Best Restaurants in Chicago 2026 by Chef Tony Priolo
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ver wonder where a Chicago culinary legend eats on his day off? Chef Tony Priolo of Piccolo Sogno is dropping his ultimate local hit list. From his absolute top 3 to his favorite old-school Italian beefs and late-night slices, these are the tried-and-true spots a real chef trusts. Save this for your next Chicago food crawl! Which spot are you hitting first? š Top 3 Favorite Restaurants Virtue (Hyde Park) Publican (Fulton Market) El Che (West Loop) š Favorite Pizza Pizz'amici (River West) Giordano's (Gold Coast) Suparossa (Portage Park) Bonus pick: Spacca Napoli (Lincoln Square) š„ Best Italian Beef Jay's Beef (Harwood Heights) Johnnie's (Elmwood Park) Mr. Beef (River North) š„© Best Steak Gene & Georgetti's (River North) Gibsons (Gold Coast) Chicago Cut (River North) š„Ŗ Best Sandwich Tony's (Edison Park) D'Amato's Bakery (West Town) Bari Foods (West Town) Bonus Pick: J.P. Graziano's (Fulton Market) š Authentic Italian (Outside of Piccolo Sogno) Il Carciofi (West Loop) Bar Tutto (Fulton Market) Monteverde (West Loop) š Most Underrated El Che (West Loop) Bistronomic (Gold Coast)
About this guide
Chicago culinary legend shares all the spots that he loves to try on his day off. Chef Tony Priolo of Piccolo Sogno dropped his ultimate local hit list.
Restaurants in this guide
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Virtue Restaurant
Virtue Restaurant offers a refined take on Southern American cuisine, featuring elevated comfort food classics, seasonal ingredients, and a focus on soulful flavors. The menu includes dishes like Gumbo, Fried Chicken, and various seafood and vegetable preparations.
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Publican Quality Meats
A butcher shop and cafe offering high-quality, locally sourced meats, house-made charcuterie, gourmet sandwiches, and seasonal American dishes.
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El Che Steakhouse & Bar
El Che Steakhouse & Bar specializes in Argentinian-inspired, live-fire cooking, featuring a variety of wood-fired steaks, empanadas, and other South American dishes, complemented by a robust wine list and craft cocktails.
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PIZZ'AMICI
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Giordano's
Famous for its Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, Giordano's also offers thin-crust pizzas, pasta dishes, sandwiches, salads, and appetizers.
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Suparossa Chicago Carryout & Delivery
Offers a menu of classic Chicago-style pizza, pasta dishes, sandwiches, and salads, primarily for carryout and delivery.
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Spacca Napoli Pizzeria
Specializes in authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas, offering a selection of traditional antipasti, fresh salads, and classic Italian desserts.
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Jay's Beef of Harwood Heights
Jay's Beef of Harwood Heights specializes in classic Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, and other fast-casual American fare.
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Johnnie's Beef
Johnnie's Beef is a classic Chicago-style stand famous for its Italian beef sandwiches, served wet or dry with hot or sweet peppers. They also offer hot dogs, Italian sausage, and tamales.
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Mr. Beef
A classic Chicago establishment famous for its Italian beef sandwiches, served wet, dipped, or dry, along with hot dogs, fries, and other no-frills American comfort food.
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Gene & Georgetti
A historic Chicago steakhouse offering prime steaks, chops, classic Italian-American dishes, and fresh seafood in an old-school, traditional setting.
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Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse
Classic American steakhouse menu featuring USDA Prime Angus beef steaks, fresh seafood, chops, and traditional sides. It also offers a full bar with an extensive wine list and cocktails, known for generous portions.
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Chicago Cut Steakhouse
Offers prime steaks, fresh seafood, and classic steakhouse sides, complemented by an extensive wine list and craft cocktails.
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Tony's Italian Deli & Subs
Offers a variety of classic Italian subs, deli sandwiches, and possibly salads and sides.
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D'Amato's Bakery
Offers a wide selection of traditional Italian breads, pastries, cookies, sandwiches, and pizza.
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Bari Foods
A classic Italian deli offering a wide selection of Italian sandwiches, imported cheeses, cured meats, olives, and other Italian specialty groceries.
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J.P. Graziano Grocery
J.P. Graziano Grocery is a historic Italian deli known for its classic, made-to-order sandwiches, especially the Mr. G, and a selection of imported Italian groceries, olives, and their famous giardiniera.
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il Carciofo
A traditional Italian restaurant offering a menu of classic pasta dishes, pizzas, and entrees like chicken, veal, and seafood.
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Bar Tutto
Bar Tutto offers a menu of Italian small plates, fresh pasta, and entrees, complemented by an extensive wine list in a cozy setting.
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Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio
Monteverde is renowned for its exquisite, handmade pasta dishes, offering a modern take on Italian cuisine with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and a vibrant dining experience.
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Bistronomic
Bistronomic offers modern French cuisine with a focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, featuring classic dishes reimagined with contemporary flair.