One of the many advantages to living in a neighborhood as scenic and diverse as Lakeview is the many dining options available. Lakeview, made up of smaller enclaves such as the Southport Corridor, Wrigleyville and LGBT community center Boystown, covers the breadth of the dining scene, from the trendiest newcomers to Chicago institutions. Here are some of our favorites.
Ann Sather Restaurant: Starting as a small, Swedish diner in the 1920s, purchased and renamed by Ann Sather in the ’40s and now owned by Chicago alderman Tom Tunney, the flagship location at 909 W. Belmont Ave. is open for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast is the go-to option, from the sweet and light Swedish pancakes to Sather’s famous homemade cinnamon rolls. Lunch options tend toward the traditional — meatloaf, meatballs, roast duck and the like. It’s BYOB.
The Roost Carolina Kitchen: Opened first as a food truck, then in 2014 at 1467 Irving Park Road and since expanding to two other city locations, serving nothing but fried chicken — or fried chicken sandwiches, fried chicken tenders and fried chicken tacos. The Roost specializes in hand-trimmed, never frozen, hormone- and antibiotic-free chicken soaked in buttermilk brine for at least 24 hours. The accompanying buttermilk biscuits are made fresh from scratch in small batches throughout the day.
Ella Elli: A relative newcomer — opening in 2017 — just off the corner of Southport and Cornelia avenues, Ella Elli serves carefully considered plates inspired by Mediterranean, French and Italian cuisines in a sexy space. A date-night spot a notch in ambition above the preponderance of casual joints in the area.
Entente: The owner of the only Michelin star in Lakeview (first awarded in 2017 and again a year later), Entente brought together culinary understudies from such Chicago institutions as Schwa, Blackbird and Acadia to quickly make a name for themselves. This is adventurous dining in a casual atmosphere a bit off the beaten path — for Lakeview — on North Lincoln Avenue. The menu varies with the seasonal availability of ingredients and the cross-cultural influences of the kitchen talent.
Tango Sur: What would a Chicago restaurant list be without a steakhouse? Sitting on the north end of the Southport Corridor is this Argentinian wonder that piles on the meats without crushing your wallet.
Make It Home Cooking
The brilliance of living in Lakeview, particularly in Wrigleyville, is the percolating coziness of it all. As the ballpark that sits as its centerpiece is so nicknamed, the neighborhood environs are truly the Friendly Confines, and its dining options so many homecooked meals. If you’re looking for a place in Lakeview to call home, see our available rentals here.