Worth the Drive Out of Downtown

Bread & Wine

3732 W. Irving Park Rd.

North Center

Cuisine: American

$$

Re-envisioning the space of a former laundromat as a modern yet unpretentious bistro, Bread & Wine targets a fine balance between elevated and accessible. READ REVIEW

Calumet Fisheries

3259 E. 95th St.

Southeast Side

Cuisine: Seafood

$

Anthony Bourdain visited Calumet Fisheries on No Reservations with our BBE CHI Editor Louisa Chu, and agreed when she called it "destination smoked fish". READ REVIEW

Inovasi

28 E. Center Ave.

Lake Bluff

Cuisine: Eclectic, New American

$$$

The Chicago Tribune’s Phil Vettel gave Inovasi 3 (out of 4) stars, saying, “there’s a bit of culinary magic taking place in the middle of town… chef/owner John des Rosiers has created a forward-looking restaurant that hasn’t lost sight of where it’s been.” READ REVIEW

Vie

4471 Lawn Ave.

Western Springs

Cuisine: American, New American

$$$

Gayot lists Vie one of the Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. 2011, adding to accolades from Michelin, Food & Wine, the Chicago Tribune, and Chicago magazine. READ REVIEW