A guide to the best restaurants in Lakeview. This Chicago neighborhood caters to both sides of the spectrum. It’s family friendly, but the neighborhood also contains Wrigleyville and Boystown, two areas known for their bar scene. Many of the restaurants in Lakeview are casual – this neighborhood doesn’t have any fine dining restaurants or tasting menu only places.
Lakeview is one of the largest Chicago neighborhoods in terms of size and occupies a space beside Lake Michigan and above of Lincoln Park. Lakeview contains a few smaller neighborhoods. For convenience, we have given Boystown/Northalsted, Wrigleyville, and Southport Corridor their own sections in this guide.
Several of the restaurants on this list are owned by 4 Star, a locally owned restaurant group that runs some of the city’s best kid-friendly restaurants. 4 Star owns Ella Elli, Frasca, Smoke Daddy, Crosby’s Kitchen, and Tuco and Blondie. Ella Elli is a bit more formal but each of the other restaurants offer kid’s menus that are free during specific times!
Last updated: May 2022
The Best Restaurants in Lakeview
Table of Contents
We have indicated which restaurants serve breakfast/brunch and/or lunch in addition to dinner.
Ceres’ Table
Italian
A welcoming rustic Italian eatery serving fresh pastas, wood fired pizzas, and classic meat and seafood mains. Ceres’ Table is a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient for 2021.
The Art of Pizza
Pizza, Italian
The pizza here was named the #1 deep dish pizza in Chicago by The Chicago Tribune. The Art of Pizza offers both pizza by the slice and full pies. Thin crust, pan pizza, and stuffed pizzas are available, plus several salads, sandwiches, and classic Italian entrees.
Frasca Pizzeria + Wine Bar
Italian, Pizza, Kid-friendly
A low-key neighborhood Italian spot with great pizzas, pastas, Italian entrees and a lovely selection of meats and cheeses.
Andy’s Thai Kitchen
Thai, Asian, Lunch
One of the best Thai restaurants in Chicago, Andy’s Thai Kitchen serves a big menu of traditional Thai cuisine including curries, fried rice, and noodle dishes with your choice of protein. The restaurant is cash-only.
Zazas Pizzeria
Italian, Pizza
Zaza’s serves 16″ Neapolitan style pizzas ranging from the classic pepperoni to a truffle mushroom pie with shiitake mushrooms, rosemary, garlic truffle cream, goat cheese, and sea salt. You can order off a menu or build your own.
Dear Margaret
French/Canadian
A restaurant that uses Midwestern ingredients to create French/Canadian cuisine. The restaurant received a Michelin Bib Gourmand award in 2022.
The Gundis Kurdish Kitchen
Kurdish, Vegetarian
Chicago’s first and only Kurdish restaurant serves a menu with plenty of options for vegetarians plus poultry, lamb, beef, and seafood dishes. The food is elegant and full of fresh flavors.
Strings Ramen Shop
Japanese, Ramen, Lunch, Vegetarian/Vegan
A ramen restaurant that makes fresh noodles daily. The menu includes over a dozen different ramen. A few vegan ramens are available.
Mia Francesca
Italian, Kid-friendly
A neighborhood trattoria serving cuisine from Rome, Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. The menu has items like bucatini with mussels in a spicy tomato sauce, handmade cavatelli in a tomato and basil sauce topped with ricotta, and pollo Francese. A kid’s menu and a gluten-friendly menu are both available.
Sochi Saigonese Kitchen
Vietnamese, Lunch
A restaurant presenting a more elevated take on Vietnamese classics like curries, pho, and shaking beef.
Panes Bread Cafe
Sandwiches, Lunch
A cash-only fast-casual sandwich spot that makes some of the best sandwiches around. The menu includes some appetizers and salads, but it’s the 20 sandwiches made with freshly baked bread that are the standout item here. Lunch and dinner are served daily. Note: there is a website claiming to take online orders for Panes, but their Instagram specifically says no online orders.
Ann Sather
Breakfast, Swedish, American
The giant cinnamon rolls that accompany breakfast here are iconic. The menu here focuses on egg dishes and Swedish pancakes. Ann Sather has two Lakeview locations, one just off the Belmont train stop and another in Boystown. Both are open from 7 am until 3 pm every day.
Coalfire
Pizza, Vegetarian/Vegan
As the name suggests, the pizza here is coal fired in an 800 degree oven. It comes out slightly charred. The menu has 17 pizzas, including two vegan pizzas, plus the option to build your own. There is a second location in West Town.
Crisp
Korean, Fast-casual, Lunch
Crisp serves up Korean fried chicken with a variety of different sauces, bowls, and Korean burritos. It’s open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
Wrigleyville
This area surrounding Wrigley Field has gotten a major makeover in the past few years. When the Hotel Zachary opened, it brought along some better dining options, including these restaurants within the hotel property.
Big Star
Mexican
This location beside Wrigley Field is an offshoot of the hugely popular Wicker Park taco joint. Big Star is known for serving incredible tacos – the Panza (pork belly) is a stand out – and strong margaritas. The taco menu is small, while the whiskey and bourbon menu spans four pages.
The Smoke Daddy
American, Barbecue, Lunch, Kid-friendly
Smoke Daddy is one of Chicago’s best barbecue restaurants. It is known for the ribs and the burnt ends. If you feel like ordering something a little lighter, the Wrightwood salad is excellent.
Mordecai
American, Gastropub
Located on the second floor of the Hotel Zachary, Mordecai has views of Wrigley Field. The cuisine is new American and the menu includes entrees like burgers, roast chicken, salmon, and steak frites. Family-style pastas are served on Wednesdays.
Swift & Sons Tavern
Steakhouse, American, Kid-friendly
A modern upscale steakhouse serving steaks, chops, and a la carte sides, plus some sandwiches and salads. A free kids menu is offered daily from 4:30 pm until 6 pm!
Southport Corridor
The Southport Corridor is a section of North Southport Avenue extending Henderson Street to Byron Street. It is an area densely packed with restaurants.
Ella Elli
Global, Mediterranean, Romantic
Ella Elli’s global and Mediterranean inspired menu is broken into sections containing charcuterie and toasts, vegetables, pizza and pasta, and seafoods and meats. When compared to the cuisine at the other 4 Star restaurants, Ella Elli takes a big step towards fine dining while still remaining approachable. Grilled octopus with rice, Catalan aioli, and cilantro and Australian Wagyu with roasted turnips, leeks, butterball potatoes, and romesco are two current menu items. During the warmer months, Ella Elli has a beautiful sidewalk patio decorated with flowers and twinkle lights.
Crosby’s Kitchen
American, Kid-friendly, Lunch
Crosby’s Kitchen has a Midwestern inspired menu with items like burgers and wood fired rotisserie. The space is casual and inviting and the food is consistently great. The weekend brunch is one of the neighborhood’s best.
Tuco and Blondie
Mexican, Kid-friendly
This family-friendly Mexican spot serves lunch, dinner, and brunch and has a menu that focuses on tacos, fajitas, and enchiladas. If you have children, check out their Kid’s Patio Class schedule which includes music classes. (The classes are offered in colder months but at a different location).
Tango Sur
Argentinian, Steakhouse
A lively candlelit Argentinian steakhouse that is a popular spot for group dinners. Steak is the star of the menu which also includes a handful of seafood dishes and pastas.
Coda di Volpe
Italian
This rustic/chic restaurant serving a menu of Southern Italian pizzas and pastas is one of the best restaurants in Lakeview. Weekend brunch is served in addition to dinner.
Tied House
American
Located beside music venue and bar Schubas, the Tied House serves New American cuisine in a bright casual space with a large patio. The menu has a mix of sharable small plates, sandwiches, and a few larger entrees and includes items like a fried chicken sandwich, a smash burger, and crab spaghetti alla chitarra.
Southport Grocery
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Kid-friendly
An iconic Chicago cafe and market known for its outstanding brunch. The menu includes items like cupcake pancakes, bread pudding pancakes, and a grown up pop tart. From scratch baked goods are available too. Southport Grocery is open from 8 am to 3pm daily and is not open for dinner.
Boystown / Northalsted
In 2021, Boystown was officially renamed and became Northalsted. This LGBTQ+ neighborhood occupies a triangle of Lakeview in the space between North Halsted Street, North Broadway, and Belmont Avenue. This area is home to many bars, restaurants, and coffee shops.
2D
American, Donuts, Coffee
More than a restaurant, 2D is an experience. The space has been drawn and designed to give it a two-dimensional black and white comic book appearance. The menu includes fried chicken, Pon De ring donuts, coffee, and tea.
Mortar and Pestle
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Global
A brunch restaurant with a globally inspired menu with items like foie gras and eggs, breakfast fried rice, shrimp and grits, and chicken chorizo hash. Mortar and Pestle is open from 9 am to 3 pm Friday through Monday and does not serve dinner. It is walk-in only.
Wakamono
Japanese, Sushi
Wakamono serves a mix of sushi and hot Japanese cuisine. Hot appetizers include lobster sliders, baked scallops, and seared tuna. The sushi menu is huge, and a bulgogi bowl, chicken katsu curry, ramen, and teriyaki bowls are among the cooked meals.
Wood
American, French
A stylish diner, and six time Bib Gourmand winner, serving seasonally inspired locally sourced small plates with French influences. The menu features confit duck leg l’orange, braised beef bourguignon, and rigatoni with pistachio pesto. Wood also has a walk-up frites window (genius).
Chicago Diner
Vegetarian/Vegan, Kid-friendly
This diner has been meat free since ’83 and is loved by both vegetarian and meat-eaters. It’s known for things like the radical reuben, vegan milkshakes, veggie burgers, brunch, and cakes.
Wilde Bar & Restaurant
American, Irish, Gastropub, Lunch, Kid-friendly
A cozy gastropub with fireplaces and shelves filled with books. The large menu includes soups, salads, sandwiches, and burgers, plus entrees like shepherds pie, fish and chips, chicken curry, and meatloaf.
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