Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Chicago’s top restaurants are not necessarily the most interesting. To visitors, the top restaurants are always interesting, but they are also often the more expensive. Newer restaurants often attract the interest of visitors and locals alike, and are often more affordable. Some restaurants in Chicago are interesting for various reasons: for being new, for having a distinctly different cuisine, decor or views, or for having a rare or exquisite wine list. Many of the more interesting Chicago restaurants offer cuisine from other countries or American cuisine that has been modernized or improved with new twists.
The words ben pao in Chinese mean fireworks, and the owners decided on this name to denote celebrations and excitement. Ben Pao has elegant interiors, with pillars, gold-colored walls and mini-waterfalls. Its menu is an adventurous combination of zesty and bold cuisines from four regions of China: Mongolia, Canton, Shanghai and Sichuan. Interesting specialties include black peppered sea scallops, Shanghai shrimp, Sichuan wrinkled beans, barbecue pork shoulder, chicken soong and seven-flavor beef. Ben Pao caters, and has a party room that can accommodate 75 to 100 people.
Ben Pao
52 West Illinois St.
Chicago, IL 60610
312-222-1888
benpao.com
Taxim is a Greek restaurant with a decor that has been described as looking more Moorish than Greek, but is nonetheless exotic and attractive. The owners take pride in the distinctly labeled rare Greek wines and the cuisine from the villages, cities, mountains and islands of Greece. The menu is short and consists of small hot plates, small cold plates and mains. All 22 items in the menu have Greek names with English translations. The more interesting items include spit-roasted duck breast and leg rubbed with spices and mint and oven-roasted sea bass with lemon, olive oil and sauteed dandelions.
Taxim
1558 North Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622-2008
773-252-1558
taximchicago.com
Yolk is a breakfast place that remains open for lunch. It has creative breakfasts, specialty juices and privately labeled coffee. Its two locations are on Michigan Avenue and North Wells, both in Chicago. Michigan Avenue has well-lighted interiors, with a choice of bar-type sitting in high stools or regular four-to-a-table chairs. Some samples from the various menu categories include surf and turf Benedict, grilled salmon and eggs, Mediterranean omelet, Nutella crepes, burger Italian sandwich, buffalo chicken wrap and goat cheese and chicken spinach salad.
Yolk
1120 South Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60605-2301
312-789-9655
yolk-online.com