Remember when I mentioned in my weekly menu last Sunday that the whole thing was dependent on me getting to the grocery store? Guess who didn’t get to the grocery store.

So, in honor of all of the takeout we ate this week to compensate, Top Ten this week is going to (be late! and) feature 10 of my favorite Chicagoland restaurants.

1. Blackberry Market – Glen Ellyn, IL & LaGrange, IL – I’ve been frequenting this ever expanding cafe since college. They have a straightforward menu that focuses on fresh, simple ingredients. The cinnamon rolls are to die for, the veggie & egg sandwich is hearty but light and delightful, and I almost always order a cortado to drink. I also eat more chicken salad than I’ll ever be willing to admit. Take a quart home to put on toasted sourdough or a bed of spinach greens you’ve got an easy lunch for the week.
2. Quigley’s Irish Pub – Naperville, IL – This staple of the community has all of the charm of a true Irish pub, plus some of the best Irish fare in the western suburbs. Try the Killarney burger and Guinness is a must. They have a few cute booths called “snugs” that are like little rooms with stained glass panels separating you from the rest of the room.
3. Gia Mia – Wheaton, IL & Geneva, IL – This is the best place in the world to visit with a group of people (when, you know, there isn’t a global pandemic) and get a little bit of everything to share. Their apps, their salads, their pastas, their pizzas. Everything is amazing, but a few of my favorites are: zucchini fries, ricotta & honey with toast, beet & farro salad, paccheri vodka, prosciutto pie.
4. Big Star Tacos – Wicker Park & Wrigleyville, Chicago, IL – This is the place to go with a couple of friends. Share a delicious pitcher of margaritas, and you can each get whatever tacos you want. The whole menu is ala carte, and comes out to the table quickly, which means its perfect when you need another taco or some chips and guac after a few too many of those margaritas. Do not leave without trying the pescado. It’s also the place (Wrigleyville location) I’ve felt most comfortable eating at in the city since we re-opened. They are doing a great job with social distancing and in the summer nearly the whole restaurant is outside. Also, you can bring your pepper!
5. Made in Italy – Glen Ellyn, IL – This nearby Italian restaurant is family owned and absolutely delicious. Everything we’ve tried has been fresh, classic Italian dishes. We ordered food “to-go” from here for our wedding anniversary during quarantine. I mentioned when I placed the order that we were celebrating our first anniversary and the kind owners sent along a bottle of wine and some tiramisu with our chicken saltimbocca and vodka penne. (Two dishes features on our wedding menu!) This act of generosity touched me so deeply, especially in a time when restaurants have been struggling with the pivot the pandemic required. Currently, they have a few outdoor tables, but we like to take it to-go and bring it to our deck.
6. The Hen House – Wheaton, IL – My new favorite patio in town, their little side yard feels like a secret garden where you can order caprese egg’s benedict or a “veg out” omelet that features shallots and kale and sweet peppers. Lunch is delicious too, try one of their wraps!
7. Babcock’s Grove House – Lombard, IL – A more friendly local burger spot simply cannot be found. The young staff is always upbeat and helpful, the owners often wander the dining room to check-in on the patrons, all set in a charming, vintage building in downtown Lombard. Their burgers are all delicious, and they have a number of creative variations (including one with mashed potatoes that may sound weird but is to DIE for). Don’t sleep on their cheese curds, or their quinoa bowls for something lighter. Great beer list, housemade soda, and if you’re lucky homemade pie.
8. PR Italian Bistro – So many Italian restaurants in Chicago do classic Italian fare (and they do it well). PR Italian takes delightful classics and updates them with novel flavor combinations, all while delivering the same comforting, hearty dishes that you’d hope for when you go out for a plate of pasta. They have rotating specials and while their regular menu is fantastic order off this if you can. I still think about the ravioli with pork and peaches I had on my first visit. This is also the place my mom just had to know what kind of tomatoes they used and so she asked someone in the kitchen, who got it off a shelf so she could see, and then chef came out and talked to her for a while. It was hilarious. (See photo)
9. Bungalow by Middlebrow – This is my favorite place in the whole world. The sourdough pizza is absurdly delicious, only overshadowed by how delicious their bread and cultured butter is. They are doing much fo their menu to go these days, or even get a pizza kit to make at home. Oh also they are a brewery. Sometimes I forget that because I am almost always just thinking about their pizza and bread. Their beer is funky and alive. Before quarantine I used to go in the morning to eat toast and drink coffee and just soak in the light and warmth and friendly smiles that ooze out of every corner of this charming bungalow.
10. Sal’s Trattoria – Lakeview, Chicago, IL – Every time I visit this restaurant I sit there and pretend for a moment I am back in Rome. It is utterly charming, between the dining space decorated like your trendy yet classic friend’s dining room, an exceptional but not overly complex wine list, and THE MOST DAMN DELICIOUS FOOD EVER. I get their pasta carbonara nearly every time because the only place I’ve had it better in the world is every restaurant in Rome. Anytime I venture away from that I simultaneously do and don’t regret it because whatever else I order is just as delicious but then I also feel like I’ve lost an opportunity to have my favorite dish.

This list is far from exhaustive, but a few of my favorites lately. More to come!