Best Hidden Gems Restaurants in Lincoln Park (60614)
6 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
John’s Food and Wine
Michelin-recognized beef fat fries with leek aioli give this wine bar–bistro one of the city’s most talked-about fry plates.
Notable Picks
8.8
John's Food and Wine is a Michelin-recognized neighborhood bistro where beef fat fries with leek aioli are treated like a signature course rather than a side. Since opening in 2023, it’s become a Lincoln Park destination for seasonal plates, natural wine, and impeccably crisp, deeply savory fries that regulars plan meals around.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef Fat Fries with Leek Aioli, Dry-Aged Steak with Potato Pave, Lobster Salad with Leek Aioli
What makes it special: Michelin-recognized beef fat fries with leek aioli give this wine bar–bistro one of the city’s most talked-about fry plates.
#2
Anatolia
8.4
Anatolia is a modern Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant on Clark where Adana kebab, mezze spreads, and Turkish cocktails land in a softly lit room. It functions as Lincoln Park’s sit-down Turkish option for lingering dinners that still feel neighborhood casual rather than formal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Adana Kebab Plate, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Pink Lady dip
What makes it special: A Clark Street Turkish dining room where kebabs, mezze, and Turkish cocktails come with more polish than most neighborhood spots.
8.3
This 2025 opening from Cornerstone Restaurant Group brought chef Matt Eckfeld from Major Food Group's Carbone to helm a neighborhood red-sauce joint. The tavern-style pizzas with 48-hour fermented dough and handmade pastas honor the former Tarantino's space while adding contemporary polish.
Must-Try Dishes:
Orecchiette with Spicy Tomato Cream, Four Cheese Tavern Pizza, Spicy Vodka Stuffed Shells
What makes it special: Carbone-trained chef bringing upscale technique to neighborhood Italian
8.1
Medi Kitchen & Cocktail is a Lebanese-inspired Mediterranean restaurant on Halsted’s restaurant row where shareable mezze, grilled meats, and a polished cocktail program land in a plant-filled, mood-lit room. It reads as a Lincoln Park date spot first, but regulars use it for small-group celebrations built around spreads, skewers, and knafeh or baklava cheesecake to finish.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel Benni, Kafta Kabob, Shakshouka
What makes it special: A cocktail-focused Mediterranean spot where Lebanese family recipes meet a moody, club-adjacent dining room.
#5
D Cuisine
8.0
A MingHin veteran's dim sum destination serves Hong Kong-style classics all day in a sleek Lincoln Park setting. The early-bird special with sub-$1 dumplings from 8am to noon weekdays is a neighborhood steal, while weekend siu mai and BBQ pork buns satisfy any craving.
Must-Try Dishes:
Siu Mai, BBQ Pork Buns, Pan-Fried Pot Stickers
What makes it special: All-day dim sum without Chinatown lines or weekend chaos
#6
Kameya Sushi
8.0
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Comfort Food Classics
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Kameya Sushi is a family-run Webster Avenue spot combining a full sushi bar with ramen and izakaya-style starters in a compact, low-key room. Students and neighbors treat it as their weeknight Japanese standby for generous combo platters, spicy specialty rolls, and comforting noodle bowls that don’t feel like a splurge.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kameya Sushi A Platter, Jalapeño Tuna Appetizer, Kameya Ramen
What makes it special: A family-run sushi-and-ramen shop with a broad menu, relaxed setting, and pricing that makes weeknight sushi feel attainable.