About this guide: Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, and we tend to stick to our own. This is by no means a comprehensive review of the Chicagoland dining options. These are simply the places I love eating at and think you might too. I will add to this guide as I discover new places or remember ones I forgot. I purposely do not include pizza in this list. I don’t know how to judge pizza because even the bad stuff is good to me. This information is also available on a Google map which you can access by clicking HERE.

This restaurant may be a-once-in-a-lifetime meal for most of us but I can honestly tell you that it is worth whatever insane price you have to pay for dinner. It is one of the most memorable dining experiences of my life.

A very charming Italian spot in Andersonville. Crazy good food and nice people. I am especially fond of their outdoor patio during the summer months.

Chicago has a bakery problem. There seem to be countless mediocre bakeries and then a few with one or two exceptional items. There are only a couple bakeries I would recommend enthusiastically. One of them is Bittersweet, which offers nice pastries and surprisingly good lunches. A couple of sandwiches, soups and salads are offered each day—many are excellent.

A charming bistro in Bucktown. I love the space and am particularly fond of their fixed price menu on Tuesday nights—for $25 you get transported to France for a couple of hours.

Consistently good neighborhood restaurant that receives national attention. Local, seasonal, casual. One of my favorite places to bring friends.

Another Evanston favorite that serves excellent Italian food in a charming atmosphere. Great for a weeknight meal or a special occasion.

Chicago’s best bakery, by far, and it isn’t even open yet! Sandra Holl and her team create such brilliant pastries and breads that all of Chicago is anxiously awaiting the opening of their bakery space. It is sure to be my favorite new place of 2010. Until that happens, order by phone or find them at a farmer’s market. Truly, the best.

Gourmet market with a really nice selection of products. Lots of stuff you can’t find elsewhere in Chicago. I am a big fan of their butchers and they are a great source of ethically raised meats. Fancy in a fun way.

The popularity of this market continues to grow. So much so that long-time shoppers, like myself, can get a bit annoyed by the crowds on Saturdays. I try to remind myself that the hundreds of people buying local, organic produce from farmers they can get to know is a good thing. The Wednesday market is much more peaceful.

Just pies. Wonderful pies. Enough said.

We may all go there for Mindy Segal’s desserts but dinner is also worth a trip. They serve a mean brunch on weekends.

Is Hot Doug’s the most written-about hot dog stand in the world right now? Maybe. It deserves it. Phenomenal encased meat products. Good fries. The line will be almost a block long when you arrive—it is worth the wait.

This popular Costa Rican restaurant situated on Milwaukee Avenue between Wicker Park and Logan Square is worth going to for the tamarind shake alone. The excellent shakes accompany flavorful food and friendly service.

I may have eaten at Logan Square’s Lula Cafe more than any other restaurant in Chicago. And have never had a bad meal. It is a Chicago classic that focuses on local, seasonal foods. Still cool after all these years.

Marion Street Cheese Market is half gourmet grocery store and half café. There is so much to love about this place: the attentive and knowledgeable staff in the cheese and wine sections, the sophisticated and satisfying food coming out of the kitchen and the commitment to sustainability and local producers. The service in the café leaves a lot to be desired, but it is still the best place to eat on your way to see some Frank Lloyd Wrights.

I went to grad school at Northwestern and ate here at least once a week for two years. Not everything is great but the Reshmi Kabob blows my mind. Tender pieces of chicken breast cooked until silky in a sour cream sauce. If you find yourself in Evanston, you will not be disappointed by Mt. Everest.

If you have met Paco, the chef/owner of New Rebozo, you love Paco. And you will likely also love his restaurant because of him (the tasty Mexican food and well crafted moles also help).

I discovered this place late and am full of regret for the years I went not knowing I could actually get a good bagel in Chicago. It is open 24 hours a day, which I also like.

Lula Cafe (see above) opened another restaurant in Pilsen and I like it a lot. I especially like the outdoor patio on a warm Chicago night. The savory bread pudding is ridiculously good.

Located on the north side of the city in Albany Park this is one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Chicago. Serving delicious Persian cuisine to very devoted regulars. The plate of feta, radishes and onions that they serve at the start of the meal is pure genius. And there are some good Middle-Eastern markets and bakeries in the neighborhood to wander through afterward.

Donuts. I am like Homer Simpson when it comes to donuts. I don’t know if there is a food I like better. The donuts that are fried up fresh every Saturday morning at the Oak Park farmers markets are among the best I have eaten. Like really, really amazing. They also feature a nice selection of vendors, many of which also sell at Green City Market.

Platters of oysters make me very happy and the Publican has some very nice oysters. The menu at the neo-Belgian Beer hall focuses on pork and fish, serving them in a beautifully designed space. This place deserves all of the praise it receives. Fantastic beer selection.

A new addition to the Chicago dining scene from some trusted veterans. It is probably silly of me to put a restaurant that just recently opened on this list but I had such a good experience here that I am doing it anyway. I also know that many of you stay on Michigan Avenue when visiting Chicago and this is the first time good food has found its way onto the magnificent mile. The fried deviled eggs are crazy good and I dream about their olive oil soft serve.

Art Smith serves up satisfying Southern/comfort food in one of the prettiest dining rooms in Chicago. Art seems to visit my table every time I am there—he is such a kind and generous man, quick to share a good story or a recipe. The place is full of love.

Okay, so here’s the thing: I like both of these places alot but I think they are a little inconsistent and if they have been hyped up to you I am afraid you could order wrong and be disappointed. Some things amazing, some don’t quite work for me. The overall experience is good though. So, I recommend them. With reservations. However, I have no reservations about the soft serve by Mindy Segal (see Hot Chocolate) at Belly Shack.

My favorite place to get a cocktail in Chicago. Avoid it on weekends when it turns into long waits and silly people. Go on a Wednesday after work and enjoy the peaceful space, and have a Daisy 17 for me.

A family Mexican restaurant located in an ugly strip mall in the suburbs of Chicago may not be your idea of a dinner worth traveling for, but you would be wrong. A couple of years ago I had a 3 melon soup here that Bryan and I still talk about. Consistently good, and often great, food.

We didn’t know what to expect at this family run restaurant in Cicero but were blown away by the food from the Yucatán. Super spicy and flavorful. The folks working there are so kind and happy to explain dishes and make recommendations. Order the pumpkin dessert—caramelized pieces of pumpkin served chilled. It is phenomenal.

Rick Bayless does it again. This is my favorite of his Chicago restaurants serving tortas and soups that will knock your socks off. But let’s be honest, I go there for the churros.