"One nice thing about lunch is that it's usually easier to find reservations at popular spots. And Monteverde, the best Italian restaurant in Chicago, is available for a sit-down lunch, five days a week. The daytime menu has a bunch of Monteverde's greatest hits (like the cacio whey pepe and ragu alla napoletana) along with some lunchtime exclusives. The regular dinner service is booked out for months, but they serve lunch Tuesday through Saturday, and your chances of getting a table go up exponentially if you look for a reservation then. The bar is first come, first served, so come here alone and plan to take up an absurd amount of space for you, your pastas, and your pork shank." - adrian kane, john ringor, nick allen, veda kilaru