Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Maywood

"Chicago’s only three Michelin star restaurant, Alinea has been around almost 15 years and still books up months in advance. The brainchild of acclaimed chef Grant Achatz who became one of the best chefs in the world despite battling tongue cancer, that’s just one of their impressive feats. It was the first restaurant to pioneer the concept of prepaid ticketed reservations, pricing meals on a sliding scale based on date and time (Friday at 7 p.m. would be more expensive than Tuesday at 5 p.m.) in order to show that dining is an experience akin to the theatre."

"Chicago's only three-star restaurant continues to reign supreme in the city. It's easier to compare Chef Grant Achatz's dishes to art than it is to describe them simply as food. Alinea is open for reservations as well as take-home meals."

"West LoopThis long-revered Mediterranean-influenced fixture from One Off Hospitality has held it down as one of the area’s go-to date night spots since opening its minimalist doors back in 2003, well before many of us could even define romance. And not much has changed -- the wine list is still spectacular, the chorizo-stuffed medjool dates are still iconic, and a reservation for the intimate front patio is still highly coveted."

"This long-time West Loop favorite is a pioneer in the business-oriented district, drawing crowds with vibrant Mediterranean cuisine. Small and large plates almost demand ordering extra, just to sample as many flavors as possible. Roasted skate wing is exemplary of the kitchen's finesse with seafood, while memories of chorizo-stuffed medjool dates will keep you up at night."

"A relative newcomer to the Chicago sushi scene (2010), Wasabi wasted no time becoming a darling among local and out of town visitors. One of only a handful of Japanese-owned Japanese restaurants in Chicago, it also has Executive Head Sushi Chef, Hiromich Sasaki, one of original Japanese sushi chefs in the Chicago area, at the helm. Most places know not to bother trying to appease everyone but Wasabi does and it does it right."

"Japanese restaurants in Chicago, Wasabi attracts not only the Japanese, but anyone in search of authentic Japanese comfort food. Their ramen is made from scratch using heritage berkshire pork from Iowa for their broth and for their juicy tender chashu. Known also as Kurobuta, Berkshire pork is as highly regarded in the pork world, as Kobe beef is for beef, thanks to its beautiful marbling and flavor."

"And if other Japanese small plates make their way into the mix, then all the better. Find these favorites and more at this Logan Square restaurant, where eight kinds of ramen are on offer, from the hakata red (with Berkshire pork belly and scallions) to the spicy roasted garlic miso (complete with a soft-boiled egg). Match them up with other menu-musts, like pork belly buns and Tokyo spicy wings."

"If you’re a first-timer in Chicago, there’s a 99% chance you end up in the West Loop at some point during your trip, and a 98% chance of eating at a restaurant in the “Goat” empire. You should choose Cabra, from the same team as Girl & the Goat. This spot is on the roof of The Hoxton hotel, has a fantastic view, and also serves some very good Peruvian-inspired food."

"It’s only fitting that one of gay culture’s leading figures, Oscar Wilde, be given a restaurant in his honor in Boystown, Chicago. The Wilde Bar & Restaurant channels Wilde’s Irish homeland with an extensive beer selection and many traditional Irish dishes. For brunch, the restaurant offers a wide variety of breakfast specials along with a host of fruity breakfast drinks, from morning mojitos to blueberry açai with Chambord liquor."

"Located in Chicago’s West Loop, Fulton Market Kitchen menu is rustic with a touch of artistry. The foie mousse is served in a mandarin orange jelly mold in the shape of a mandarin with toasted sourdough. It’s a great place to hang out and enjoy cocktails and food while taking in all the local art in this cool warehouse space."

"Street Food delivery spots are open as early as 8am in Chicago. Consider ordering from Taqueria Mi Linda Hacienda in Kelvyn Grove for your early order, or enter your delivery address to browse the places that are open and available near you."

"Irish owned but utterly American, The Dearborn can be found at the intersection the Theater District, satisfying food and lively ambiance. Pastry Chef Julianna Westgor has a playful style riffing on ice cream truck treats in the summer and warming things up in the winter with adults only hot chocolate and fried banana bread with hazelnut chocolate ganache, malted milk jam and hazelnut crunch ice cream. Her peanut butter chocolate dream is just that and don't leave without someone ordering the gooey butter cake with burnt honey ice cream and orange caramel drizzle."

"The reviews are right, the food was great, the cocktails were great. We left Raised due to poor service and seating and came here. The fish and chips are..."

"Oz Park is an ode to author L Frank Baum’s most famous book, The Wizard of Oz. Baum was a resident of the surrounding Lincoln Park neighborhood back in the 1890s, before it became the established community it is today. Between 1995 and 2007, the Oz Park Advisory Council commissioned sculptures of the book’s characters including the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and Dorothy and Toto."

"OZ Park is a community garden that celebrates a fun-filled “The Wizard of Oz” theme. The park features “Dorothy’s Playlot”, with play equipment for young children to climb, swing, and run. Families can then leisurely enjoy their afternoon among the beautiful flowers in the “Emerald Garden”."

"Located at the north end of Lincoln Park Zoo, the Lincoln Park Conservatory features four serene greenhouses (Orchid House, Fern Room, Palm House and Show House) all displaying fantastic arrays of flora. During summer, venture outdoors to find a lush, French garden filled with a large variety of plants and flowers, and a beautiful fountain. Many Chicago residents utilize this space to sit and read, toss a football around, let their kids run freely or just take in the beauty of nature."

"For a big city, Chicago has a surprising number of places dedicated to all things green. For example, the Lincoln Park Conservatory, on the shores of Lake Michigan, has a botanical garden teeming with ferns, tropical flowers, and palms."

"This park is a 119-acre, man-made peninsula with excellent spots for fishing and walking paths. This urban nature sanctuary has prairie grasslands, a five-acre pond and walking paths for wildlife watching. Northerly Island is also home to 12th Street Beach and Huntington Bank Pavilion."

"Sporting a unique tubular support system and multiple novelties, this 100-story skyscraper is one of Chicago’s biggest attractions. When its construction was completed in 1968, it was the second tallest building in the world. The skyscrapers’ stylish X-braced exterior has won various awards from the American Institute of Architects and major publications."

"The Signature Room is on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building. The views over Navy Pier and the entire downtown area are nothing short of spectacular."

"At Peggy Notebaert, Children are connected to nature and science through the museum’s hands-on exhibits, family events and education programming. Learn about the specimen and archival collections: birds, eggs and nests; mammals; amphibians and reptiles; insects and spiders; fossils and more. You'll find an indoor treehouse that can be climbed on and in to learn about animal habitats (there’s even a crow’s nest at the top)."

"Children under 3, active-duty military, veterans, and Illinois K-12 teachers are always free. Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents. Meet the fish at the Shedd Aquarium."