North Pond

"North Pond, in the middle of Lincoln Park, is a special occasion restaurant that frequently gets overlooked—probably because Alinea absorbs the neighborhood attention. The benefit of this is that it’s fairly easy to snag a last-minute reservation if, say, you completely forgot about your parents’ wedding anniversary. The seasonal American food is always outstanding, and as a bonus, your mom won’t have to figure out how to eat a molecular-gastronomy balloon for dessert." - sam faye, adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"One of the most unique restaurants in the city possesses a beautiful view of the North Pond Nature Sanctuary in Lincoln Park. Diners will have to walk into the park to reach this quaint space (the nearest intersection is Clark and Deming), but they’ll experience a fine dining restaurant with a lot of soul. The seasonal tasting menu won’t break the bank, but is special enough for anniversaries, dates, and other special occasions." - Ashok Selvam

"A restaurant in Chicago where contestant César Murillo is a chef." - Eater Staff

"North Pond is named after the pond in Lincoln Park next to the zoo, which is exactly where this restaurant is. It’s a beautiful setting where you can stare out over the park in quiet contemplation, making it great inspiration for your Walden fan fiction. Or, use it for a special occasion dinner since they offer a reasonably priced tasting menu and it’s not hard to snag a last-minute reservation. A meal here is like eating in a really nice cabin, and the seasonal American food is always outstanding." - veda kilaru

"For years, Chicagoans beat a path to this intimate dining spot for Bruce Sherman’s beautiful farm-to-table fare. The Michelin-starred restaurant situated on the edge of Lincoln Park’s North Pond is arguably the most romantic spot in town with an array of seasonal and locally-sourced dishes that redefine Midwestern flavors. Sherman left the restaurant in 2019 — Cesar Murillo is now the executive chef — but fans continue to flock to North Pond for excellent food and delightful views." - Naomi Waxman, Eater Staff