Suburban Restaurants with Big-City Vibes

Big-city vibes without heading into the big city? Plenty of restaurants in the near west suburbs offer that. Sophisticated craft cocktails and inventive entrées, world-class sushi and lively Latin fusion, leafy rooftop terraces for gathering with friends and intimate spots for cozying up with your special someone: You’ll find all that and more, along with plenty of urban energy, at these restaurants in and around Oak Park.

Oak Park

Amerikas

With the likes of lamb-shank barbacoa, tacos, and queso fresco fries on the menu, Amerikas evokes Oaxaca or Mexico City as much as it does Chicago. Even entrées such as the New York strip (served with chipotle goat cheese, yuca, and chimichurri) and starters like the burrata (accompanied by caramelized habanero mezcal grapes and pepitas) exhibit deft touches of Latin American flavor. The robust assortment of Mexican beers and wine (and Mexican Coke!), the zesty margaritas, and the abundant greenery and colorful artwork adorning the brick walls add to the lively ambience. And if you have a chance to dine on the patio amid the towering plants, grab it!

Must-try: Fans say Amerikas’ brunch isn’t just the best in town, but among the best in all of Chicagoland. The Bloody Marys and bottomless mimosas receive raves, as do the tortilla soup, huevos con chorizo, and homemade churros complete with dulce de leche dipping sauce. Make a reservation, as word has definitely spread.

Citrine

Elegance with a lack of pretension defines Citrine, from its bistro-like decor to plating that’s beautiful in its simplicity. If you can’t get a table on the patio, the expansive front windows will nonetheless enable you to soak up the sunshine. Dinner entrées range from pizzas fresh from the wood-fired oven and burgers to filet mignon and eggplant gateau, ensuring that there’s something to satisfy everyone, no matter how large or diverse your group. Weekend brunch is equally wide-ranging, with shrimp and grits alongside crab cake Benedict alongside chicken with beignets.

Must-try: In addition to pizza, Citrine uses its wood-fired oven for its house-made lepinja, a Balkan flatbread. It comes with goat cheese and ajvar, a red-pepper spread also from the Balkans, and failing to start your meal with it is a grave error in judgment. The cocktails and mocktails are standouts as well; we’re partial to the Concentrated Lemonade featuring vodka, chili liqueur, and ginger syrup.

The Little Gem Cafe

Reminiscent of an intimate French boîte, The Little Gem Cafe is ideal for date nights. In fact, it offers a fixed-price three-course date-night menu, complete with a bottle of wine, four evenings a week. But while the muted lighting and cozy tables lend themselves to romance, this spot is also well suited for after-work drinks with friends, thanks to its assortment of whiskeys and cocktails. The curated dinner menu, which includes French onion soup, braised beef short ribs, and pork chops with white-bean stew, would feel apropos in a Chicago or Paris eatery. The lunch and weekend brunch menus are equally Continental.

Must-try: Music and dancing on Friday and Saturday nights reinforce Little Gem’s standing as a romantic date-night spot. If you prefer sitting and sipping to hitting the dance floor, linger after your meal with a cognac, a cappuccino, or a picture-perfect crème brûlée.

Maya del Sol

The spacious, leafy patio, with lights strung overhead to create a magical glow, is reason enough to visit Maya del Sol in spring and summer. In winter the indoor dining areas, with their warm lighting and comfortable seating, are just as welcoming. And the bold flavors of the Latin fusion cuisine—traditional ceviche, sweet corn–and-ricotta tamales, house-made tortillas, fire-roasted shrimp with chipotle mushroom cream sauce—make this a favorite for low-key gatherings and major celebrations alike. The cocktail offerings, which include mojitos, caipirinhas, and a half-dozen margarita options, lean into big-city lounge culture. Sunday brunch is no less cosmopolitan, with Bloody Marys featuring tequila rather than vodka and French toast topped with cajeta, candied pecans, and mangoes.

Must-try: The carne asada—adobo-marinated skirt steak served with chimichurri, fingerling potatoes, and roasted red pepper sauce—never disappoints. For a drink that stands up to its robust flavors, try the Oaxacan old-fashioned, crafted with small-batch mezcal, tequila, and chocolate- and chili-flavored bitters.

Mora

One of the joys of big-city dining is discovering new cuisines and cuisine fusions. Mora brings that adventurous spirit to the near west suburbs. Amid the sleekly handsome setting that would fit right in among the Loop’s restaurants, you can relish Korean wings, Vietnamese banh pho xao, Filipino lumpia, and Japanese gyoza. A kids’ menu with favorites such as orange chicken skewers and egg noodles ensures that families are welcome, while the variety of Japanese whiskeys, sakes, and cocktails makes Mora a satisfying choice for date night.

Must-try: Start with the robatayaki, skewers of veg, seafood, or meat grilled tableside. Then progress to the sushi, which rivals any you’d eat in Chicago. In addition to the classics, Mora offers specialty rolls like the luxe Land N Sea with lobster, seared beef, asparagus, and truffle aioli.

One Lake Brewing

When it comes to urbane surroundings, the Gold Coast has nothing on One Lake Brewing. Housed in what had been a bank a century ago, this brew pub boasts double-height windows, a sidewalk patio and a rooftop terrace, and a two-story chandelier made from sparkling beer bottles. “Elevated pub grub” describes the menu. The patty melt features burgers made with beef from Illinois’s Slagel Farms, Swiss cheese, and beer-caramelized onions on a sourdough bun; the Chicago fries are tossed in French dip jus before being covered in melted mozzarella and topped with giardiniera. And of course there are the house-made and local beers, a well-considered wine selection, and creative cocktails.

Must-try: Why settle for just one house beer when you can order a flight that includes the chocolate- and fruit-tinged Imperial Stout, the award-winning Premium Czech Pils, and more? And the fish and chips never disappoint—there’s a reason they often sell out.

Sen Sushi

As intimate as any Lincoln Park venue, Sen Sushi seats just 30 people and doesn’t take reservations. But if you want exceptional-quality sushi or sashimi that tastes fresh from the sea, any wait you might have is well worth it. You’ll find all the classics, of course, along with specialty rolls such as the Salsa Maki, a fiery feast of albacore tuna with jalapeño, yuzu juice, and chili sauce. Those who shy away from sushi will also find plenty to savor, from grilled salmon with wasabi sauce to New York strip steak teriyaki.

Must-try: The selection of cold sake ranges from fruit-forward sweet to delightfully dry, so you’d be remiss not to try one or two. Start your meal with Japanese street food favorites like takoyaki, battered balls filled with octopus and topped with katsu sauce and bonito, or fried chicken karaage with spicy mayo.

Victory Italian

If Victory Italian reminds you of the South Loop, that could be because it has a sister restaurant there. Both eateries have a clubby, comforting familiarity, complete with framed photos of celebs past and present lining the walls. The Oak Park site also has a summer patio on its side street that reinforces the neighborhood vibe. Italian American favorites like house-made gnocchi, spaghetti with hand-rolled meatballs, and chicken cacciatore make this ideal for both weeknight dinners with the kids and weekend get-togethers with friends.

Must-try: The minestrone is pure love in a bowl, the slow-braised pot roast over rigatoni gigante will make you nostalgic for the Italian nonna you never had, and the limoncello cake or a cannoli is the perfect ending to a perfect meal.

Bonus: Mira Social

Though it’s a cocktail bar with small bites rather than a restaurant, its sophisticated big-city energy makes Mira Social deserving of a spot on this list. Whether you’re meeting friends for after-work drinks, beginning a romantic night out with a craft cocktail, or keeping the celebration going with an after-dinner nightcap, the venue’s plush seating, marble-top tables and bar, and of course, chic beverage offerings will transport you to an exclusive after-hours club.

Must-try: A plate of fresh oysters or the charcuterie board add to the worldliness of house cocktails like the Prisma (prickly-pear vodka, prosecco, lime, and rosso amaro) or mocktails such as the hibiscus mule.

La Grange

The Elm

The channeled leather banquettes, soigné lighting, and spacious rooftop terrace would make The Elm a popular site for date nights and large gatherings in and of themselves (and yes, you can rent out private spaces for your next party). But once you taste the New American dishes, you’ll want to come here regardless of the occasion, or for no occasion at all. The menu changes seasonally, though favorites like the cheddar cheeseburger and the Parmesan-crusted chicken piccata will no doubt be available. The curation of wines, beers, cocktails, and mocktails ensures you’ll find an ideal accompaniment no matter what you order.

Must-try: The 12-ounce New York strip with roasted Cipollini onions, seasonal veg, herbed butter, and bordelaise sauce will have you convinced you’re at a Chicago steakhouse. Just be sure to leave room for the brown-butter bourbon cake with caramel sauce and bourbon pecan ice cream.

Fourteensixteen

With brick walls, exposed ceilings, a rooftop terrace, separate bar and lounge areas, and industrial-chic furnishings, Fourteensixteen could easily be in downtown Chicago rather than downtown La Grange. The farm-to-table dishes, craft cocktails, and THC-infused “hightails” match the metropolitan vibe of the interiors. Starters such as the prosciutto flatbread, crab cakes, and arancini make Fourteensixteen a great choice for drinks and nibbles with friends; wood-fired steaks, four-cheese ravioli with truffle oil, and other robust entrées will satisfy even the heartiest appetites.

Must-try: For dedicated carnivores, the Butchers Reserve menu is the stuff dreams are made of: your choice of one of four steaks, including a 40-ounce dry-aged porterhouse for four, along with starters, sides, and banana splits for dessert. Just keep in mind that you need to order at least three days in advance.

Milk Money Brewing

No need to venture to Wicker Park for your dose of big-city hipness. Simply stop by Milk Money Brewing instead. La Grange’s first brewery features casual-cool sandwiches, burgers, tacos, and pizzas to wash down with its house-made beers. And while you might not think of a brewery as being family-friendly, this one is, with a kids’ menu and arcade games. From the garage-style door that turns the front of the venue into a terrace in good weather to starters like fried pickles and cheese curds to the bottomless mimosas available during weekend brunch, Milk Money is all about flavorful fun.

Must-try: Come by on a Thursday night and listen to live acoustic music while noshing on wings and nachos and sipping a Milk Money Stout, a La Grange Lager, or alcohol-free hops-infused sparkling water. Then buy a crowler or two to enjoy at home.

Wooden Paddle

Wooden Paddle has the buzziness of the West Loop without the slightest hint of pretension. The velvet seating, dramatically lit bar, and view of the wood-fired ovens manage to be both glamorous and welcoming—no mean feat. Those ovens, by the way, produce some of the most ingenious pizzas around, with toppings like slow-braised short rib, house-made giardiniera, and black truffle puree. Other sharable offerings include a happy marriage of chicken katsu and chicken parm and rigatoni with a house-made, nut-free pesto. Speaking of house-made, all the juices used in the cocktails and mocktails are fresh-pressed, and all the syrups are made in-house.

Must-try: The chef’s starters spread, consisting of whipped ricotta and lime-and-pepper honey on house-made focaccia and three other appetizers, will immediately get you into the Wooden Paddle spirit.

La Grange Park

Posto 31

Downtown Chicago doesn’t have a monopoly on elegant Italian restaurants with thoughtfully curated wine lists. Case in point: Posto 31. The pasta is handmade daily, the wood-fired thin-crust pizza is made to order, and entrées such as whitefish with grilled asparagus, lemon butter sauce, and bruschetta are impeccably balanced and beautifully plated. The expansive windows let in plenty of sunshine during the day, while the scores of white pendant lights glow warmly at night. And come spring and summer, there’s no better spot to sip a spritz or a prosecco than on the patio.

Must-try: Served with balsamic vinegar and Calabrian chili honey, the crispy Brussels sprouts will win over even those who shun greens. The lasagna with béchamel sauce, whipped ricotta, and Parmesan will spoil you for any other version of the dish.

Riverside

La Barra Riverside

The surrounding tree-lined streets seem almost bucolic, but La Barra Riverside thrums with urban energy—doubly so on Thursday nights when there’s live music and during any weekend when locals gather at the well-stocked bar to watch a big game. La Barra is best known for its pizzas—choose from deep-dish, thin-crust, and crispy signature artisan—but there are other specialties to relish as well, including seasonal risottos and beef tenderloin sliders.

Must-try: Can’t decide whether to end your meal with tiramisu or a tiramisu martini? Go ahead and treat yourself to both!

Big-City Energy in the Near West Suburbs

While proximity to Chicago is one of the many benefits of the near west suburbs, you needn’t head downtown to relish big-city flavor or style. Numerous restaurants in Oak Park and the surrounding towns deliver that same metropolitan energy.

And because the near west suburbs also offer so much to see and do, your meal can be just one element of a cosmopolitan day or evening. Relax over brunch, then explore the nearby boutiques. Follow an afternoon of gallery hopping with a leisurely dinner. End a romantic evening with cocktails or mocktails at a chic lounge. In short, make the most of everything Oak Park and Beyond has to offer!