NEAR WEST SIDE — Looking for the best food in the city? You may want to start your search just west of the river.
An impressive 16 Near West Side restaurants in the West Loop, River West, West Town, Little Italy and Pilsen were named to Michelin's 2016 Bib Gourmand list of places that offer quality food at affordable prices, officials announced Thursday.
Expectedly, Randolph Restaurant Row favorites Au Cheval and The Girl and the Goat again made the list, but some of the area's best barbecue, vegetarian food and authentic eats garnered the attention of Michelin judges, too.
Not sure where you'll land for brunch this Sunday? Might as well draw inspiration from the latest Bib Gourmand winners.
Sodikoff Spell
Fueled by the city's most talked-about burger and a legendary Grand Plateaux seafood platter, Brendan Sodikoff's Au Cheval, 800 W. Randolph St., and Maude's Liquor Bar, a block away at 840 W Randolph St. in the West Loop, again make the list.
Barbecue Joints
Looking for great barbecue close to home? Try DMK's County Barbecue, 1352 W. Taylor St. in Little Italy, or Asian-inspired BellyQ, 1400 W. Randolph St. in the West Loop.
Very Good Vegetarian
Two West Town restaurants specializing in vegetarian cuisine — Green Zebra, 1460 W. Chicago Ave., and Mana Food Bar, 1742 W. Division St. — made the 2016 list.
Authentic Flavors
Authentic cuisine still reigns supreme, including sushi restaurants Sushi Dokku, 823 W. Randolph St., and Arami, 1829 W. Chicago Ave., Mexican DeCOLORES, 1626 S. Halsted in Pilsen, and Indian Jaipur, 847 W. Randolph St. in the West Loop.
West Loop mainstays Girl and the Goat, 809 W. Randolph St., Avec, 619 W. Randolph St., and The Publican, 837 W. Fulton Market, were named to the list, too, along with Two and Mott Street in West Town and The Dawson in River West.
Two Pilsen restaurants dropped off the list this year — Dusek's and Nightwood. Dusek's added lunch hours and a piano bar this year, while Nightwood closed in July after six years in business. Paramount Room in River West also fell off the 2016 list.
Check out the full list of 2015 Bib Gourmand winners here.
The much-coveted Michelin stars for Chicago will be revealed next week. Bib Gourmand winners are not eligible.
Last year, Grace, 652 W. Randolph St. in the West Loop, joined Alinea as the city's only three-star-rated restaurants. Landing the award, the Michelin Guide's highest honor, prompted Grace partner Michael Muser to cry "like a baby."
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