Nick's Hometown
Picks in Chicago

My take: Longman & Eagle is a Logan Square staple that has held up since 2010, and it has a Michelin star history to back it up. The kitchen runs farm-to-table, nose-to-tail American on a menu that changes constantly, so the dishes shift with the seasons, but the cooking has been a Chicago benchmark for breakfast and brunch for over a decade. The bar carries a deep whiskey list, which makes weekend brunch a little more fun, and if you go in the summer you can sit outside.

My take: Bar La Rue has French-American food, strong cocktails, and a room built to be a vibe and get your morning started. The standout feature is the all-season streetside seating, a 25-seat bar and dining area wrapped in greenery with heating and cooling so it works year-round. Brunch runs weekends starting at 10:30, with dishes like thick-cut French toast and a ham and cheese galette, a burger with cheese fondue, and the crispy crab eggs benedict. These all were very delicious. Fair warning: it leans lively, with a DJ and a loud later crowd, so come for the energy, not a quiet morning.

My take: The Oakville Grill & Cellar brings Napa Valley to Fulton Market, and brunch is where that comes through best. Being the wine lover that I am, naturally I gravitated towards this place. The room is warm and rustic, California-inspired with a Midwestern soul, and there is an all-season patio. The menu puts a wine-country spin on the classics. The Oakville Cinnamon Roll, swirled with blueberry and topped with cream cheese frosting and lemon zest, should always be ordered here. There is also a six-seat tasting room, the Cellar Door, if you want to make a wine afternoon of it.

My take: I didn't want to put Au Cheval on here because it is on the top of every list, but the hype is real. It is consistently called the best burger in the city, a griddled patty with dijonnaise, a squishy bun, thick-cut bacon, and a sunny-side-up egg. The room is an upscale diner, all exposed brick and a long bar, and it opened in 2012. Waits can run upward of two hours, so the move is to come early or grab a bar seat or go to Lone Wolf right next door. Pro Tip: the single is a double, the double is a triple, and the triple has 4 patties so you can pretend you are a local if you are visiting and make the mistake of telling the server you didn't order that.

My take: The StopAlong is a 1980s-inspired bar and restaurant a few steps off the 606, with arcade games in the back, old shows on their TVs, comic-book artwork on the walls, and a full dose of childhood nostalgia. The Stop-In burger, a double with American cheese, special sauce, and caramelized onions, well-charred and well-seasoned, is one of my favorites. They also have really good pizza if you are sharing with someone or feeling hungry. In the middle of Wicker Park and Bucktown so plenty of shopping and bars around the area after you eat.

My take: Mott St is an Asian-inspired, share-style restaurant and it is an unlikely place to find one of the best burgers in Chicago, but it is for sure here. The Mott Burger is two chuck patties with American cheese, crunchy sweet potato shoestrings, pickled jalapeños, dill pickles, miso butter onions, and hoisin aioli. The Korean and Japanese flavors running through it are what set it apart from every other burger on this list. One key thing to know: the burger is only available at your table before 7 PM, after that you can only get it at the bar. The rest of the menu is built for sharing, so come hungry.

My take: Pequod's is known for their deep dish, but not the typical kind you get at Lou Malnati's or Giordano's. The thing that sets it apart is the crust and fluffiness: the cheese gets caramelized along the edge of the pan into a buttery, slightly crispy ring. The pan pizza is the only thing to order here. They do take reservations or you can walk in and wait, but it can run a couple of hours. The good news is the neighboring Whale Tale bar is set up as the waiting area, so you can post up with a drink until your table is ready. Put your name down and get a beer next door while you wait for the best deep dish in Chicago.

My take: Piece Pizza is New Haven-style thin crust, which means a charred crust and three base options: red, white, or the traditional New Haven "plain" with red sauce, parmesan, and olive oil but no mozzarella. My personal favorite is the Hot Doug's Atomic Pizza, or you can build your own. It is also a real brewery, and the house beers have a wall of awards behind them. The room is lively, packed and built for hanging out. Go with friends, get a New Haven plain to start, and order a flight. Plenty of bars and shops around the area to explore after eating.

My take: Craft Pizza's whole pitch is direct: New York style, always slices, never squares, and BYOB. It is a small-batch artisan spot with a deliberately short menu, everything made in-house with quality ingredients. The room only seats around 20 to 25, with a solid outdoor patio in season, and you order at the counter. The pies come in 14 and 18 inch, with a Plain Jane base you build on, plus white pies with truffle oil and cremini mushrooms. Bring your own bottle, grab a slice, and enjoy.

My take: Rose Mary has Italian heritage crossed with the bold, bright flavors of Croatian cooking. The room is built to feel like a rustic family-run tavern you would find along the Croatian coast, with whitewashed walls and hanging plants. The kitchen runs around a charcoal grill and the menu leans on house-made pasta, risotto, seafood, and grilled meats. The tortellini djuvec and the burek are my 2 favorite dishes. In the West Loop so plenty of bars to go to after.

My take: Yuzu is one of my favorite sushi places in Chicago. It is a family-owned Japanese restaurant in West Town that has been open since 2011. The kitchen respects Japanese tradition but plays with it, running a seasonal menu of sushi and robata-grilled skewers. The space reminds me of eating sushi in Tokyo and they have old-school hip-hop on the speakers. The detail that makes it a true local pick: it is BYOB with only a $5 corkage, so a good sushi dinner here does not wreck the budget. Bring a bottle of white, get a spread of rolls and skewers.

My take: Cabra sits on the 12th-floor rooftop of the Hoxton hotel in Fulton Market, with two outdoor decks, fire pits, and a pool. The menu is Peruvian-inspired and built for sharing: ceviches and tiraditos, empanadas, anticuchos, and skirt steak saltado. I always order the hot chorizo and queso dip and the goat empanadas. Go at golden hour, enjoy the food and views.