Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Chicago / Illinois? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

BITES Asian Kitchen & Bar

4.9

4.9 (1099)

$31 to $50

Chinese

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

Located in Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, BITES is a casual, yet stylish and comfortable restaurant with tropical bar featuring modern Asian cuisine that combine familiar mid-western flavors with Asian ingredients to create new and exciting dishes.

The result is a unique dining experience that you can't find anywhere else. Let BITES take you on a culinary tour of Asia. Enjoy our food with a variety of cocktails, beer, wine and sake while catching up with friends and family.

BITES is a fun place to be and is perfect for both casual dining and special occasions - date night, girls/guys night out, birthday party, bachelor/bachelorette party, baby shower, etc. Start or end your night right at BITES!

Top review

pat cVIP

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Love the tuna tostadas

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Experience

Happy Hour!

Forno Rosso Pizzeria - Dunning

4.9

4.9 (358)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Dunning

About the restaurant

Forno Rosso Pizzeria in Chicago offers its guests top-notch service and Italian dishes that are hard to beat. Boasting a plentiful menu of salads, appetizers, sandwiches, countless pizza varieties and decadent desserts, Forno Rosso should have something on the menu for everyone.Popular menu items include traditional margherita pizza, the "locale" pizza with fresh mozzarella and locally made sausage, and fried calamari. Forno Rosso's menu also hosts children's items, inviting guests of all ages to enjoy traditional Italian dishes and fresh pizzas. The team at Forno Rosso Pizzeria prides itself on quality service and cultivating an experience the whole family will enjoy.

Top review

Deborah

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

The pizza is delicious. It’s a good to make a reservation here because it’s busy, at least on a Friday evening.

Leña Brava

4.8

4.8 (996)

$31 to $50

Mexican

West Loop

About the restaurant

Located in Chicago's West Loop, Leña Brava is a culinary gem celebrating the dynamic flavors of Baja California Norte. Our kitchen, devoted to the art of live-fire cooking, breathes life into dishes that embody the essence of Mexican culinary traditions and the diverse tastes of Baja. Influenced by a fusion of Mexican, Mediterranean, and Asian cuisines, our menu transcends conventional boundaries, offering an array of vibrant ceviche, tantalizing agua chiles, succulent flame-kissed Pacifico seabass, and hearty steaks.

Under the skilled guidance of Chef Brian Enyart, with over two decades of innovation in Mexican cuisine, we showcase seasonal ingredients, capturing the essence of Mexico and Baja Norte's culinary landscape. Complemented by our open-plan kitchen and curated beverage program, spotlighting an immense mezcal collection and an array of Baja, New and Old World wines, Leña Brava invites guests on a culinary journey, where Mexican tradition harmonizes with innovation.

Top review

Bonita

Dined 3 days ago

The food was EXCELLENT! We will definitely go again with our business clients.

Centennial Crafted Beer & Eatery

4.8

4.8 (400)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

At Centennial, our passion is craft beer and our focus is simple: to celebrate craft beer. Beer can bring people together on a common ground and has the ability to create a community. Beer can elevate food. Beer is culture.

We feature 56 taps with a selection of 36 rotating craft beers. In addition to our taps, we feature a high volume of beers available in bottles and cans, as well as a curated selection of craft spirits and wines.

Centennial also features chef-driven food with an emphasis on craft beer. The menu focuses on beer pairings and incorporating beer as an ingredient. Centennial also features smoked, char grilled, and wood-fired ingredients.

Top review

Charlie

Dined 3 days ago

Good times and it was great food. We didn’t drink but I’m sure beer was great too.

Piece Brewery & Pizzeria

4.8

4.8 (11)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Bucktown / Wicker Park

About the restaurant

Currently only accepting reservations for parties of 6-16 online. Reservations for parties greater than 8 are very limited and large parties might be split into multiple tables. Please walk-in for small party availability.

At Piece Brewery, the spirit of piece, love, and harmony are infused into every bite and sip. Nestled in a skylit loft, this vibrant establishment seamlessly unites the flavors of award-winning, New Haven-style thin-crust pizza with the the longest continuously-operating and most award-winning brewpub in Chicago, a tradition that has been upheld since 2001.

Whether you're savoring a slice of our renowned pies or sampling our diverse range of house brews, every visit promises a symphony of taste and community. As the sun sets, the atmosphere transforms into a lively sports-bar setting, creating an unforgettable experience where great food, great brews, and great entertainment converge.

Top review

ROBERTVIP

Dined on Nov 1, 2024

Great pizza and beers. We loved the honey butter chicken and the Atomic Doug pizzas on this visit. Service was fast and friendly.

Paradise Park | Pizza + Patio

4.8

4.8 (1329)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Bucktown / Wicker Park

About the restaurant

Trendy bar and pizzeria in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, Paradise Park brings you the fun and the flavor! From the team that brought you Homeslice in Lincoln Park and Happy Camper in Old Town/Wrigley, we invite you to indulge in our creative cocktails and extensive beer selection, paired with specialty pizzas and mouth-watering appetizers. All can be enjoyed on our kitschy trailer park themed patio open year-round! Come for the food. Stay for the vibes.

Minors must be accompanied by parent or guardian.

We only accept Credit Card. No Cash.

Top review

Aaron

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

They had the best holiday decorations! Every inch was covered, so festive!

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Experience

Bottomless Brunch Experience

Experience

Happiest Hour On The Patio

Jonny Cab's

4.8

4.8 (230)

$50 and over

American

Burr Ridge

About the restaurant

Jonny Cab’s is a VIP dinner experience in a premiere, modern setting. With live entertainment 5 nights a week, we strive to provide an environment where guests can unwind & enjoy the moment.

We were recently featured by Peter Wren for Hinsdale Magazine who wrote, "I think it's the sum of all these parts - the wine, the food, the friendly service, and all that great sound pouring forth from the stage - that's bound to win people over. As my wife said, 'I don't think there's any place like this in Chicago.' She's right, but thanks to this plucky group of wine-lovers and entertainers, there's now one sitting right in the heart of Burr Ridge."

Our delicious menu by Executive Chef Jeff Stahulak is a modern take on the traditional American supper club. As one diner recently put it, "we expected good music in a vegas-like atmosphere, but the food is your secret weapon."

Come see what all the buzz is about & join the party!

Top review

Dan

Dined 4 days ago

It was a fun night for Open Mic Night and food was delicious. Would definitely go back again.

PL8 Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (1043)

$30 and under

Chinese

Barrington

About the restaurant

The exciting, new restaurant in Barrington. The yin and yang of food and ambiance creating a whole new trend in Asian cuisine. pl8 offers a fresh, imaginative menu of classic Chinese cuisine side by side with Japanese kitchen creations and sushi. pl8 is where you will find a chic city restaurant located in the suburbs. Where you'll find superd et unpretentious service. A menu that is sweet and savory. Classic dished with a smart twist that are 'simply Asian'. We can't wait for you to experience the best of Asian cuisine coming together on one pl8.

Top review

Dined 5 days ago

Our server was very friendly & knowledgeable. Vegan chicken option is great to have, Mongolian dish was very good.

Green Street Local

4.7

4.7 (297)

$30 and under

American

West Loop

About the restaurant

Green Street Local is the West Loop's Best Sports Lounge & Restaurant. We offer a Warm, Mature Setting, Where Patrons can Enjoy a Mindfully Crafted Menu Featuring New American Comfort Food, Craft Beers, Signature Cocktails & Premium Wines.

Top review

MarissaTVIP

Dined 5 days ago

The GSL team was very accommodating when we had one additional person join at the last minute. Service was great and atmosphere was laid back for our team happy hour.

Up North Ale House

4.7

4.7 (298)

$30 and under

American

Naperville

About the restaurant

OPEN FOR INDOOR DINING!

Clean, socially distanced dining room, ventilated with recently installed the iWave Air Purifiers. High ceilings, moving air, and plenty of PPE and sanitizing to make you safe and comfortable!

Discover a local restaurant that offers the best of food, fun, and drinks. Up North Ale House is excited to welcome you and your guests to a casual dining experience you’ll come back for again and again.

Lead by a team with over 55 years of combined experience in the foodservice industry, we've developed a bar and restaurant for all occasions. Whether you're looking for apps, pizza & wings, or our delicious Prime 16oz ribeye steak, we have it. Visit us to play games, enjoy handcrafted cocktails, and grab a bite to eat with all your favorite people - and be sure to check our Facebook get the latest news!

Contact us today to find out more about Up North Ale House, or to discuss your reservation needs. We’re here to hel

Top review

cindy

Dined 1 day ago

We only had apps and drinks but it was a good experience. It was crowded on a Ftiday night but we were still able to talk and hear each other.

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