Three of America's "essential" restaurants are located in Chicago, according to a new list.
Food blog Eater recognized Alinea, Monteverde and The Publican in its recent roundup of the restaurants that, according to the publication, "don’t just exemplify culinary excellence — they foster hospitality and pleasure and purpose in their communities."
Monteverde, an Italian eatery in the West Loop, is new to Eater's lineup this year, while Alinea and The Publican received Eater Hall of Fame stars for making the list three years in a row.
Monteverde's head chef Sarah Grueneburg was lauded by the James Beard Foundation, winning the 2017 award for Best Chef in the Great Lakes region.
Grueneberg's "pastas deliver plenty of primal comfort, but she brings exceptional skill and respectful imagination to the genre," the author notes. "She toys with classics in sneaky-brilliant ways."
Newly renovated in 2016, Alinea boasts a number of accolades, including three Michelin stars and an Oustanding Restaurant in the U.S. award from the James Beard Foundation. The modern Lincoln Park eatery offers a unique dining experience with three upscale tasting menus, each featuring 18-22 courses.
"The influence of Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas’s star restaurant and modernist playground can’t be overstated," the author writes.
The Publican specializes in "oysters, pork and beer" amid a unique European atmosphere, which was honored with the James Beard award for Best Design in 2009.
"Paul Kahan’s beer hall for the new millennium, where your saison or German pils arrives alongside beef tongue with fromage blanc or California sand dabs."
