Ready for a new take on lunch? Enjoy the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood at Somerset Viceroy Chicago or opt for the sophisticated artistry of modern Japanese cuisine in the West Loop at Nobu Chicago. Our suggestion? Try both.
The Somerset Burger. Photo credit Viceroy Chicago.
Located in the heart of the Gold Coast, Viceroy Chicago’s signature restaurant, Somerset, embodies the motto of “Bright Flavors & Gold Coast Glamour.” The menu blends old-world Mediterranean traditions with a fresh, modern edge, creating a perfect atmosphere for a business lunch or a social outing.
Beet Salad. Photo credit Viceroy Chicago.
Guests can experience the “dance of zesty harissa, smoky zaatar, and the earthy warmth of pistachio and dukkah” through a variety of shareable plates and composed dishes. Those looking for a more substantial lunch can opt for the acclaimed Somerset Burger, layered with chermoula aioli and caramelized onion, or the Crispy Pork Milanese topped with fresh arugula and parmesan. Other midday favorites include Crispy Brussels Sprouts with pumpkin seed pesto or a bubbling Lobster Mac crowned with chili crumb.
Photo credit Viceroy Chicago.
With its elegant, light-filled dining room and spacious patio overlooking State Street, Somerset offers a stylish yet relaxed setting that works as both a place for a power lunch or an afternoon escape. Paired with curated wines and inventive cocktails, Somerset transforms every midday meal into a vibrant celebration of flavor, culture, and connection. Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11 a.m to 3 p.m.
Nobu Chicago Bar Lounge. Photo credit Nobu Chicago.
For a truly elevated midday experience, Nobu Chicago offers a Prix Fixe Lunch Menu available weekdays from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. For a set price of $40, guests can embark on a three-course culinary journey, selecting from signature Nobu favorites like Yellowtail Jalapeño or Tuna Sashimi Salad for the cold course, followed by a hot dish such as Rock Shrimp Tempura Creamy Spicy or Wagyu Sliders. Complete the experience with a decadent dessert like the Whisky Cappuccino.
Rock Shrimp Tempura at Nobu Chicago. Photo credit Nobu Chicago.
Beyond the prix fixe, the full lunch menu presents a wide range of options for every palate. Guests can indulge in renowned dishes like the Black Cod with Miso or explore the extensive sushi and sashimi selection, including specialties like Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna.
Nobu Chicago Sushi Bar. Photo credit Nobu Chicago.
For a comprehensive tasting, the Signature Bento offers a curated selection of some of Nobu’s most celebrated dishes. In addition to its acclaimed dining, Nobu Chicago’s appeal was highlighted by Travel + Leisure readers, who named it one of the “10 Favorite Hotels in Chicago of 2025” for its prime location for dining and shopping in the Fulton Market District.
A new barbecue restaurant in Canaryville, Bell Heir’s BBQ opened its doors in January 2023. Located at 704 W. 47th St., this casual spot offers diners brisket, ribs, burgers, and more. (Neighborhood: South Side)
Bistro Monadnock, a French bistro from the owners of Victor Bar and Love Street, will open in Spring 2023. Located inside the 130-year-old Monadnock Building at 325 S. Federal St., the menu will feature classic French dishes prepared by executive chef Johnny Besch. (Neighborhood: The Loop)
The Cauldron, a magic and wizard-themed restaurant and bar that brings fantasy to life through food and beverage spaces around the world, is pleased to announce the grand opening date of its third location in the U.S. in Wicker Park (1612 W Division St.) on May 4, 2023. As the brand’s largest U.S. location yet, The Cauldron Chicago fills the space of a 10,000-square foot former bank that will boast a ticketed and ever-evolving Potion-Making Experience, a walk-in restaurant and bar with weekly programming, and more. (Neighborhood: Wicker Park)
Dawn, a new brunch spot from the owner of Caribbean bar and restaurant 14 Parish, will open Summer 2023 at 1642 E. 56th St. at the former home of Piccolo Mondo. Restaurateur Racquel Fields, a South Side native, is planning to offer a combination of new American fare and Southern staples like fried green tomatoes. (Neighborhood: Hyde Park)
Vegan cuisine is on the menu at Don Bucio’s Taqueria in Logan Square. James Beard Award-nominated chef Rodolfo Cuadros opened the plant-based restaurant at 2763 N. Milwaukee Ave. in early 2023. (Neighborhood: Logan Square)
West Loop Mexican restaurant and bar Federales will open a second Chicago location in Logan Square at 2471 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Spring 2023. Four Corners, the hospitality group behind Federales, Ranalli’s, Benchmark, and Kirkwood, will transform the former Marcello’s Father & Son restaurant space into Federales’s Logan Square outpost. (Neighborhood: Logan Square)
Fioretta is a new steakhouse from the team behind Siena Tavern and Prime & Provisions set to open in Spring 2023. The menu at the 318 N. Sangamon St. location features Italian-American fare. (Neighborhood: Fulton Market)
After debuting Gordon Ramsay Burger in December 2021, celebrity chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay plans to pay homage to one of his most popular TV shows with Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen. Set to open in River North in 2023, the 18,000-square-foot two-story restaurant will be one of only a handful locations in the U.S. and will include a few unique-to-Chicago, to-be-determined menu items. (Neighborhood: River North)
Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails, a new concept from The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group, opened January 2023 inside the Catalog at Willis Tower. The 17,000-square-foot live fire show kitchen restaurant is helmed by James Beard Award winner Jonathon Sawyer, formerly of the Four Seasons Hotel’s Adorn Restaurant & Bar. (Neighborhood: The Loop)
New York City restaurant Kohoku-Ku Ramen is opening its first Chicago location in Spring 2023. The shop at 1136 W. Thorndale Ave. offers diners 12 different types of ramen with a variety of broths. (Neighborhood: Edgewater)
Michelin-star Chef Daniel Rose returned home after years in New York and abroad to open a French restaurant Le Select in Chicago with the industrious Boka Restaurant Group in January 2023. The menu features traditional French brasserie fare, showcasing the best ingredients and classic French techniques. (Neighborhood: River North)
Ramen-san’s Lincoln Park outpost will mark the fourth location of the noodle shop. Sushi-san’s debut will signal the sushi restaurant’s third location. (Neighborhood: Lincoln Park)
The first restaurant, Miru (pronounced mē-rōō), from Executive Chef Hisanobu Osaka will open Spring 2023 in tandem with the hotel. Miru, Japanese for “view,” will showcase Chef Osaka’s unique take on Japanese cuisine and boast two terraces and a dining room that overlooks the Chicago River and Navy Pier. The Japanese restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu will include sushi, sashimi, and raw selections from the sushi bar, complimented by a selection of Izakaya-style dishes like hand-made dumplings, skewers, fried rice, and hot pots, as well as a robust wagyu and seafood section.
The second restaurant, Tre Dita (pronounced trā dē-tä), Italian for three fingers, is a nod to the thickness of a properly cut bistecca Fiorentina that the restaurant will be serving from its open-hearth wood fired grill. The Tuscan Steakhouse is in collaboration with award-winning Chef Evan Funke (Felix, Mother Wolf) and will open later in 2023.
Netflix’s School of Chocolate winner and Jean Banchet Award nominee Juan Gutierrez has been named Executive Pastry Chef, while
will oversee the restaurants’ beverage programs as Beverage Director.
Little Goat Diner, the newest location from James Beard Award-winning chef Stephanie Izard, will open its doors at 3325 N. Southport Ave. in Spring 2023. The menu features new takes on classic diner dishes like burgers, French toast, and chicken and dumplings. (Neighborhood: Lakeview)
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