Hagen’s Fish Market has operated in Portage Park since 1946 and is home to Chicago’s last natural hardwood smokehouse. They sell a variety of fresh, smoked and fried seafood, all prepared with a care and skill unrivaled in the city.

Tucked into a residential street in Ravenswood just a few blocks from the center of Lincoln Square, this is the type of place at which I could see myself becoming a regular. It’s Italian. It’s BYOB. And it’s inexpensive. A triple threat in my book.

Oprah’s famed personal chef, Art Smith, is still taking the Gold Coast by storm with his restaurant, Table Fifty-Two.

The Purple Pig’s slogan sums up the experience perfectly: “Cheese, Swine & Wine.” This Magnificent Mile restaurant is for the adventurous meat lover who enjoys sharing a great meal with friends over many bottles of wine. Sound up your alley? Yeah, we thought so.

Located next to the Cadillac Palace Theatre, Encore Liquid Lounge is great place for theatergoers to grab some pre or post show cocktails.

Showcasing traditional Catalan tapas dishes updated with contemporary flourishes, Mercat offers an outstanding dining experience in a beautiful setting.

Nestled on Wrightwood between Southport and Racine is a little piece of Italian heaven known as Rose Angelis.

This quaint cafe on Division street serves up great breakfast, brunch, and light lunch everyday of the week.

As a fan of DMK Burger Bar, I had high hopes for their next door neighbor by the same owners, Fish Bar. Another creation by Chef Michael Kornick, this little seafood spot doesn’t disappoint.

For a place like this, the experience and mythology is almost more important than the food. Almost.

This Ernest Hemingway inspired gastropub encourages you to step back in time. Take the best of the old and the very best of the new and you’ve got Hubbard Inn

Cheesies is, simply put, drunk-late-night-food heaven. Also works well for hangovers.

Located in the trendy River North, ZED 451 is an interesting dining concept, combining an upscale buffet with the table-carved meats you may expect at a Brazilian steakhouse

Inside the Metra’s Ogilvie Transportation Center is the last place you’d expect to find delicious French street fare, but tucked away between ticketing booths and platform entrances lies the Chicago French Market.