<p>Yum! I am bookmarking this thread - despite having lived in Chicago/ and area for many years there are so many restaurants I’ve never heard of - so many delicious suggestions. I’m ready to head out to Hema’s Kitchen right now!</p>
<p>^^^ Bistro 110 is supposed to have a great Sunday jazz brunch. How cool is that? Great food, jazz, across from the Water tower. Quintessential Chicago. I’ve never been to Bistro 110, though; moved away years ago.</p>
<p>We were just in Chicago last week. Our three favorites (all new to us) were: **Perennial<a href=“Lincoln%20Park”>/b</a>- contemporary American with a version of “cheesecake” that I am still dreaming about: **Mado<a href=“Wicker%20Park”>/b</a> which we found from a recent NY Times review ([Bites</a> - Restaurant Review - Mado in Chicago - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/travel/31bites.html?src=twt&twt=nytimesdining);and%5DBites”>http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/travel/31bites.html?src=twt&twt=nytimesdining);and)) and **Tiffin<a href=“on%20Devon”>/b</a> - great Indian food.</p>
<p>Mercat (recommended above) is fabulous, although probably not in the category of “not fancy food”. It is in the category of “not the fanciest food”. Jose Garces (the executive chef) is probably our favorite chef in the world right now. He is from Chicago, but is mainly based in Philadelphia at the moment. He has four restaurants here, all of which would be regarded as among the best 10-15 current restaurants in the city.</p>
<p>Mexican food in Pilsen: Mundial Cocina is one of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve ever eaten at. It is a couple of steps above straight Mexican food, and a couple of steps below fancy-schmancy Mexican food.</p>
<p>Best restaurant I’ve eaten at in Chicago: Lula Cafe, in Logan Square. (I think that’s what the neighborhood is called. It’s right by a Blue Line stop.) Beats Mercat by a nose. Out of the way, a pain in the butt because of long waits and no reservations, but wonderful, creative, mainly locavore, unfussy dishes.</p>