"Sticking a few tables on a busy sidewalk typically doesn’t count as a quality outdoor experience. And while that’s technically the set-up at Ema in River North, the fact that the area in question is walled off with fencing and plants makes it feel more secluded than your average sidewalk patio. Sit outside and share Mediterranean small plates. You’ll have just enough exposure to the energy of downtown, without having to be bothered by tourists asking directions to The Bean." - adrian kane