This West Loop bistro was just named one of America’s best new restaurants by Bon Appétit, and their roast chicken is perfection

New restaurants always generate buzz, but some demonstrate lasting star power right from the beginning. Chicago’s Creepies is one of those rare spots, earning coveted recognition from Bon Appétit as one of the 19 Best New Restaurants in America in 2026. This standout venue has proven to be a breath of fresh air in the West Loop, with a daring, hyper-specific vision realized through playful experimentation.

Conceived by culinary power-couple David and Anna Posey of Elske fame, Creepies sits right next door to their flagship, but it marches entirely to its own beat. Under the direction of chef de cuisine Tayler Ploshehanski, the kitchen rewrites the tired, stuffy rules of traditional French dining. Instead of playing it safe with standard Parisian clichés, Creepies infuses precise French technique with a distinct, irreverent Midwestern soul with brilliant regional nods.

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Mussels are steamed with spicy Chicago giardiniera, and a tarte flambée is served tavern-style, sliced into thin, familiar squares. Warm Brie gougères act as glorious, buttery flavor bombs that burst on the first bite, while a reimagining of the croque-madame layers pillowy Parisian gnocchi under a crackling sheet of paper-thin brik pastry.

The menu’s undeniable showstopper is its roast chicken, prepared over three full days. Perfectly crisp on the outside, succulent within and rooted in pure bistro tradition, it captures the exact ethos of the restaurant: taking a timeless classic and elevating it with confidence, depth and care.

Creepies invites guests to rethink what a modern bistro can be. By choosing bold personality and regional charm over play-it-safe trends, Creepies has earned its place alongside other standouts like Kawaba in New York, Little Mountain in Montecito and Saint Claire in New Orleans.

The best new restaurants in America, according to Bon Appétit

• Agnes and Sherman, Houston
• Casa Juani, Boulder
• Junior, Nashville
• Anjin, Kansas City
• Creepies, Chicago
• Kawaba, New York
• Bayonet, Birmingham
• Honeysuckle, Philadelphia
• Le Calamar, Austin
• Broken Spanish Comedor, Los Angeles
• Jules, San Francisco
• Lei, New York
• Leo's, Santa Fe
• Little Mountain, Montecito
• Maison Bar a Vins, Washington D.C.
• Maria Isabel, San Francisco
• Saint Claire, New Orleans
• Sao, Philadelphia
• The Wayland Mill, Seattle