Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Chicago / Illinois? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Sepia

4.8

4.8 (5291)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

West Loop

About the restaurant

Seamlessly melding refined and rustic, vintage and contemporary, Sepia has the feel of an instant classic. The stylish space is warm and inviting, comfortable yet lively. The easy elegance of the room serves as the perfect backdrop for the inventive American cuisine. Chef Andrew Zimmerman's product-driven, seasonal menu showcases the purity and quality of the ingredients, letting both the ingredients and his passion for what he does shine through. Sepia celebrates tradition – with a modern twist.

To book reservations of 10 or larger, please email info@sepiachicago.com!

Top review

Laticia

Dined 3 days ago

My daughter and I celebrated her birthday, the food and experience was top tier. Highly recommend this experience for any special occasion!

Atwater's in The Herrington

4.9

4.9 (1330)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Geneva

About the restaurant

Atwater's is a waterfront, intimate, fine dining experience in Geneva, IL. Our Executive Chef locally sources our menu and creates classical dishes with a modern touch. Our seasonal menu offers recipes that are nuanced to include ingredients that are at their peak of freshness. Atwater's offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner 7 days a week. Enjoy beautiful water and courtyard views, private dining space, and al fresco dining on our patio in season. Atwater's offers afternoon tea quarterly. We are nestled within The Herrington Inn, which is also a wedding venue, boutique hotel, spa, and corporate meeting venue. Open to the public and hotel guests, 365 days.

Top review

Ryan

Dined 1 day ago

Amazing dinner! Staff was fantastic and the chef was terrific! We were here because we just got married and they made it so much more special! Will be definitely be back

Tala House

4.9

4.9 (120)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Andersonville

About the restaurant

At Tala House, we pride ourselves on offering a truly unforgettable culinary experience. Our dishes reflect a modern take on Chicago's melting pot of cultures where we celebrate our diversity and embrace flavors from around the globe. From locally sourced ingredients to unique flavor combinations, be ready to discover Tala’s story: cooking with no boundaries.

Top review

Stevevip

Dined 2 days ago

This is one of the best newer restaurants that have opened on the north side/Andersonville! Great inventive food, atmosphere and super friendly staff

Boka

4.8

4.8 (7078)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Lincoln Park

About the restaurant

Michelin starred Boka Restaurant has been a fixture in Chicago dining since 2003. In January 2014, Chef Lee Wolen joined as Executive Chef/Partner after the restaurant underwent a major renovation. Since his time at Boka, critics have taken notice. Phil Vettel of Chicago Tribune and Eater Chicago both named Lee as “2014 Chef of the Year.” Most recently, Lee was named 2015 “Chef of the Year." Boka’s food features contemporary, American cuisine, focusing on seasonality and sourcing as many local ingredients as possible.

Top review

Michael

Dined 1 day ago

We dd the tasting menu and it was an experience for sure. Service was fantastic. Would recommend the tasting menu if it’s your first time.

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Popular dish

Roasted Chicken

Popular dish

Black Truffle Roasted Chicken

Popular dish

Dark Chocolate

Waterleaf Restaurant - Glen Ellyn

4.9

4.9 (321)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Glen Ellyn

About the restaurant

Welcome to our classroom! Waterleaf, located in College of DuPage’s Culinary & Hospitality Center, is a dining experience that offers real-life training to Culinary, Baking & Pastry Arts, and Hospitality students. Patrons will enjoy menus utilizing fresh regional and seasonal ingredients prepared by Culinary & Pastry students as well as attentive service from our student servers.
Limited seating is available at each event and reservations are required. Reservations may be made until an event is sold out. For parties of 6 or more, please call us directly at 630-942-2284.

Top review

Diana

Dined 5 days ago

Our server Lexi was amazing . The food was great, everything about the experience was the best. Made reservations to come back in a couple of weeks. Can’t wait!!!!

Dolce Restaurant & Wine Bar

4.7

4.7 (529)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Westmont

About the restaurant

Patio is based upon availability. Simple, Rustic, yet Refined, anything but typical. Walk into Dolce and you're welcomed by the aromas from the open kitchen. You might notice the music, its contemporary, it's rock & roll, R&B, or soul. You'll definitely notice the wines, displayed on the wall like works of art. There are no white table cloths, no dabbing the corners of your mouth, no pomp, but lots of circumstance. And perhaps the only reason you noticed the aforementioned is because you haven't tasted our food. That's when the music fades into the background.
Our house chefs are proud to be 'dismantling' the dining experience, replacing it with a sophisticated yet relaxed evening that doesn't break the bank. It's the best of both worlds, yet the food is our finest accomplishment to date. Inspired by whats great with a deep appreciation for each ingredient; grown local sustainable farms, or produced and harvested by like-minded individuals. Dolce is rarely the same place twice.

Top review

Janvip

Dined 4 days ago

Everything was amazing! They had some seasonal mixed drinks, a special to try one of their pizzas, bottles of wine were 1/2 price, a free wine tasting the night we were there, service was exceptional and we were able to chat with the owner! We cannot wait to go back!

The Franklin Room

4.9

4.9 (1848)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

The Franklin Room celebrates the sense of connection one can only find in the neighborhood taverns of Chicago. Offering classic American tavern fare and no shortage of whiskey flair, our sophisticated speakeasy is your local go-to for quality meat dishes, fresh seafood, classic cocktails and the neighborhood tavern experience our city has perfected.

Our menu of delectable turn-of-the-century inspired American tavern fare starts there, then elevates the experience with a modern twist that creates a culinary experience you simply have to taste to believe. It's perfectly complimented by our beverage program, which showcases creative cocktails and a meticulous selection of spirits, wine and beer with a strong focus on independent distillers and limited-edition rare releases. Bring them together and you've got a uniquely Chicagoan experience, centuries in the making.

Top review

Malisha

Dined 2 days ago

Amazing food and service. Came here in a random night and was able to get a resy right away.

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Popular dish

Spicy Bourbon Mussels

Popular dish

TRUFFLED TUNA CRUDO gf

Popular dish

LAMB CHOPS gf

Brasero

4.8

4.8 (279)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

West Town

About the restaurant

Named by Robb Report as one of the Top 10 Best New Restaurants in the country, Brasero combines South American passion with midwestern grit and brings Chef John Manion's talent for wood-fired Latin cooking to West Town’s bustling restaurant row. This sultry 120-seater draws inspiration from across Latin America, honed through Manion’s decades of experience. Think flame- roasted, whole young chickens slicked with garlic-chili oil, steaks cooked over an open fire alongside chimichurri, and moqueca teeming with mussels, shrimp & Mahi Mahi with coconut-scented rice—all washed down with quenching caipirinhas, locally brewed, Latin-inspired beer and 100 bottles of wine under 100 dollars.

Top review

Joseph

Dined 6 days ago

Brasero is a special place. Excellent food, service, and ambiance. Highly recommend!

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Experience

Hearth Table

Girl & the Goat

4.8

4.8 (14709)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

West Loop

About the restaurant

Girl & the Goat opened in 2010 with the goal of serving a family style menu of tasty, bold flavored foods in a fun and lively setting. To enhance the experience we offer a selection of wines from around the world with a focus on small producers, a rotating list of craft beers, and a list of fun cocktails created by our bartenders. Reservations are encouraged for our dining room, our bar is always available for walk-ins, nomads, adventurers, and those of you who don’t like to plan. Please note: as a way to offset rising costs associated with the restaurant (food, beverage, labor, benefits, supplies), we have added a 4% surcharge to all checks. We do this in lieu of increased menu prices. You may request to have this taken off your check, should you choose.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 2 days ago

Food and service were great. Was pricey for three people

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4.8

4.8 (2487)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Burr Ridge

About the restaurant

Topaz offers a Contemporary-American Menu with an Italian Steakhouse flair in an upscale atmosphere, bringing a city feel to the Western suburbs. Featuring a beautiful outdoor patio, large lounge area and private dining spaces, Topaz is the perfect place for a romantic dinner, a drink with friends, or your next group event. For a very special evening, reserve our chef's table.

Top review

Pamela

Dined on Sep 19, 2024

Truly enjoyed our lunch. Our server was amazing. Thank you!

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