CHICAGO — As Chicago restaurants await the release of the 2013 Michelin Guide, a ranking system whose three-star designations can make or break a business, the group released a list of 64 eateries recognized for serving high-quality meals at an affordable price.
Michelin bills the "Bib Gourmand" list as a grouping of restaurants tailored to locals, who are likely to visit mid-priced restaurants more often than budget-busters such as Alinea.A
The 2013 roundup, released Wednesday, includes 19 newcomers, among them Antique Taco in Wicker Park and Lakeview's Chilam Balam.
Bib Gourmand status typically disqualifies restaurants from the coveted one- to three-star ratings, which means the lineup could spell trouble for higher-reaching eateries such as Avec and the Publican.
Nineteen restaurants on the list are Bib Gourmand newcomers, added at the expense of 11 eateries who awarded the designation in 2012 that were not renewed. This year's list spans 22 cuisines. See the full roundup on Michelin's website.
