The tiny Uptown restaurant is easily the most exciting fine dining restaurant to open in Chicago in years. It's BYOB, so load up on wine, and get ready for a masterful series of dishes. While the summer menu is different from the one I had, anything chef Jake Bickelhaupt puts in front of you is going to be delicious.
With 2014 half over, it's time to take stock of the new restaurants that have opened*. And there have been many. The Italian juggernaut shows no sign of slowing. We've added even more fried chicken places, and barbecue joints continue to open. While I've eaten pretty well overall at the 25+ restaurants I've reviewed, there have been a few places that really stood out. These are the spots I unequivocally recommend when people ask what I've liked recently, and I'd happily go back to any of them for dinner tonight.
*This list includes places that opened in December 2013, which were too late to make my 2013 year-end best list.