Best Seasonal Restaurants in Near North

We love visiting on Sunday afternoons! And we are so delighted and honored with the terrific over the top service from Lulu and Seiken. Thanks for always making us feel so welcome. The food is delicious. And so is the wine!

Siena Tavern offers a nice ambiance with a lively yet comfortable setting, complemented by attentive and great service. It’s an inviting space perfect for dining out with friends or family. The food, however, had its highs and lows. The wagyu meatball starter was a definite highlight—juicy, succulent, and seasoned perfectly. The portion was generous, making it a satisfying way to begin the meal. The orecchiette was another standout, with its well-executed flavors and satisfying texture. However, the sea bass fell short of expectations. Being a thin cut, it absorbed too much butter and oil, resulting in a dish that felt overly rich and lacked balance. The meal ended on a high note with the tiramisu. While it wasn’t the traditional preparation, it was amazing in its own way. Light yet flavorful, it struck the perfect balance—neither overly sweet nor excessively creamy.

Joe's never disappoints. The stone crab claws are always delicious. The salads--beet root and chopped lettuce, tomato, onion, and feta--were excellent and large-sized (shareable). And the crab cakes were all crab and the tuna perfectly cooked and plentiful. The service is attentive, but not intrusive, and very helpful in making menu decisions. And the ambience is nice--the tables and booths are nicely spaced so that, even when Joe's is crowded, which is all the times we have been there, it is possible for two people to have a conversation without having to yell across the table at each other. Joe's is on our regular rota of Chicago restos--pricey but worth the cost.

We enjoyed everything and our server was wonderful!

My boyfriend and I dined at RPM Italian for my birthday, and I was a very happy camper! We opted to share plates so as to be able to eat everything we ordered. Steak tartare was the best I've had in a while. The saffron cavatelli with wild boar was *chef's kiss* as well as the black truffle chicken Vesuvio.