2026 AWARD WINNERS

CULINARY EXCELLENCE OF THE YEAR

Grant Achatz, The Alinea Group

Iconic Restaurant
25+ years

Gene & Georgetti

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR

Indienne

Cellar Door Provisions
HaiSous Vietnamese Kitchen
Proxi

Chef of the year

John Manion – El Che, Brasero

Jennifer Kim
Proxi

Zubair Mohajir
Lilac Tiger, The Coach House, Mirra, Sarima

Andrew Lim
Perilla Fare, Perilla Steak, Noriko Handroll Bar

RISING CHEF

Javauneeka Jacobs – Frontera Grill

Alex Cochran
Cellar Door Provisions

Bailey Sullivan
Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio

César Murillo
North Pond

BEST COUNTER SERVICE

Sanders BBQ Supply

Migos Fine Food
Rendang Republic
Taquizas Valdez

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT

Mahari

Bungalow by Middle Brow
Coda di Volpe
Maplewood Brewery & Distillery Lounge

BEST DESIGN

The Alston

Adalina Prime
Matilda
Noriko Handroll Bar

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

Feld

Cafe Yaya
Il Carciofo
Void

Bar Program of the Year

Gus’ Sip & Dip
Kevin Beary and Scott Kitsmiller

Cantina Rosa – Maria Rodriguez
Daisies – Nicole Yarovinsky
Elske – Monica Casillas-Rios

BEST HERITAGE RESTAURANT

Nine Garden (Chinatown)

M’daKhan (Bridgeview)
Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine (Edgewater)
Torizen (Schaumburg)

PASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR

Justin Lerias – Del Sur Bakery

Courtney Kenyon-Snider – Obélix, Le Bouchon
Mary Eder-McClure – Galit and Cafe Yaya
Dedra Simmons – Pookie Crack Cakes

SOMMELIER of the year

Alex Cuper – El Che, Brasero

Emily Sher – Elske
Jonas Bittencourt – Class Act
Owen Huzar – John’s Food & Wine

BEST HOSPITALITY