Anthony Bourdain's Favorite Chicago Restaurants

CHICAGO, IL - Normally we wouldn’t care what a New Yorker has to say about the dining scene in Chicago. But in this case, we’ll make an exception.

Anthony Bourdain - the legendary chef, author and television personality who stars in ‘No Reservations’ on The Travel Channel - gave a few shout outs to his favorite Chicago restaurants during a recent video interview with the Chicago Tribune.

When asked what three places he first thinks of when he hears ‘Chicago,’ Bourdain went with a few classics.

“I love Avec,” he said. “Johnnie’s Italian Beef...Hot Doug’s. I miss it, it’s closed. And Girl and the Goat. I adore it.”

Avec, 615 W. Randolph, is a Mediterranean and Midwestern influenced restaurant. Johnnie’s Italian Beef, in Elmwood Park, has been around for years and Hot Doug’s, which closed in 2014 after 13 years in Wrigleyville, is still missed by all. Girl and the Goat, 809 W. Randolph, is a seafood restaurant just west of The Loop.

Bourdain’s drinking establishment of choice?

“It’s the Old Town Ale House, which was once called the Bermuda Triangle,” he said. Old Town Ale House, 219 W. North Ave., had also been called “the best bar I know about” by the late, great Roger Ebert.

While completely snubbing the South Side in the Tribune interview, Bourdain did include a pair of legendary spots south of State and Madison in his ‘No Reservations’ Chicago Travel Guide, pointing out the greatness at Calumet Fisheries (on 95th Street near The ‘Blues Brothers’ bridge) and Fat Johnnie’s Red Hots, the longtime hot dog stand on 74th and Western.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons