Chicago’s favorite downtown bar is missing only one thing—the bar. You can peer behind a metal cage to see drinks being concocted by Grant Achatz’s team, led by Micah Melton. No vessel is off-limits for serving, with an expertly crafted old-fashioned appearing inside a perfect sphere of ice, a sazerac in a flask and a cognac-filled teapot billowing with dry ice. With all the whimsy, theatrics and booze, it’s hard not to find yourself smitten.
As thorough as our critics are, nobody knows the city’s restaurants, coffee shops, bars, stores, storefront theaters and music venues like Time Out readers.
With this in mind, back in October we launched the Love Chicago Awards to find out more about the local businesses that make your area of the city incredible. Now, after an intense voting period in which nearly 7,000 of you had your all-important say, it’s our great pleasure to reveal the restaurants you love above all others. There were a few close calls (and a few freakin’ landslides), but through it all one thing was clear: Chicagoans are truly passionate about their neighborhoods.
All of which just leaves us to say congratulations to all of this year’s winners, and a hearty thanks to everyone who voted. Now get out there and show your winners some love.
RECOMMENDED: Full list of Time Out Love Chicago Awards winners
