It feels like Chicago hotspots have been opening at an increasing rate, and 2013 has been no exception so far. Here are four local places that opened this year that are definitely worth checking out.
FAME Bar
2015 W. Division St.
Half art gallery, half bar. Why hasn’t anyone thought of this before? Bar food, like pulled pork sandwiches mingles with classier alternatives like the over roasted escargot. All can be washed down with the specialty cocktail menu, of course, all while your eyes are feasting on the paintings and sculptures that cover the walls.
Gelato Greco
1058 W. Chicago Ave.
Gelato Greco opened just this spring, and they’re already one of the city’s leading gelato spots. Choosing to keep the selection of flavors small, the staff instead focuses on making these classic flavors a true contender to those in Florence. The coffee and crepe selection is also noteworthy.
Four Belly
3227 N. Clark St.
You might have heard from your foodie friends that the best part of Asian cuisine, the street food, is underrepresented in the United States. Thankfully, this is no longer the case with the opening of Four Belly in Lakeview. The menu has everything from standard (but exquisite) fried dumplings, to a fried bamboo caterpillar plate for the true adventurer.
Kurah
1355 S. Michigan Avenue
Kurah isn’t the first tapas restaurant in the loop, but their menu items (stuffed grape leaves, bacon wrapped dates, rose infused flan) brings some of the culinary inspiration that has been all over Chicago to the tapas genre. If there’s room, ask to be seated on the patio for a meal with a view.
