Chicago
I went to Chicago for the first time this past September and this city definitely lived up to the hype. Unsurprisingly, I spent most of the trip on a scavenger hunt for the best food in “The Windy City”. With only 2 days in Chicago and two meals to eat out (because we had a guided food tour on one of the days), I had some tough decisions to make - so I consulted the locals for their advice.
Avec
Avec is a very tiny and narrow restaurant in Chicago’s West Loop that serves Mediterranean food with a Midwestern twist. Originally conceived as a wine bar with little nibbles, the food here became so popular that the concept evolved to offer the converse: a restaurant serving a great meal corroborated by stellar wine list. Avec is a Bib Gourmand, which means it’s a Michelin-rated restaurant that is recommended for its simple, yet skillful cooking, served at a reasonable price.
The plates are meant to be shared, and the generous portion sizes (perhaps in thanks to the Midwestern influence) which ultimately left us rolling out of the restaurant.
Sawada Coffee
Sawada Coffee not only boasts some of the most clever and delicious matcha drinks in town (try it with the macadamia nut milk), but they also have the coolest interior I’ve ever seen in a coffee shop. The inside is huge with string lights and shares a patio adjacent some food trucks. It is a scene! But when I’m here I prefer people watching by the window and looking out at the street.
Bonci Pizza
I always thought I the first pizza I would have in Chicago would be deep dish, Chicago-style pizza. But instead I keep finding myself gravitating towards Bonci’s Roman-style Pizza. The slices here are cut to order with sheers, so you can get a variety of pizza flavors all at once.
Mott Street
Mott Street is located on an unexpected street, so walking into this beautiful elongated restaurant feels like quite the contrast. The food here is Asian fusion, but not in the mishmashed way that doesn’t make sense. The flavor combinations, like their kimchi empanadas are delicious!