I am frequently asked about my favorite restaurants in Chicago in addition to my friends asking me for general restaurant recommendations. There really is not a “go-to” restaurant that I have ready to suggest because there are so many different restaurants in Chicago that are suitable for a plethora of occasions. I usually just ask follow-up questions regarding the neighborhood, cuisine, dress code, etc. in order to get a better idea of which restaurants to suggest.
Instead of listing out my favorite restaurants, I decided to create a menu of all my favorite dishes and cocktails in Chicago. First up is APPETIZERS! This list barely scrapes the surface of all amazing dishes in Chicago, but you have to start somewhere, right!?
* Starters are listed in alphabetical order by name of menu item.
** All photos on this post were taken by me unless otherwise noted.
Crispy Brussels Sprouts
Find this at Stella Barra Pizzeria
Balsamic Vinegar, Breadcrumbs and Parmesan
Whether you love Brussels Sprouts or are completely repulsed by them, I highly recommend you still give this starter a shot. Rumor has it that if you dream hard enough, the Brussels Sprouts cancel out the calories you will inevitably eat via pizza later on during the meal!
Crow's Nest Poutine with Brisket
Find this at Old Crow Smokehouse
Hand-Cut Fries, House Worcestershire Cheese Sauce, Beef Gravy, and Beer-BBQ Sauce
This could possibly be one of my favorite shareable dishes ever. The menu description kind of gives away that there are no frills to this dish, but when simple ingredients join forces, magical starters happen. Brisket also happens to be my BBQ protein of choice, so adding them to fries is just a no-brainer. I can’t guarantee that eating Old Crow Smokehouse’s poutine on the rooftop of the Wrigleyville location during game day will help the Cubbies win big, but I definitely don’t think it would hurt!
French Onion Soup
Find this at Wildfire
With Golden Brown Swiss and Asiago Cheese
Wildfire, hands down, has the best French Onion Soup I have ever had. Sure, the whole menu is great. In fact, I have yet to order any dish there that I felt was anything short of spectacular. I just can’t emphasize enough that when (yes, when!) you eat there, you have to kick off the meal with this French Onion Soup.
Barcocina Guacamole
Find this at Barcocina
Cotija Cheese and Pasilla Balsamic Reduction
Don’t tell Barcocina, but they could totally charge triple the price of this guacamole and it would still be worth every penny! I have had my fair share of guacamole in my day, and other guacs simply don’t hold a candle to the guac at Barcocina. I would even go as far as saying you cannot go to Barcocina and NOT order their guacamole!
Gulf Shrimp Hushpuppies
Find this at The Kitchen
With Castle Valley Mills Cornmeal and Hot Pepper Honey
First of all, shrimp is one of my favorite foods, so ordering this as an appetizer was a very easy decision to make. They are actually the perfect balance of sweet with a little kick. Is it weird to describe them as reverse Sour Patch Kids? They are “sweet” at first and then the chilis in the honey send a kick to your tastebuds. I was totally here for it, and you should definitely order them when you find yourself at The Kitchen.
Meatball Slider
Find this at Split-Rail
With Marinara and Cheese
This was featured on Split-Rail’s Chicago Restaurant Week menu in 2018. The menu had a “Friends” theme, and the Meatball Slider was obviously a tribute to Joey Tribbiani. Needless to say, it was the perfect start to an epic meal, and I would honestly include the entire meal in this “menu.” I am still dreaming about the entire RW menu to this day.
Millionaire's Potato
Find this at RPM Steak
With Fontina and Black Truffle
You are going to look at the RPM Steak menu and ask yourself who would pay $18.00 for a potato. Well, you will realize after one bite of this potato that it is actually worth every single penny and more. It should even be a requirement that you have to order this whenever you find yourself at RPM Steak. Seriously, it’s that good.
Mozzarella Sticks
Find this at Roots Handmade Pizza
House-made and Hand-stretched Mozzarella, Herbed Breadcrumbs and Marinara
The menu calls them Mozzarella Sticks, but they should really be classified as Mozzarella Bricks! I was absolutely blown away by mozzarella in this caliber. They are incredible, and they are an absolute MUST on the list of menu items you order at Roots Handmade Pizza. Referring to them as “The Best Mozzarella Sticks Ever” would not even be doing them justice.
Wisconsin Cheese Curds
Find this at Blue Door Farm Stand
With Pickled Chilis and Buttermilk Ranch
Not only is this starter super photogenic, but it is absolutely delicious! Ranch dressing is probably my favorite condiment of choice, and the ranch served with these cheese curds knocks many other ranches out of the park. Seriously, it is that good. The peppers are perfectly spicy and I could just eat this appetizer all day.
Still hungry for more? Check out my favorite desserts in Chicago!
