The Publican

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had dinner at upscale Mexican restaurant Mercadito Monday while in Chicago for NATO. And as you would expect, he had plenty of company. Besides the Prince's table of seven, the large...

Can a restaurant be a hidden gem if everybody knows about it? A road-less-traveled location and understated-to-a-fault exterior haven't prevented 6-week-old La Sirena Clandestina (which means "the hidden mermaid") from pulling in crowds to its Market...

You can't count on snow for Christmas. You can't count on a 7-3 Bears team making the playoffs. But you can count on my annual save-the-tables list, which provides dozens of last-minute, primo New Year's Eve reservations for procrastinating readers....

Paul Kahan is the opposite of an enigma. He is easily explained. He is pleased by simple pleasures. He defines his life by four pillars: chef, record-store geek, husband, law-abiding citizen. Everything else is noise. In judgment, he renders halfway...

The Taste of Chicago is bringing back its Celebrity Chef du Jour series with a fresh line-up of big-name local chefs. Featured chefs for the fine-dining experience include Rick Bayless, Carrie Nahabedian, Giuseppe Tentori, Gale Gand, The Hearty Boys and...

You've already waited in line for popcorn at Garrett. You've endured verbal abuse at The Wieners Circle. And you've devoured the Chicago classic that is the Italian beef sandwich (Al's #1 and Johnnie's being the best, depending on who you ask). So...

Zagat, publishers of the reader-review based Zagat Guides, has released its second-annual “30 Under 30” list of Chicagoans in the restaurant and hospitality business. The list, intended to recognize up-and-coming talents rather than...

When it comes to adventures in dining and drinking, Chicago definitely delivered this year. Hot chefs expanded their empires with new restaurants. New words made their way into our nightlife vocabulary. And, of course, there were doughnuts. And pie. And...

Sour beers are a prime example of the "sounds weird, tastes awesome" phenomenon. It's no brewing mistake—these beers are intended to taste tart or acidic, a flavor they owe to the wild yeast or bacteria used in the brewing process. The science is...

Review: La Sirena Clandestina 954 W. Fulton Market 312-226-5300 Rating: !!! ½ (Heating up) Don't recognize the name John Manion? It's not your fault—the chef's largely been out of the limelight since his former home, Mas, closed in 2008. He...

R.J. Grunts 2056 N. Lincoln Park West 773-929-5363 Craving a bite of history? This is where Rich Melman’s restaurant empire, Lettuce Entertain You, started back in 1971. Fill up on milkshakes, half-pound burgers and platefuls from the massive...

IF YOU GO From LAX, nonstop service to Chicago is offered on United, American and Virgin America; direct service (stop, no change of plane) on US Airways and connecting service (change of plane) on United, American, Delta and US Airways. Restricted...