We enjoyed three outstanding dinners and several memorable lunches showcasing some of Chicago’s best restaurants.

The Fauna and Flora tasting menus at Grace offered numerous striking dishes from a highly trained kitchen. Highlights included Alaskan king crab in cucumber juice with trout roe, lamb loin medallions with white anchovy cream, Miyazaki beef paired with Vietnamese herbs, a surprising turnip ice cream with lemon vinaigrette, and a frozen jackfruit compote accented by lemongrass and blackberries. Service was attentive in an elegant dining room, and each course reflected precise technique and refined flavor combinations.

At Sixteen, the fall tasting menu demonstrated the chef’s discipline and creativity. The langoustine appeared three ways—crudo with langoustine gelée, prepared with lemon verbena and uni cream, and broiled with ginger and sesame. Other standout dishes included a Comté cheese soufflé accented with Italian white truffles and a poussin roasted in hay: the breast with hazelnuts and the dark meat served with a turnip and black truffle sauce. Dinner here is complemented by spectacular nighttime views of Chicago’s iconic skyline.

Alinea remains one of our favorite restaurants in the United States. We experienced an 18-course tasting that combined whimsy with precision—sous-vide salsify jerky revealed beneath a wooden dome, pheasant presented with shallots inside burning leaves, and the playful “Achatz corn on the cob” (a rich corn pudding with grits, Manchego, and Ibérico ham). Matsutake mushrooms and abalone were finished tableside on charcoal logs, and a special order white truffle risotto featured aged rice, cream, Parmesan and a brown-butter rim. Dessert was theatrical: an array of frozen fruits and creams presented with vanilla, chocolate and lime elements. The meal was full of inventive textures and surprising presentations, making it a truly memorable experience.

Our lunch stops offered a mix of comforting classics and flavorful regional specialties. At Bistro Zinc we enjoyed excellent French onion and mushroom soups, a properly crisp croque-monsieur with fries, and a bright duck confit salad. Frontera Grill served what we think is the world’s best guacamole, a hearty tortilla soup with chicken, and a lively plate of Mexican-style scrambled eggs with serranos, grilled green onions and shrimp. Takashi’s Sunday brunch featured Japanese soba, delicate tempura shrimp, shishito peppers and a standout duck-fat fried chicken. At Naha we tasted an Armenian-inspired lamb pizza, a fragrant chicken thigh tagine with wheat pilaf, and a Southern fried chicken salad with pecans, red onions and ranch dressing.