7 Hottest Restaurant Openings in Chicago in 2015 (So Far)
From locavore-focused establishments to popular specialty chains, new restaurant openings continue to add to the strength and depth of Chicago's restaurant scene. We've reviewed the best of the best dining guides and did more than our share of taste-testing to bring you this list of the seven hottest restaurant openings so far this year.
Location: 3213 W Armitage Ave
Open Since: March 2015
Cuisine: Seafood
Specialty: Oysters; shrimp toast tea sandwich
The first restaurant-focused establishment from the team that brought us cocktail bar Scofflaw and no-frills dance club Slippery Slope knocks it out of the park with this nautical-themed establishment that goes easy on the kitsch and allows the food to shine. Prices are affordable and the food is full of flavor in the hands of chef Matt Danko.
Location: 838 N State St
Open Since: April
Cuisine: Gelato, desserts
Specialty: Gelato crepes, flowering gelato cones.
The Chicago outpost of this European gelato chain seats 22 and serves creamy, rich gelato, macaroons and other treats to tease your sweet tooth. Amorino serves up to 24 different flavors of gelato—its cones are beautifully prepared—with a rotating flavor of the month. Amorino's also serves frappes, sorbet drinks, granitas and warm coffee drinks during the cooler months.
Where: 670 W. Diversey Pkwy., 953 W. Randolph St
Open Since: May
Cuisine: Grilled chicken
Specialty: PERi-PERi chicken
In a city where several restaurants try with varying degrees of success to create versions of Nashville-style hot chicken, the spiciest birds in town belong to this South African grilled chicken chain. The chicken is marinated for 24 hours in a sauce made from African Bird's Eye chili peppers, or "Peri-peri", then sliced butterfly-style and grilled. Pick another sauce to top the chicken and enjoy. The hottest sauces Nando's offers will leave you in a puddle of sweat.
Where: 1571 N Milwaukee Ave
Open Since: February
Cuisine: Ramen
Specialty: Furious ramen
Chef Shin Thompson keeps things simple at this Wicker Park ramen shop. The restaurant's namesake noodle dish teems with pork belly and white pepper chicken and the noodles are freshly made in house. Enjoy the hot or cold ramen with a side of pickles or add some spice to the dish with apple chili sauce. Furioous Spoon is open until 1am to sate any and all late-night hunger pangs.
Where: 20 W Kinzie St
Open Since: April
Cuisine: Seafood
Specialty: Whole turbot; grilled octopus
The newest seafood restaurant in town is arguably the priciest. It's also one of the best. Chef Bill Montagne is a veteran of New York's Le Bernardin and he brings fine-dining flair to his seafood presentations. The house staff leads guests to a display of the catches of the day with the option for customers to hand-pick their fish.
Where: 1012 N Western Ave
Open Since: April
Cuisine: French-German
Specialty: Steaks
Chefs Brian Ahern and Jamie Finnegan opened this brasserie bordering Humboldt Park and the Ukrainian Village to little fanfare but the quality of their food quickly earned them a loyal clientele. The steaks are at near-market prices, which can bring about some sticker shock for that part of town, but the presentation and preparation is worth every penny. Also try the duck breast and seared halibut.
Where: 2049 W Division St
Open Since: April
Cuisine: British
Specialty: Eggplant curry; rabbit pie
Indian spices and cooking have long been an influence in British cooking dating back to colonial times and there's no shortage of savory, spicy and sweet curries and sauces to go with the menu at this Wicker Park hotspot located in the former Small Bar Division space. Coupled with an ambitious beer, cider and cocktail menu and you could spend an entire evening here.
