Balena

Last weekend my sister and I went to Balena, which is in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on Halsted across from Steppenwolf. I have heard rave reviews about this restaurant, and in October it made the Eater 38 list. Balena is an Italian restaurant and is part of the Boka and Bristol restaurant groups.

They have a great sharing menu, so my sister and I ordered a charcuterie plate, salad, pasta and a pizza. Literally everything was phenomenal. We got a lemon arugula salad to have some greens, and what could have been just another boring salad was absolutely amazing. I am dying to know how they made their dressing. They also have an expansive wine list, and delicious craft cocktails. The restaurant has very high ceilings, yet still does a great job of feeling cozy. The service was also great.

I would highly recommend that you come here, whether you live in Chicago or are visiting from out of town. You won't be disappointed.

Jam Restaurant

This past weekend I went to Jam Restaurant in Logan Square for brunch to celebrate a friends birthday. You can wait hours to get a table for brunch in Chicago, and at this place, even though they quoted twenty minutes, we got a table within five minutes. Fabulous. I found this confusing though, as the restaurant was packed, but I'll take it. Maybe we just got lucky?

The chef at this restaurant has quite the notable track record, working at Charlie Trotter's and North Pond in his past. This menu has a fantastic mix of sweet and savory, and the dishes are beautifully presented when they come out to the table. I could have ordered so many things, but I got the eggs benedict. The food was great although the portion was very small (probably a good thing for me).

The interior decorating at Jam is very bright and clean, definitely giving the feeling that this is more of a daytime place, as they aren't open for dinner. That being said, you can rent their space out for private events, which would be so fun for an evening get together. The chef will cook for you and they just acquired a liquor license, so you could throw quite the fun party!

If you are a regular brunch goer and lover like me, I highly recommend you put this place top of your list for some good eats.

Webster's Wine Bar

A couple of weeks ago I went to Webster's Wine Bar with a girlfriend for a long overdue catch-up session. This is one of my all time favorite places in the city. The atmosphere is quaint and relaxed, and they have great small plates and a huge wine selection. You can also generally always get a reservation, or even just walk in, so it's a good place to go for a laid back night, in which you won't be rushed. And if you want to make a night out of it, go across the street to see a movie before or after your wine.

This place is owned by the same people as Bluebird and Telegraph. They also have a lot of fun special events; I am on their email list and there are always things happening that I actually want to go to (but have yet to do so). Although this isn't a must-go place in Chicago if you're here from out of town, if you are local, it should be on your list.