Best American Restaurants in Bucktown & Logan Square (60647)
10 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Giant
An intimate, Michelin-starred New American kitchen known for bold, deeply flavored plates.
Essential Picks
#1
Giant
9.0
A compact Logan Square dining room where a Michelin-starred kitchen turns out intensely seasoned New American small plates and handmade pastas from an open line. It’s a destination for diners who want serious cooking, tight pacing, and a lively, unpretentious room instead of white-tablecloth formality.
Must-Try Dishes:
Trout Roe Tempura with Sour Cream, Shrimp & Pork Fried Rice with Maple and Salted Black Bean, Slow Cooked Lamb Ribs with Anchovy Aioli
What makes it special: An intimate, Michelin-starred New American kitchen known for bold, deeply flavored plates.
Notable Picks
#2
Class Act
8.9
This Bucktown tasting-menu restaurant seats guests at a single communal table for a three-hour progression that moves through multiple rooms and ends in the attached speakeasy, Nightcap. Chef Nicolai Mlodinow’s menu changes by theme—currently an “Evolution” journey through food history—pairing avant-garde technique with a dinner-party atmosphere.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bouquet (zucchini flower with parmesan mousse and honey), Blackened Seafood Course from the chef’s childhood-inspired menu, Dim Sum–Inspired Bite from the “Growing Up” or “Evolution” progression
What makes it special: A scripted, theme-driven tasting menu that feels like an interactive dinner party with a speakeasy finale.
#3
Lula Cafe
8.8
Vibes:
Brunch Bliss Spots
Business Lunch Power Players
Trendy Table Hotspots
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Lula Cafe is Logan Square’s original market-driven cafe, long praised for seasonal plates, thoughtful brunch, and a menu with plenty of gluten-free-friendly options clearly marked. It’s a go-to for celiac-aware diners who still want creative cooking, strong coffee, and an always-busy neighborhood room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pasta Yiayia, Lula Breakfast Burrito, Baked French Feta
What makes it special: Pioneer Logan Square cafe with a deep track record of seasonal, often gluten-free-friendly cooking and an all-day neighborhood draw.
8.7
The Whale is a New American restaurant and cocktail bar where chilled lobster tacos, crab cakes, and a deep drink list anchor one of Logan Square’s most polished happy hour rooms. Locals use it for everything from pre-dinner drinks to full nights out on the dog-friendly patio.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilled Lobster Tacos, Sicilian Crab Cakes, Moroccan Turkey Burger
What makes it special: New American happy hour hub where lobster tacos and cocktails share a dog-friendly patio.
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Hidden Gems Heaven
Family-run since 1990, this Costa Rican standby near the Milwaukee Avenue corridor serves casados, grilled meats, and the city’s most famous oatmeal shake in a no-frills dining room. Massive multi-thousand-review volume and steady crowds make it a proven choice for hearty, affordable plates that still feel personal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pepito Sandwich, Casado Dinner Plate, Avena (Oatmeal Shake)
What makes it special: One of Chicago’s only Costa Rican restaurants, serving longtime regulars with big-portion comfort plates and iconic shakes.
8.5
A Logan Square gastropub with a six-room inn upstairs, Longman & Eagle helped usher in Chicago’s farm-to-table bar food era with meat-forward plates and serious whiskey. Brunch, late-night bites, and a Bib Gourmand history keep it relevant well over a decade after opening.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wild Boar Sloppy Joe, Fried Chicken and Waffles, Tongue Hash with Truffle Potatoes
What makes it special: A whiskey-focused inn and gastropub pairing serious cocktails with rich, creative bar fare.
8.2
Reborn as a wine bar and restaurant after its bakery era, Cellar Door Provisions focuses on natural wine and highly seasonal small plates alongside its celebrated bread program. The space is minimalist and intimate, drawing diners who want a slower, conversation-first evening over carefully composed dishes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Levain Focaccia with Kefir Cultured Butter, Pork Heart Liverwurst, Smoked Cylindra Beets
What makes it special: A softly lit natural-wine spot where breads and small plates feel as curated as the bottle list.
#8
Reno
8.2
Reno is an all-day Logan Square standby built on wood-fired Montreal-style bagels, pizzas, and pastas in a casual, kid-welcoming space with a patio. Parents lean on it for easy breakfasts, slice-focused lunches, and relaxed dinners where everyone at the table—from picky kids to vegans—can find something.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sweet Steve Pizza with pear and vegan tofu ricotta, Rigatoni with vegan vodka sauce and whipped tofu ricotta, Montreal-style wood-fired bagels
What makes it special: Bagels, pizza, and pasta under one roof with genuinely family-friendly pacing.
#9
Scofflaw
8.1
Scofflaw is a gin-focused cocktail bar where Victorian-inspired interiors, fireplaces, and a garden patio frame a food menu that goes well beyond bar snacks. Its acclaimed burger, late-night kitchen, and fresh-baked midnight cookies make it as much a dinner destination as a drinks spot.
Must-Try Dishes:
Scofflaw Burger, Potato Gnocchi, Peach Galette
What makes it special: A gin temple with a serious kitchen, known for one of the city’s better bar burgers.
#10
Union
8.0
Union is a corner New American spot from the team behind a nearby music venue, pairing a serious cocktail program with a compact menu of shareables, a standout burger, and simple pastas. It functions as a casual-but-polished neighborhood hangout, with bar seating as central as the dining room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Union Smash Burger, Fried Olives, Rotating Pasta Specials
What makes it special: A music-adjacent neighborhood bar-restaurant where cocktails and a strong burger anchor the menu.