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
Aragon is gorgeous inside, but the sound is notoriously dodgy. The Riv often feels like the lesser little sibling of that stately ballroom. So no wonder an institution like Green Mill cleaned up on the Far North Side. Yes, Al Capone was here. It's historial, yadda yadda yadda. But the joint remains a vital piece of the local jazz scene. Patricia Barber still holds down Monday nights, while a heavy dose of organists provide a vibe as chill as the martinis on the weekend.
Don't ever renovate. Don't you dare start brewing craft beer in the back. We better not walk in one day and see pressed tin tiles on the ceiling. Okay, fine, the floor needed to be redone, but we swear, if one Edison bulb goes in a sconce… Look, the pissy, sticky, PBR ambience is the main reason we—and so many underground bands—keep coming back.
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