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Guide to Chefs of Chicago


The following Guide to Chefs of Chicago was compiled through an informal survey of Chicago restaurant critics and food writers, who were asked to name outstanding Chicago chefs who have made significant contributions to the city's diverse culinary heritage. More than sixty chefs were named in the survey conducted in September 1998. Three are not listed since they are no longer working in Chicago. From these names, fourteen chefs were selected to be featured in Skrebneski Photographs Chefs of Chicago, the inaugural exhibition now on display in the City Gallery of the Historic Water Tower.

Great Chicago Chefs Restaurants Description of Cuisine
Alfonso Aguirre Harry Caray's Restaurant
33 W. Kinzie St., 312.828.0966
Italian American steakhouse in a Dutch renaissance building
Eric Aubriot Aubriot
1962 N. Halsted, 773.281.4211
Fine French dining by a talented Parisian-born chef
L'Mande S. Bagby Golden Ox
1578 N. Clybourn, 312.527.3700
German specialties generously served in a cozy old-world setting
Jimmy Bannos Heaven On Seven On Rush
600 N. Michigan, 312.280.7774
Heaven On Seven
111 N. Wabash, 312.263.6443
Jimmy's New Orleans-style food, a Creole-ization of modern cuisine
Paul Bartolotta Spiaggia and Cafe Spiaggia
980 N. Michigan Ave., 312.280.2750
Award-winning chef creates the best in contemporary and traditional Italian cuisine
Rick and Diane Bayless Frontera Grill and Topolobampo
445 N. Clark St., 312.661.1434
Innovative chefs set a new standard in regional Mexican cuisine
Max Brumbach The Smoke Daddy
1804 W. Division, 773.772.6656
Traditional American smokehouse featuring blues and jazz and great ribs
Steven Chiapetti Mango
712 N. Clark St., 312.337.5440 Grapes
733 N. Wells St., 312.943.4500 Rhapsody
65 E. Adams, 312.786.9911
French, Italian and American cuisine served in an artistic setting

Rustic Mediterranean dining

American cuisine with European influences located in Symphony Center

Jeff Constance Spruce
238 E. Ontario St., 312.642.3757
Nationally renown urban American restaurant
Suzy Crofton Crofton on Wells
535 N. Wells St., 312.755.1790
One of Esquire magazine's "best new restaurants for 1998"
Mary Ellen Diaz North Pond Cafe
2610 N. Cannon Dr., 773-477-5845
Seasonal Midwestern dining in a beautiful Lincoln Park setting
Michael Foley Printers Row
550 S. Dearborn St., 312.461.0780
Contemporary American cuisine
Marcelo Gallegos Vivere in the Italian Village
71 W. Monroe St., 312.332-4040
Award-winning northern Italian cuisine
Emilio Gervilla Emilio's Tapas
4100 W. Roosevelt Rd., Hillside, 708.547.7177
Tapas and other Spanish specialties
Vic Giannotti Giannotti Steak House
8422 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge, 708.547.7177
Serving the finest in Italian foods, prime center cut steaks and chops, fresh seafood, poultry and veal
Susan Goss Zinfandel
59 W. Grand Ave., 312.527.1818
Authentic regional recipes bring out the best in American flavors
John Hogan Savarin
713 N. Wells St., 312.255.9520
Fine Parisian dining
Gladys Holcomb Gladys' Luncheonette
4527 S. Indiana Ave., 773.548.4566
Chicago's original soul station serving hearty, satisfying southern food
Jean Joho Everest
One Financial Place, 312.663.8920

Brasserie Jo
59 W. Hubbard St., 312.595-0800

Haute French cuisine with a very haute view


French brasserie dining

Paul Kahan Blackbird
619 W. Randolph St., 312.715.0774
Simple well-prepared American cuisine
Yoshi Katsumura Yoshi's Cafe
3257 N. Halsted St., 773.248.6160
East-west fusion
Daniel Kelch Lulu's
626 Davis St., Evanston, 847.869.4343
Lulu's in Hyde Park
1333 E. 57th St., 773.288.2988
Casual Pan Asian dining for the campus crowd
Monique King Soul Kitchen
1576 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773.342.9742
New Orleans inspired specialties, spicy and always bold and daring
Michael Kornick MK The Restaurant
868 N. Franklin St., 312.482.9179
Critically acclaimed chef introduces an extraordinary new restaurant
Yuji Kunii Kuni's
511 Main St., Evanston, 847-328-2004
Japanese specialties and sushi by Chicago's best sushi chef
Francois Kwaku-Dongo Spago
520 N. Dearborn St., 312.527.3700
American cuisine with Asian and European influences
Roland Liccioni Le Francais
269 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, 847.541.7470

Les Nomades
222 E. Ontario St., 312.649.9010

Internationally acclaimed French restaurant. AAA Five Diamond Award, 1992 - 1998

Fine French cuisine in an understated, yet sophisticated atmosphere

Paul Lo Duca Vinci
1732 N. Halsted St., 312.266.1199

Trattoria Parma
400 N. Clark St., 312.245.9933

Two outstanding Italian restaurants reign supreme under Chef Lo Duca
Quoc Luong Le Colonial
937 N. Rush St., 312.255.0088
New Vietnamese cuisine in a French colonial setting
Tony Mantuano Mantuano Mediterranean Table
455 Cityfront Center, 312.832.2600
Enjoy an Epicurean tour of the Mediterranean
John Meyer The Retreat
605 E. 111th St., Pullman, 773.568.6000

BJ's Market & Bakery
8734 S. Stony Island Ave., 312.595.0800

American with southern and French influences


Food for the soul
Ron Moy Emperor's Choice
2238 S. Wentworth Ave., 312.225.8800
Hong Kong dining in the heart of Chicago's Chinatown
Joel Nickson Wishbone
1001 W. Washington Blvd., 312.850.2663
Southern comfort food to diet for
Alfonso Padilla Morton's of Chicago
The Steakhouse

1050 N. State St., 312.266.4820
The great American steak made world famous
Young Pak Bando
2200 W. Lawrence Ave., 773.728.7400
Flavorful Korean specialties in a swank setting
Jacquy Pfeiffer The French Pastry School
1153 W. Grand Ave., 312.243.3808
Pastry school for the professional and the passionate amateur
Verica Podrumedic Little Bucharest
3001 N. Ashland ave., 773.929.8640
Eastern European home cooking
Jean Claude Poilivy Le Bouchon
1958 W. Damen Ave., 773.862.6600
Fine French dining at Bucktown prices
John Polipis Santorini
800 W. Adams St., 312.829.8820
Superb Greek cuisine
Jonathan Pouliezos Costas
340 S. Halsted St., 312.263.9700
Innovative Greek menu
Tony Priolo Coco Pazzo
300 W. Hubbard St., 312.836.0900
Award-winning Tuscan restaurant
Arun Sampanthavivat Arun's Thai Restaurant
4156 N. Kedzie Ave., 773-539-1909
Award-winning chef creates a Thai culinary experience
Priscila Franco Satkoff Salpicon!
1252 N. Wells St., 312.988.7811
This Mexican restaurant makes a big splash in Chicago
Debbie Sharpe Feast
1835 W. North Ave., 773.235.6361
Global fusion for the gliterrati
Jackie Shen Lawry's The Prime Rib
100 E. Ontario St., 312.787.0340
With Jackie in the kitchen, prime rib is just the beginning
Gabino Sotelino Ambria and Mon Ami Gabi
2300 N. Lincoln Park West, 773.472.5959 and 773.348.8886

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
2024 N. Halsted St., 773.995.5000

Fine French cuisine in two distinctive dining rooms



Tapas and outstanding Spanish specialties

Sarah Stegner The Ritz Carlton Dining Room
160 E. Pearson St., 312.266.1000
Contemporary French with a Midwestern influence
Al Sternweiler Harvest on Huron
217 W. Huron St., 312.587.9600
One of Chicago's hottest new restaurants noted for its broadly influenced cuisine that truly defines categorization
Edna L. Stewart Edna's Restaurant
3175 W. Madison St., 773.638.7079
Cooking from the soul, and the best biscuits in the world
Dominique Tougne Bistro 110
110 E. Pearson St., 312.266.3110
French bistro dining
Joe Toulabi Reza
432 W. Ontario St., 312.664.4500
5255 N. Clark St., 773.561.1898
Persian dining in spacious settings
David Tran Pasteur
5525 N. Broadway, 773.878.1061
Discover a taste of Vietnam
Charlie Trotter Charlie Trotter's
816 W. Armitage, 773.248.6228
Nationally renown Chicago treasure is a pioneer in the development of the great American cuisine
Don Yamauchi Gordon
500 N. Clark St., 312.476.9780
Gordon Sinclair's award-winning restaurant continues to excel. AAA Four Diamond Award
Ryszard Anton Zawadzki Chopin Mon Ami
Pierogi Inn

4801 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773.685.0782
Fine continental dining
Polish family fare
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