicken since 1996. The service is friendly and attentive—and if you’d like, they’re more than happy to help you navigate the expansive menu.
Top review
SandraVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Awesome service and delicious food! Beautiful ambiance.
RL Restaurant
4.8 (7503)
$31 to $50
American
Gold Coast / Streeterville
Right next to the world’s largest Polo store you’ll find RL Restaurant, Ralph Lauren’s first foray into the dining sphere. You’re here for American classics like shrimp cocktail, pigs in a blanket, dover sole, and crab cakes, all served in a handsome room that is both clubby and chic.
Top review
TonyVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Impeccable service and superb food. Just what you would expect from the Ralph Lauren name.
Right next to the world’s largest Polo store you’ll find RL Restaurant, Ralph Lauren’s first foray into the dining sphere. You’re here for American classics like shrimp cocktail, pigs in a blanket, dover sole, and crab cakes, all served in a handsome room that is both clubby and chic.
Top review
TonyVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Impeccable service and superb food. Just what you would expect from the Ralph Lauren name.
Shaw's Crab House & Oyster Bar - Chicago
4.8 (14483)
$50 and over
Seafood
River North (Chicago)
There are few better places to dine on gorgeous seafood than Shaw’s Crab House, a Chicago institution in River North. Choose between the 1940s-style dining room or the more-casual Oyster Bar, and get to work; we particularly recommend the stone crab claws, the chilled shellfish platters, and whatever oysters are on the menu that day.
Top review
Jeff
Dined 2 days ago
I love this place! The food is amazing. Have been to both the Chicago and the Schaumburg locations
There are few better places to dine on gorgeous seafood than Shaw’s Crab House, a Chicago institution in River North. Choose between the 1940s-style dining room or the more-casual Oyster Bar, and get to work; we particularly recommend the stone crab claws, the chilled shellfish platters, and whatever oysters are on the menu that day.
Top review
Jeff
Dined 2 days ago
I love this place! The food is amazing. Have been to both the Chicago and the Schaumburg locations
Mon Ami Gabi
4.8 (8312)
$30 and under
French
Lincoln Park
Mon Ami Gabi has been serving French bistro classics—think escargots, chicken-liver mousse, steak au poivre, and trout almondine—for twenty years. The plant-filled space is also a lovely place to spend a lunch or dinner, with tiled floors, mirror-lined walls, and tons of natural light.
Top review
Jeffrey
Dined 1 day ago
It's a classic, great ambience in a cool building right on the park. Great food great service. 
Mon Ami Gabi has been serving French bistro classics—think escargots, chicken-liver mousse, steak au poivre, and trout almondine—for twenty years. The plant-filled space is also a lovely place to spend a lunch or dinner, with tiled floors, mirror-lined walls, and tons of natural light.
Top review
Jeffrey
Dined 1 day ago
It's a classic, great ambience in a cool building right on the park. Great food great service. 
Shanghai Terrace
4.9 (2357)
$31 to $50
Chinese
Gold Coast / Streeterville
On the seventh floor of the Peninsula Hotel you’ll find Shanghai Terrace, a gorgeous jewel box of a restaurant serving upscale Cantonese food. The dim sum in particular is not to be missed—especially the pork buns and peekytoe-crab dumplings—and the views are not to be missed.
Top review
BrianVIP
Dined 7 days ago
Place and food are always awesome. Max might be the best waiter in Chicago.
On the seventh floor of the Peninsula Hotel you’ll find Shanghai Terrace, a gorgeous jewel box of a restaurant serving upscale Cantonese food. The dim sum in particular is not to be missed—especially the pork buns and peekytoe-crab dumplings—and the views are not to be missed.
Top review
BrianVIP
Dined 7 days ago
Place and food are always awesome. Max might be the best waiter in Chicago.
Explore other cities and regions
A photo of Saskatoon
Saskatoon
A photo of Montreal
Montreal
A photo of Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
A photo of Toronto
Toronto
A photo of Ottawa
Ottawa
A photo of Manitoba
Manitoba
A photo of Edmonton
Edmonton
A photo of Calgary
Calgary
A photo of Vancouver
Vancouver
A photo of Yukon
Yukon
A photo of NW Territories
NW Territories
Other ways to experience the world through dining
Must Try Korean Dishes The GreatsExplore Asian-Owned and -Operated RestaurantsExplore Award-Winning Restaurants on OpenTable The Best Bars on OpenTableTKTKThe Best Restaurants for Breakfast on OpenTableThe Best Brunch RestaurantsThe Best Burgersbest cafe in town
Discover
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Our sites
Businesses
  • Delight more diners
  • Open for Business Blog
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo