Amy Cavanaugh

Between work, life and adulting (the worst), it’s rare that Chicagoans have time to explore our own magical city. Visitors travel from across the globe to experience Chicago's best restaurants, iconic attractions, festivals and luxury hotels—and we deserve to indulge in some R&R, too. From spas with Dead Sea-like float pools to the "Mexican Magnificent Mile" to a 1920s-themed burlesque cabaret, you can enjoy a vacation without having to sit in traffic on I-90 or suffer through delays at O’Hare. So pack a bag and get ready to explore the city like never before with help from our guide to the best things to do on a Chicago staycation. RECOMMENDED: The best weekend getaways from ChicagoRECOMMENDED: The best day trips from ChicagoRECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in Chicago

Founded by Czech immigrants who named it after the city where pilsner beer was first produced, Pilsen is emblematic of the waves of immigration that have shaped Chicago. Known for its vibrant murals and arts scene, the Lower West Side neighborhood has a large Latino population and is the place to go if you want to hit up the best Mexican restaurants in Chicago for authentic tacos, chicharrones or conchas, which are among the city’s best cheap eats. But the area also features its own style of pizza and some excellent barbecue and Vietnamese fare. So hop on the train to 18th Street and check out the best restaurants in Pilsen. RECOMMENDED: Discover the best bars in Pilsen

River North is home to many of Chicago’s most popular attractions, but locals also flock downtown to take advantage of its bustling nightlife and visit some of the best restaurants in Chicago. Densely packed with dining destinations, you’ll find tasting menus helmed by top chefs as well as waterfront and Riverwalk restaurants where the breathtaking views are as memorable as the food. Whether you’re looking for sushi, steak or even vegan fare, our guide to the best restaurants in River North will lead you to a delicious meal. RECOMMENDED: Discover the best bars in River North

Odds are you've probably had a good night out on the town in Wicker Park or Bucktown. With some of the best bars in Chicago lining the streets, it's easy to see why people head to the area to have a good time. You can spend an evening time traveling to dive bars that haven't changed in decades, get something fancy at a world-class cocktail bar or sip in style with views of the city from a rooftop. No matter your palate, its easy to find something you'll enjoy in these neighborhoods—so make a decision with the help of our guide to the best bars in Wicker Park and Bucktown. RECOMMENDED: Discover the best restaurants in Wicker Park and Bucktown

Home to the Bulls, Blackhawks and a wide range of shows, the United Center is a popular venue year round. And thanks to its close proximity to the best restaurants and bars in West Loop, there are plenty of places to fuel up before going to an event. The following spots are either convenient, quick or simply just excellent—all qualities we can appreciate when there are post-meal festivities to attend. If you want a burger, the Loyalist or Billy Goat Tavern are sure to hit the spot. Have some time to spare? Grill your own meat-filled feast at Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ. Heck, there’s even a Wisconsin-inspired supper club inside the stadium for those who don’t want to stray far. Regardless of what you’re craving, check out our guide to the best spots around the United Center so you don’t have to settle for run-of-the-mill concession foods the next time you’re there. RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to the best restaurants in Chicago

A bagel offers a perfect start to the day, whether you want a quick snack you can eat on the run with a cup of coffee or the extra fuel of a sandwich piled with smoked fish and cream cheese. Chicago and the North Shore offer plenty of options to satisfy your cravings, from traditional Jewish delis that have been serving breakfast for decades to brand new concepts that started as pop-ups or pandemic pivots. You'll also find bagels at some of the best bakeries in Chicago, where you can linger with your laptop or pick up a dozen to share at the office. Whatever your favorite style or schmear, this list of the best bagels in Chicago has you covered. RECOMMENDED: Discover more of the best restaurants in Chicago

River North and Streeterville house some of the most popular nightlife destinations in Chicago. Chic nightclubs and swanky lounges line the streets, where you can order bottle services while watching DJs spin, and upscale cocktail bars serve tasteful spins on classic drinks alongside inventive concoctions. There are even a few bars that cut the frills and keep the Chicago dive spirit alive. Whatever you're in the mood for, you'll be sure to find it at the best bars in River North and Streeterville. RECOMMENDED: Discover the best restaurants in River North

Located just north of Chicago, Evanston is best known as the home of Northwestern University but it also boasts gorgeous beaches and an excellent dining scene. The city is full of contrasts—delicious dives and amazing bakeries complement elegant steakhouses and seafood restaurants—and brand new concepts thrive alongside decades-old institutions. Some spots are delivery- and takeout-only, so you’ll want to bring your food to a park or one of the tables at Fountain Square. Whatever you’re looking for, hop on the Purple Line or Metra and check out one of the best restaurants in Evanston. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Chicago

Undeniably, Pilsen is home to some of the best Chicago restaurants. However, it's also a great place to grab a pint or cocktail. Once you've finished your meal at a Pilsen restaurant, keep the good times going at some of the best nearby bars, too. Cocktail enthusiasts can enjoy alluring elixirs while craft beer connoisseurs can find something at the best breweries in the neighborhood. Some of these bars host popular DJ sets, which can turn the night into a dance-a-thon very quickly. So be sure to stick around a while, with your drink of choice in hand, at the best bars in Pilsen.  RECOMMENDED: Discover more things to do in Pilsen, Chicago

France has one of the world’s most celebrated culinary traditions, but you don’t need to fly across the ocean to get a taste. Some of the best restaurants in Chicago serve French fare, offering new spins on classic dishes like steak tartare and foie gras. The city is home to beloved institutions that have been dishing out French onion soup for decades, as well as new spots exploring French-Moroccan and French-Canadian cuisine. There are cozy wine bars pouring Champagne and bordeaux and outdoor restaurants where you can pretend you’re people-watching in Paris. Book a spot at one of the best French restaurants in Chicago to take your tastebuds on a culinary journey. RECOMMENDED: Discover the best Chicago restaurants

Hyde Park is one of the city's most vibrant neighborhoods and its dining scene has been rapidly evolving over the past several years. From acclaimed newcomers to enduring classics, you've got plenty of great options that cover all types of cuisines. There's comforting Southern fare from Erick Williams, amazing Italian restaurants, mouthwatering burgers and much more. Whether you live in the area or are just visiting, grab breakfast, brunch or dinner at the best Hyde Park restaurants. RECOMMENDED: Discover more of the best restaurants in Chicago

Wrigleyville bars don't exactly have the best reputation. They're known for being loud, smelly and sometimes rowdy (especially if the Cubs are on). But if you're trying to get in on the action, there's no denying that these North Side watering holes will put you in the epicenter of excitement. Whether you're looking for a fan-packed beer bar that's plastered with TVs or a quiet cocktail lounge with sophisticated sips, there's a place for you to sit back and watch the game in this non-stop neighborhood. Put on your favorite Cubs T-shirt and grab a seat at our favorite Wrigleyville bars.

Occasionally I’ll drink wine at a cocktail bar or a cocktail at a beer bar, but for the most part, I stick with what each bar does best. That’s hard to do at Band of Bohemia, an innovative new brewpub from Alinea vets Craig Sindelar and Michael Carroll, because the cocktail and wine lists are incredibly thoughtful as well. The beers, made with ingredients like beets and thyme, are Carroll’s purview (you can spy the tanks through a window behind the bar), while Sindelar pours well-selected wines and Carlos Matias III (Dusek’s) serves exceptional cocktails. It’s hard to decide where to start, though any of the warm and capable bar staff and servers can point you in the right direction. Since you’ll likely be sampling a couple different things, here’s more good news—the food, from Matt DuBois (EL Ideas, Inovasi) and Kevin McMullen (The Brixton), features ingenious combinations of ingredients and is well-executed across the board. The menu is divided based on beer pairings, and $3-$4 samples of beers are available. So that means you can, and should, pair spicy, tender prawns and carrot kimchi with orange chicory rye ale, or the tender potato cake accented by romesco and piparras with savory grilled apple tarragon beer. Even desserts, like spongy almond cake with caramel, have suggested beer pairings; here it’s a nutty basmati and maitake brew. Band of Bohemia sells tickets through Tock (unsurprising, given the Alinea connection), but while you can book the chef’s table or prix fi

Brendan Sodikoff already proved that he can serve great coffee and pastries (see: Doughnut Vault, C.C. Ferns); now, he's teamed up with Japanese latte artist Hiroshi Sawada to open this new cafe within Green Street Smoked Meats. Enter off Green Street and you'll find yourself in the front of the barbecue restaurant—that gives it an odd vibe, though the space is clearly delineated and really, you're there for the coffee anyway. The main attraction is the military latte, Sawada's signature drink that's visually stunning and quite strong. It's roasty from espresso, slightly bitter from the green tea and warmed with gentle notes of white chocolate. Pair it with a camouflage doughnut from Doughnut Vault, which matches the latte with drizzles of chocolate and matcha. The rest of the offerings include straightforward espresso drinks, plus spiked options like shochu and iced coffee or Benedictine and chai. The cafe is open till 4pm, so consider it your evening starting point.

Oyster Bah, the new seafood spot from Lettuce Entertain You, is a bit of a misnomer. Besides being ridiculously silly (shouldn’t it be “Oystah Bah,” if you’re truly trying to embrace a Boston accent?), the name doesn’t fully get across how wide-ranging the menu is. Oysters from both the East and West coasts share menu space with New Orleans barbecue shrimp, fish tacos and tuna poke. Classic New England dishes are here, but this restaurant is more of a paean to American seafood, in all styles, rather than a New England seafood shack. And that’s a fine thing, given how expertly chef Peter Balodimas prepares dishes. Starting with raw or chilled seafood is necessary, and cleanly shucked oysters, teeming with liquor, pop with a drop of tangy stout granita, while plump chilled shrimp come with or without a sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning. On the cooked side, a pair of hearty New England stuffies pack chopped clams and chorizo into quahog shells—it’s a classic dish I love but never see around Chicago. Entrees are fairly simple, like steamed crab legs with lemon and butter for dunking, though the most buzzed-about dish, the crispy one-sided snapper, is a scene-stealer. Spicy Thai chili glaze adds heat to the flaky fish, which is served on the bone. It’s not surprising that Oyster Bah is so strong so soon after opening—it’s the little sister to Shaw’s Crab House, which has long been my favorite Chicago seafood restaurant. Though between the casual space and thoughtful drink offerings he

Italian food is meant to be shared, and at Monteverde, that's never an issue. Fill your table with a smogasboard of small plates, handmade pastas and shareable mains (read: they're freakin' huge). You absolutely mustn't skip the burrata e ham starter—which comes with warm English muffin-like rounds called tigelle—nor the spaghetti al pomodoro, a simple but soul-affirming dish that stars Grueneberg's spot-on roasted tomato sauce. The following review was published in 2016. A top chef serves her own take on Italian classics Sarah Grueneberg left Spiaggia to open her own restaurant, Monteverde, in late 2015, but while she brought along the masterful Italian techniques she honed there, she left the fine dining trappings on Michigan Avenue. At Monteverde, the Top Chef alum's wonderfully relaxed West Loop restaurant, assistant servers wear Blackhawks hats, a TV flips on when the hockey game starts and a gluten-free menu is featured prominently on the website—a nice touch for a pasta-focused restaurant.  That menu is important, since the pastas are the main draw. Made in house, they’re all perfectly cooked and accompanied by sauces and ingredients that look surprising on the menu, but make sense once you’ve taken a bite. The cacio whey pepe ratchets up the classic with four peppercorns and whey, so it’s creamy and intensely peppery. To make the wintery tortelloni di zucca, Grueneberg stuffs squash into delicate pasta, then serves it with apples and bacon. If you sit at the bar, you’

Restaurants within restaurants and bars within bars have been taking off lately—it helps owners maximize space and try out smaller concepts. Recently, Heavy Feather opened inside Slippery Slope and DAS Doner inside the Radler, and now Swift & Sons joins them with Cold Storage. The oyster bar only takes up a fraction of Boka and B. Hospitality’s sprawling steakhouse, but it makes a big impact, with fresh and cooked seafood dishes.  Start with oysters, which are available by the half or whole dozen or as part of a seafood tower. The perfectly shucked offerings change regularly, and on my visit included bivalves from Rhode Island and Massachusetts, teeming with liquor. Chilled crab legs aren’t on the menu, but ask nicely and you’ll receive fat chunks of crab to dip in horseradish-heavy cocktail sauce or creamy mustard. It’s hard to fill up on raw seafood, so order a refreshing Louie wedge salad with a generous amount of crab, or grilled octopus tentacles atop a bell pepper-nduja spread. The best, though, are the sardines, large, meaty fillets, accented with salsa verde. To eat: Spritz the fish with lemon, then place atop a saltine. End with a sundae or shake from Meg Galus, whose fresh mint ice cream is marvelous.  Employees of the future West Loop Google office will be able to pop over to Cold Storage for lunch, and the menu includes sandwiches like shrimp banh mi. They’re extra lucky, because they can also head right next door to the steakhouse for dinner. Vitals Atmosphere: T

Chicago is home to some of the best steakhouses in the world but few can match the vibe and aesthetic of Maple & Ash. Upstairs on the posh second floor dining room, you’ll spot groups of 20-somethings celebrating birthdays, couples on date nights or power brokers doing business. Chef Danny Grant’s menu aims to please with delicacies like caviar, fire-roasted seafood towers, dry-aged beef and truffle agnolotti. Oh, and save room to build your own sundae for dessert. The following review was published in 2015. The Gold Coast steakhouse marries irreverence with spot-on takes on classic dishes. I didn’t expect to find myself in the middle of a clubby lounge in a steakhouse at midnight, but Maple & Ash inverts expectations. You enter the Gold Coast restaurant through a crowded bar, then take the elevator upstairs to a lively lounge before being whisked into the calm, elegant dining room. I also didn’t expect the chef's choice option to be called "I Don't Give a Fuck” or the “Baller” seafood tower, but I did expect classic steaks and sides from chef Danny Grant and exceptional wines from sommelier Belinda Chang.  The dichotomy places Maple & Ash in line with other new steakhouses, like RPM Steak, Swift & Sons, STK and Boeufhaus, which update classic dishes while offering a cooler ambience than old-school spots. The meal begins with a round of freebies—a mini gin cocktail, citrus-cured olives, nubs of Hook’s cheddar and radishes with butter—to snack on while you peruse the menu. Sea

Heisler Hospitality is on a roll this year—the group’s British-Indian beer bar, Pub Royale, opened in May, then in November, they opened Queen Mary Tavern, a bar that focuses on maritime drinking. Either theme could easily have been gimmicky, but Heisler knows how to put the right people in charge. At Queen Mary Tavern, Dan Smith and Mony Bunni have assembled a list of cocktails that’s true to the theme—rum, gin and Scotch abound—while using unexpected ingredients and offering sophisticated flavor profiles.  Take the Stone’s Throw, which uses tahini to add sesame notes to the smoky base of Scotch and cream, while a shower of nutmeg over the top ties it all together. Albatross combines gin and madeira with Angostura and coriander for an herbal sip, and St. Erasmus is a tall, icy swizzle with funky rum and some heat from chili. My favorite is Mood Indigo, which I can imagine an epicurean pirate assembling from the spoils of his travels; with port, St. Lucian rum, Batavia Arrack, cardamom and jaggery (cane sugar from Asia and Africa), it’s richly flavored, and a whole egg adds a smooth mouthfeel. The bar had been empty for four decades before Heisler took it over. The space previously held a neighborhood tavern run by Mary Kafka, the namesake for Queen Mary, who still lives upstairs. Many of the original pieces, like the bar, remain in place, which makes Queen Mary feel like it’s been there forever. Luckily the drink list doesn’t—it’s a fresh look at three familiar spirits and a

I can’t recall the last time a salad was the most memorable thing from a night at a bar, but Bar Marta isn’t your standard bar. Piled high with anchovy dressing–slicked lettuce, shaved Parmesan and a shower of bonito flakes, it’s one of the best Caesars I’ve had, an umami-laden dish that was on every table in the restaurant. And it shouldn’t be a surprise, given the pedigree at Bar Marta. Owner Austin Baker, an alum of Brendan Sodikoff’s Hogsalt empire, assembled a crack team of former Hogsalt employees—chefs Jeff Pikus (Hogsalt), Ben Ruiz (High Five Ramen) and Scottie Harrel (Maude's Liquor Bar), plus Christina Carrera (Au Cheval) running the bar program. Echoes of Sodikoff restaurants appear in the dark, cozy space and small plates, but Bar Marta is more relaxed, a good thing in restaurants these days, and has its own point of view. The drink list is accomplished, but Carrera makes it approachable for a bar in a neighborhood—the menu of $10 cocktails includes the bright, Scotch-fortified Absinthe Minded, while the Japanese cocktail, an elegant cognac-orgeat concoction, is a classic too rarely seen. The list features hard-to-find orange wines (basically white wines made like reds), but also two wines for $5 a glass. The food menu is mostly small plates and a few entrees, like a dish of spicy pickles and olives to nibble alongside a drink; a beautifully roasted chicken with slices of fried bread; pillowy cheese gnocchi and a tropical caramel-topped banana-rum cake. Some misst

When family comes to town (or you just want a low-key staycation), the Guesthouse Hotel is a charming base for exploring Andersonville or the north side. Each room is a two- or three-bedroom suite with a kitchen (stocked with cookware and glasses), a balcony with a grill and a washer and dryer. While the hotel is located within a few blocks of excellent restaurants and bars (and each room comes with a helpful guide to the neighborhood offerings), you can also have ingredients delivered to cook yourself in the kitchen or order meals from local spots, including Baker & Nosh, River Valley Farmer's Table and Southport Grocery. The hotel also has free Wi-Fi as well as a small gift shop with locally made products and a pantry stocked with local food and drink for late-night cravings. The lobby space is decked out during the holiday season, with cozy couches and fireplaces that encourage lingering.

Pastoral, the local cheese shop, now has a wine bar. A short list of wines is available by the bottle, glass and half glass, which makes it easy to try a variety. The wine list regularly changes, but the Jochen Beurer riesling was wonderfully dry and stony, while the Barboursville chardonnay was a crisp and clean way to start the evening. Appellation serves composed cheese plates that focus on themes, like New Classics, with a funky camembert from Minnesota and salty Jasper Hill Clothbound Cheddar. Cheese is present in most of the bar snacks and larger plates, including toast piled with tomato-leek relish, an anchovy and hard podda cheese. Housemade charcuterie includes country pate with extra depth from bacon and a showstopping rabbit rillette, capped with whipped mustard butter.

Just when it seemed that the fried chicken bubble was dangerously close to bursting, here is Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, a storied Memphis import that serves tender chicken cocooned in a light, thin exterior that shatters when you cut into it. It’s spicy, with heat that gently sneaks up on you, though not remotely close to the incendiary Nashville-hot style at the Roost and not so hot that it doesn’t benefit from a squirt of Crystal hot sauce out of a plastic packet. I usually prefer dark meat, but Gus’s breasts are surprisingly juicy and flavorful.  The chicken, which is fried in peanut oil, is available in single pieces, combinations of up to 20 pieces or a half bird. It comes with white bread, very sweet baked beans and crisp cole slaw. Adding on the cornmeal-crusted fried green tomatoes is a good call, though the too-soft mac and cheese is not. The dessert menu is comprised of pies and a root beer float, and the chess pie is sweet without being cloying.  Gus’s has outposts across the South, though the Chicago location is the first phase of an ambitious expansion that includes openings in Detroit, Kansas City and Los Angeles. I can’t speak to the fried chicken scenes in those cities, but in Chicago, even though the past two years have brought us exceptional fried birds at The Roost, Honey Butter Fried Chicken, Analogue and other spots, the dining landscape still has room for a place like Gus’s.  Vitals Atmosphere:  With checkered tablecloths, neon signs and lots of w

At this Xi’an spot, order an array of small dishes to share with the table. Start with super thin slices of raw potato, soaking in sour and spicy sauce; hand-stretched noodles with lamb in a gamy broth; and tofu skin with celery in white vinegar sauce. But everyone at the table should order their own lamb flatbread—stuffed with tender, cumin-spiced lamb and tucked into seared, crisp bread, this is one dish you won't want to share.

We're patiently waiting for happy hour to become legal in Chicago, but in the meantime, even though most cocktails seem to run $10 to $14 these days, you can still find some affordable cocktails. These aren't watery well drinks either—these are craft cocktails, served at some of the best bars and restaurants in the city, all $7 or less. Henry's Swing Club: Henry's offers five $6 draft cocktails, including Swingin' Doors with bourbon, raspberry, grapefruit and ginger. Osteria Langhe: While the Italian restaurant's cocktails are normally $9, they're half price every Monday, which means $4.50 negronis, daiquiris and other cocktails. Parson's Chicken & Fish: The Bitter/Sour, made with Very Old Barton Bourbon, lemon juice, sugar and Angostura bitters, is $7 and a nice patio sipper. Southport & Irving: The Lakeview spot holds Speakeasy Fridays, with jazz and $6 cocktail specials, including an Old Overholt old fashioned, a Champagne cocktail and a sloe gin fizz. Tippling Hall: Get a double buzz from the Ronzio, made with Stumptown coffee, espresso liqueur, grappa, cream, fennel and anise, for just $7. The Whistler: The Logan Square bar always has a $6 cocktail on offer. Right now, it's the Whiskey & Wine, made with Evan Williams Bourbon, malbec-syrah, sage, blackberry, lime, orange and black walnut bitters.  

The world of food mash-ups ranges from total smash hits (like the actually super-delicious cronut) to Frankenfoods that shouldn't exist whatsoever (thankfully the doughnut burger didn't stick around). The latest mash-up is the sushi burrito, basically a burrito-sized sushi roll. It's been available on the coasts, at San Francisco's Sushirrito, New York's Uma Temakeria and LA's Jogasaki Sushi Burrito food truck, and now it's in Chicago. You'll find sushi burritos at Sumo Restaurant in Lincoln Park, How Do You Roll? in the Palmer House, and at Freshii locations around the city. And because I live by the rule "Don't knock it till you try it," I ate them all. The takeaway? While not quite as bad as I was envisioning, none are a substitute for eating the best sushi in Chicago. I started at How Do You Roll?, a chain that sells build-your-own sushi rolls, salads and bowls, as well as composed dishes and "Asian burritos," ($9.45) filled with sushi rice and other ingredients, such as beef teriyaki. Two offerings more closely resemble sushi rolls, at least on paper—the hamachi roll stuffs jalapenos, cilantro, avocado, lettuce, sprouts and white rice into a warm toasted flour tortilla and comes with a side of ponzu dipping sauce. I opted for the spicy tuna, which includes rice, spicy mayo, avocado, edamame, pico de gallo and a wasabi mayo dip. With peppery cooked tuna, creamy mayo and a warm tortilla, it's more reminiscent of a tuna melt than a sushi roll—not bad, exactly, but it didn't

Chicago has tons of great cocktail bars, but we don't have many super-specialized bars. Yes, we have tiki, and Scofflaw is a gin bar (though a good chunk of each cocktail list includes drinks with other spirits). So it's exciting when a notable bartender opens a place devoted to one particular type of spirit, even more so when it's agave—easily the most misunderstood category. Jay Schroeder left his post at Frontera Grill to open a bar next to Johnny's Grill, which is currently the Flower Shop bar. In the new bar, he plans to offer straight pours of spirits, including tequila and mezcal, at a low price point, as well as cocktails. He also has an interest in bacanora, raicilla, sotol and other Mexican spirits that are just beginning to be available in the U.S. Schroeder is aiming for a February opening for the bar.

Our friends at Time Out LA frantically emailed this morning to say that bartender Julian Cox was moving to Chicago. Cox was responsible for some of the city's best bar programs, including Redbird, Petty Cash, Barrel & Ashes, Las Perlas and Bestia, as well as his newest bar, The Fiscal Agent, which opened last year. In Chicago, he'll be teaming up with Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises and will work with partners R.J., Jerrod and Molly Melman and chef/partner Doug Psaltis. His first task is to oversee the beverage program at il Porcellino, the Italian restaurant replacing the shuttered Paris Club. Considering how sad our friends at Time Out LA are, we're super excited to see what he brings to Chicago.

Sometimes I swear restaurants are eavesdropping on my conversations, because M Burger's new Chicago Double is pretty much my dream burger. I love thin patties, American cheese (it melts the best) and a ton of onions and pickles (if they're pickled onions, that works, too). The Chicago Double is a double cheeseburger that has perfectly melted American cheese, a mess of grilled onions, zippy pickles and bright mustard, all of which combine for a burger that's perfectly balanced on a squishy bun. It tastes like a diner-style burger, but it's available at all six locations, which means you can get one on your lunch break. M Burger clocks in at number two on our new list of burger restaurants.

Doug Sohn always seems to have something new up his sleeve, whether it's making pizza for Piece or serving sausages during Cubs games. The latest chance to try Hot Doug's sausages is on January 18 from 10am–6pm at Publican Quality Meats (825 W Fulton Mkt). Sohn will serve six to eight sausages along with duck fat fries. Marz Community Brewing will offer beers and Lumpen Radio will play music and broadcast live from the restaurant. The same day, the Publican will open early at noon with a menu of oysters, pork rinds and more, in case the line for a sausage is too long. It will be long, of course, but worth it.

The end of 2015 has been all about the steakhouse, with STK, Swift & Sons and Maple & Ash opening within a few weeks of each other. I went to all three within a five-week period and my date and I ordered the same thing at each: cocktails to start and wine with the meal, a seafood starter, bone-in rib eye, surf and turf (or filet with crab Oscar if it wasn't available), creamed spinach and an ice cream dessert. I added a couple dishes at each place but aimed to keep each meal as similar as possible, for comparison's sake. The verdict? I would recommend all three, each for different reasons. Here's a breakdown. STK: If you want a lively atmosphere (and are under 40), head to STK. The food is solid, servers are nice and the perfectly cooked bone-in rib eye was the best of the three. The champagne room for dessert is great. Maple & Ash: If you want a lively atmosphere (and are over 40), try Maple & Ash. It's the best choice for drinkers, too—Cristiana DeLucca's cocktails are wonderful and the wine list is impressive. I'm looking forward to a visit to the downstairs bar to try more of her drinks, alongside a burger. Though at some point I'll also be back for those roasted crab legs.  Swift & Sons: If you prefer a calmer atmosphere, you'll find it at Swift & Sons. With citrus-poached lobster and a cap steak, S&S's surf and turf was the best of the three (I am now obsessed with cap steak). Meg Galus's grapefruit sorbet was the best ice cream dish (and maybe the best ice cream I had

The Chicago Athletic Association has such a rich cluster of bars that one could easily spend a whole night bar-crawling through the hotel. Rooftop bar Cindy's is where you go for views, the elegant Cherry Circle Room for throwback cocktails, the boisterous Game Room for classics and frozen drinks, and the relaxed Drawing Room for an old-fashioned by the fire. The final piece is Milk Room, the smallest (and most expensive) bar, which opened in mid-November with just eight seats and an inventory of rare and vintage spirits.  Milk Room is located in the hallway between the Drawing Room and Game Room in what was once a speakeasy, and the space feels like drinking in an old monastery—flickering candles line the walls, the doors feature stained glass castles and ships, and electric candles in iron light fixtures hang from the beamed ceiling. A ham sits at one end of the copper bar, and most people were ordering plates of sliced ham with a baguette, butter and radishes (you're going to want something in your stomach before you start drinking). It may be tiny, but getting in is straightforward—eight seats are available in two-hour blocks throughout the night. Though tickets are sold online via Tock, two seats are left for walk-ins, if you'd prefer to make a spur of the moment visit. The online tickets are $50 per person, and that cost is applied to your bill at the end of the night. Paul McGee is the beverage director for all the CAA bars minus Cindy's, so he's involved in Milk Room,

If your name is Luke, you're likely going to have to deal with lots of Star Wars jokes this week, so here's some relief—the first 25 people named Luke or Lucas will get a free lobster roll at Luke's Lobster (134 N LaSalle St) on Friday to celebrate the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The deal starts at 11am and runs until the lobster rolls last, so bring your ID and get one of the city's best lobster rolls, lightly dressed with butter and mayonnaise, sprinkled with spices, and served in a buttery bun.

Christkindlmarket is here! One of the top holiday markets in Chicago, the market is open today through December 24 at Daley Plaza. We hit the market first thing this morning to scope out the 50-plus booths to find the best things to eat, drink and buy. Our picks: The Gluhwein-filled boot ($7 with mug, $6 refill) is back! The warming wine, found at booths #1 and #28, is a must for those freezing market days. Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Christmas pyramid with choir singers ($106) from Käthe Wohlfahrt, booth #8: The Christmas pyramids spin when their candles are lit, mesmerizing us all. Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas German Leberkaese with sauerkraut ($7) from Traditional German Food (booth #17) is a beef and pork loaf that comes nestled in a bun with piquant sauerkraut. It’s hearty and satisfying. Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Alpaca gloves ($45) from Winterbourne Alpaca, booth #50: Soft and sassy, just like our furry friend. Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas The wiener schnitzel sandwich ($7) at the Schnitzelhaus (booth #29) features tender meat and a bit of sauerkraut. Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Hand-painted candleholder ($25) from Glaszauber Lauscha, booth #14: Light up your loved one’s home. Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas A trio of potato pancakes ($7) at Traditional German Food (booth #17) come with apple sauce or sour cream. Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Make a tea set with this creamer ($37), teapot ($50) and plate ($48) from Polish Handcrafts–Eva’s Collection, booth #49: Spot of tea, any

Over the past year, California and Augusta in Humboldt Park has become Chicago's best food corner. With great pies at Spinning J Bakery & Soda Fountain, burgers at Haywood Tavern, retro cocktails at California Clipper, coffee at C.C. Ferns and wine and beer at Rootstock, you have one delicious evening ahead of you. Join us as we explore the offerings at each spot. Read our full feature here. Correction: The Doughnut Vault doughnuts at C.C. Ferns are $2.25 and the Grape Soda from Spinning J Bakery & Soda Fountain is $4.50.

The Alps. South America. October 28, 1996. The Next themes for 2016 were announced yesterday afternoon on Facebook, and they cover a wide range of cuisines. First up is the Alps, which will focus on cuisine from "the mountain regions of Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria and France." We've already spotted Next chefs working on strudels and tableside raclette via Instagram, to give you an idea of what will be served. The tickets will be $95–$125. The summer menu is Tour of South America, which will feature "fresh seafood, exotic fruits and spices, and some standby favorites that have traveled the world." The walk-up patio will return as well, with a la carte options available. Tickets are $85–$115. The year closes with October 28, 1996, the day Grant Achatz began working at Thomas Keller's French Laundry in Napa. The menu recreates the French Laundry menu from that date, when Achatz and his father dined at the restaurant. Tickets are $255–$285.  Season tickets go on sale to 2015 season ticket holders on December 9 and to everyone else for season tickets on December 11. Get them here.