Best Restaurants in (and around) Chicago's Uptown

The Best Restaurants in (and around) Chicago's Uptown

Breakfast:

• Sam and Gerties - Vegan takes on Jewish breakfast & lunch deli classics, offered at the counter in a casual setting.

  • HBL note: open limited hours, we like to go for breakfast on the weekend. We walk there, order, then bring it home. But if the weather is nice, there is outdoor seating. Even though it is vegan, non-vegans (like us) still really enjoy it! Ashley’s order: The Baykin; Eric’s order: Goldie’s Laks

• Breakfast House - A favorite Chicagoan spot to enjoy the most important meal of the day

  • HBL note: Ashley swears by the breakfast burrito.

• Golden House Restaurant & Pancake House (.4 mile) - Straightforward, old-school diner spot serving up full breakfasts plus burgers, burritos & more.

  • HBL note: an Uptown staple, probably best for dine-in.

Best Restaurants in (and around) Chicago's Uptown

Fast Casual/Lunch:

• Lucy’s - Fast-casual eatery serving a straightforward menu of fried chicken, burgers, fries & milkshakes.

• Uptown Underdawg - The closest place for a classic Chicago dog. They also served hamburgers, a variety of appetizers, and gelato.

Best Restaurants in (and around) Chicago's Uptown

Casual Dinner:

• O'Shaughnessy's Public House - Irish tavern featuring bar food, multiple TVs, weekly live music & a patio.

  • HBL note: We recommend trying the O'Shock's Rolls or Shepherd's Rolls for a unique Asian/Irish fusion.

• Michael’s Pizza - Low-key pizzeria & sports bar featuring more than 30 HDTVs & a menu of red & white pies & pub grub.

  • HBL note: Ashley’s go-to order is the Michael’s Special Pizza, hold the mushrooms. Dine-in or delivery.

• Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant - Lively, rustic spot with a large menu of traditional Mexican eats & a variety of margaritas.

• The Bar on Buena - Cozy bar featuring pub food & whisky/beer flights in a low-lit setting with a dog-friendly patio.

  • HBL note: this is our go-to neighborhood bar.

Best Restaurants in (and around) Chicago's Uptown

Nicer Dinner:

• The Reservoir - Upscale pub with New American food, craft beers & sports on TV in a chic wood & leather setting.

  • HBL note: We like to stop here on a walk to/from the lake. It is a nice place for brunch or dinner.

• Fat Cat - Bar with 1940s decor featuring comfort-food eats, beers & cocktails plus pool table & sports on TV.

• Spacca Napoli - Casual spot with Neapolitan-style thin-crust pizzas served in a rustic space with patio seating.

  • HBL note: Amazing pizza, a real Chicago gem.

• PR Italian Bistro - Bistro-style, Italian-inspired, global cuisine in a warmly lit space.

  • HBL note:Nice cocktail menu, too.

• Brass Heart - a post-modern American restaurant offering a seasonal tasting menu. 

  • HBL note: This is a high-end spot best suited for a celebration. We haven’t been yet, but we’re looking forward to trying it!

Best Restaurants in (and around) Chicago's Uptown

Foods from Around the World:

• Demera Restaurant - Casual Ethiopian eatery with shared plates, house-roasted coffee & traditional music on weekends.

  • HBL note: This is the kind of cuisine Uptown is known for. We don’t have a go-to order, we barely know what we are ordering, but it is always good. For dine-in or delivery.

• BienMeSabe Venezuelan Cafe & Restaurant - Unassuming eatery featuring traditional Venezuelan grub, including empanadas, arepas & plantains.

  • HBL note: This restaurant is BYOB, so bring something from home or stop by the liquor store on the corner of Montrose and Ashland.

• Tac Quick - A Michelin Bib Gourmand winner, TAC Quick has been serving delicious, authentic Thai food to the neighborhood for over 20 years.

  • HBL note: We haven’t been here yet, but it is high on our list!

• Rojo Gusto - elevated Mexican street food

  • HBL note: We ordered a variety of tacos and loved every single one.

Best Restaurants in (and around) Chicago's Uptown