THE LOOP — As Chicago restaurants await the Tuesday release of the 2014 Michelin Guide — a ranking system whose three-star designations can make or break a business — the group released a list of 59 local eateries recognized for serving high-quality meals at an affordable price.
The 2014 Bib Gourmand list rounds up modestly priced restaurants that deliver a high-quality dining experience. Taglined "good cuisine at a reasonable price," the designation recognizes restaurants that offer two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less, excluding tax and gratuity.
Sixteen new Chicago restaurants made the cut this year, including Arami in the Ukrainian Village, Mercat a la Planxa in the South Loop and Logan Square's Lula Café.
Michelin bills Bib Gourmand as a list for locals more than tourists, calling the budget-friendly roundup "most valu[able] to a city’s residents, who regularly dine in neighborhood restaurants."
While some restaurateurs were greeted with good news when the list was released Thursday, others anxiously waited to see if their restaurant had been bumped from the list, or if it would resurface next week with a coveted Michelin star.
Bib Gourmand winners from 2013 not on this year's list include The Bristol in Bucktown, Untitled in River North and West Town Tavern, which closed earlier this year.
The list includes 10 restaurants in suburban Evanston, Skokie, Berwyn, LaGrange, Hinsdale and Oak Park.