Brass Heart is an expensive tasting menu restaurant in Uptown offering both a vegan and a regular menu.

Pequod’s is a fantastic deep-dish pizza place in Lincoln Park.

In-On Thai is a great BYOB Thai spot in Uptown.

Bob’s is a fantastic BYOB pizza place in Pilsen.

Lao Peng You is a busy BYOB spot in Ukrainian Village with great handmade noodles and dumplings.

Monteverde is the best Italian restaurant in Chicago. Order lots of pasta.

Gaijin is a great all-day Japanese restaurant specializing in okonomiyaki and kakigori.

Bárbaro is a taqueria in Humboldt Park with great cocktails and decent tacos.

The Region is a counter service spot in Roscoe Village with excellent (and ugly) burgers.

JJ Thai Street Food is a small BYOB restaurant in West Town with very good Thai food.

Ciccio Mio is a great Italian restaurant in River North from the team behind Gilt Bar and Bavette’s.

Sunda is an Asian-fusion restaurant in River North that’s been around for a while, but still has great food.

Gadabout is a restaurant in Andersonville with an all-over-the-place menu, but really good food.

Vajra is an Indian restaurant in West Town with great food and cocktails.

Amaru is a fun and casual Latin American restaurant in Wicker Park.

Ras Dashen is an excellent Ethiopian restaurant in Edgewater with fantastic food.