Restaurants, Food and Drink

Alinea celebrates 20 years of modernist fine dining in Chicago, but our critic says it’s time to let go of the balloon

Alinea, the modernist tasting-menu restaurant marking a milestone 20th anniversary this week, remains the most important fine dining establishment in Chicago, but it’s not at its best.

The Fossilized Humita Bone course with red prawn head, edible dust and empanada on stone, with marrow bone, Argentinian humita, chimichurri sauces and live fire bowl at Alinea on April 23, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

The seafood platter at Proxi in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood on April 24, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Restaurant news: Proxi evolves with coastal Asian focus in the West Loop

When it opened in 1994, Cafe Jumping Bean was something new, providing freshly ground beans, an affordable menu of sandwiches and drinks and curated art to the corner of 18th and Bishop streets in the Pilsen neighborhood. Now, there’s much more competition. Manager Valerie Delgado is optimistic that Jumping Bean and the rest of the cafes will succeed together. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

One mile, more than a dozen Latino-owned cafes: How Pilsen’s coffee culture is growing across 18th Street

FILE – A Starbucks location is seen April 26, 2022, in Havertown, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Labor group sues Starbucks, saying it ignores slave-like conditions for workers in Brazil

By Dee-Ann Durbin

April 24, 2025 at 4:27 p.m.

The lawsuit alleges that Starbucks violated U.S. trafficking laws by continuing to buy coffee from...

Co-owner Zack Eastman retrieves a bottle of wine from a shelf in the storefront at Easy Does It on April 18, 2025, in Chicago. Under-the-radar corners of California feature prominently at Easy Does It, but Eastman is quick to point to other underappreciated American wine regions like the Finger Lakes in New York, Michigan and the Columbia Valley in eastern Washington and Oregon too. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Navigating price and quality in the complicated landscape of the American wine market

By Anna Lee Iijima

April 23, 2025 at 10:19 a.m.

As tariffs threaten to send import prices soaring, domestic wines might be poised to be...

Harry's Long Bar, 13115 S. Western Ave., Blue Island, on April 22, 2025. (Brett Johnson/Daily Southtown)

Blue Island temporarily closes Harry’s Long Bar following ‘violent incident,’ officials say

By Samantha Moilanen

April 23, 2025 at 5:39 a.m.

Blue Island temporarily shut down Harry's Long Bar on Western Avenue after a fight involving...

Funeral Potatoes chef Alexis Rice prepares dishes in the kitchen at Moonflower, April 17, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Restaurant review: Funeral Potatoes, magical Midwestern comfort food, at Moonflower cocktail bar in Chicago

By Louisa Kung Liu Chu

April 22, 2025 at 1:06 p.m.

Thoughtful monthly and weekly food specials, and even a whimsical mystery grilled cheese sandwich, heighten...

FILE – A sign for the Chipotle restaurant in Pittsburgh’s Market Square is seen on Feb. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

Chipotle Mexican Grill to open first location in Mexico

By Dee-Ann Durbin

April 21, 2025 at 10:36 a.m.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is opening in Mexico.

Chef Daniel Parker, from left, Jermaine Brown Jr., Jaheim Williams and Chimalli Licona dress a salad at a dinner organized by SkyART, a visual arts organization for young people, in the group’s space on West Lake Street in Chicago on April 17, 2025. The menu was planned by the teens. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Hopeful youth chefs create 4-course dinner in SkyART, TXA TXA Club collaboration

By Zareen Syed

April 21, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Creative culinary studio TXA TXA Club and nonprofit SkyART have teamed together to host dinners...

Madonna Slepicka, owner of River Forest Chocolates, was inducted into the Triton College Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame on April 11, 15 years after deciding to take a chocolate making class at the college. (Jesse Wright/Pioneer Press)

River Forest chocolatier tastes sweet success, earns Wall of Fame nod from Triton College

By Jesse Wright

April 19, 2025 at 5:09 a.m.

River Forest Chocolates owner Madonna Slepicka may never have gotten into the business if it...

Franchise owner Elise Mills delivers a customer order April 17, 2025, on opening day at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Chicago's Pullman neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chick-fil-A opens Pullman restaurant, giving another boost to Far South Side

By Brian J. Rogal

April 17, 2025 at 6:38 p.m.

Chick-fil-A is the anchor tenant for Pullman Gateway, a new 8-acre commercial center near 111th...

The McDonald’s Museum at 400 N. Lee St. in Des Plaines is seen on April 4, 1989, and is based on the original building that opened on the site in 1955. (Ernie Cox Jr./Chicago Tribune)

Vintage Chicago Tribune: As McDonald’s turns 70, a look back at its suburban origins

By Kori Rumore

April 17, 2025 at 4:38 p.m.

Seventy years ago this week, McDonald's opened in northwest suburban Des Plaines. No one except...

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