Best Group Dining Restaurants in Old Town
24 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Tecalitlan Mexican Kitchen and Margarita Bar
Family-run staple since 1973 with big plates and bigger margaritas.
Notable Picks
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Happy Hour Hotspots
Trendy Table Hotspots
Tecalitlan is a multigenerational Mexican restaurant that’s been drawing Chicagoans since 1973, now operating out of a lively Clybourn Corridor space in NEWCITY. Generous portions of classics like quesabirria and fajitas meet a deep margarita list, making it a go-to for birthdays, group dinners, and pre-event meals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesabirria Dinner, Al Pastor Burrito, Shrimp Fajitas
What Makes it Special: Family-run staple since 1973 with big plates and bigger margaritas.
Ranalli’s Lincoln Park is a high-volume pizza bar known for tavern-style pies, game-day energy, and one of the neighborhood’s largest dog-friendly patios. Guests treat it as a go-to for watching sports, grabbing pitchers and wings, and sharing late-night pizza on the sidewalk café with dogs in tow.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tavern-Style Pepperoni Pizza, Buffalo Wings, Skillet Cookie
What Makes it Special: A tavern-style pizza bar with a sprawling, TV-lined patio that explicitly welcomes dogs alongside pitchers and pies.
8.5
A longtime Old Town standby since the 1970s, Old Jerusalem serves classic Palestinian and broader Middle Eastern staples in a compact, homey dining room. Locals come for plates of kebabs, shawarma, and vegetarian mezze that have stayed remarkably consistent over decades.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma plate, Falafel sandwich, Hummus with meat
What Makes it Special: Decades-old Old Town fixture for Palestinian and Middle Eastern comfort plates.
Twin Anchors has been a Chicago rib tavern since 1932, turning out baby back ribs with house barbecue sauces in a wood-paneled Old Town barroom. Locals and visitors come for fall-off-the-bone slabs, chili, and the Sinatra-era atmosphere that still feels like a neighborhood hangout rather than a museum piece.
Must-Try Dishes:
Full Slab Baby Back Ribs with Prohibition Sauce, Rib & Chicken Combo, Our Acclaimed Homemade Chili
What Makes it Special: An 80-plus-year rib tavern where house sauces and history share top billing.
#5
Gavroche
8.4
A compact Old Town dining room built around modern French cooking that leans playful without losing technique. It’s best when you order the menu’s bistro-to-chef’s-counter hybrids—salads and seafood that read classic, but land with sharper plating and richer sauces.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lyonnaise salad, Hamachi niçoise, Foie gras duo
What Makes it Special: Modern French cooking in a small Old Town room that feels chef-driven.
8.3
Chicago’s original sushi bar, Kamehachi has anchored Old Town since 1967 with a sprawling menu of maki, nigiri, hot appetizers, and combo platters. It’s less about avant-garde omakase and more about reliable rolls, bento-style meals, and a neighborhood crowd that spans families, regulars, and pre-Second City dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crouching Tuna Hidden Crab roll, Spicy Tuna Deluxe roll, Kamehachi Combo
What Makes it Special: Long-running Old Town institution where generations of Chicagoans had their first sushi.
8.2
Topo Gigio is an Old Town standby where a sprawling menu of classic pastas and red-sauce plates is backed by a busy dining room and brick-walled patio. It’s the move for group dinners and lively dates that prioritize big portions and familiar flavors over hushed conversation.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fusilli alla Topo Gigio, Conchiglie alla Sarda, Tortellini alla Panna
What Makes it Special: High-energy Old Town classic with a deep pasta menu and busy patio.
8.2
An Old Town Neapolitan-leaning spot where the pizzas read more chef-driven than basic, with a menu that invites a couple of shared plates alongside your pie. The best experience comes from ordering one signature pizza and one starter, then letting the table pace itself.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita, Tartufata, Pistachio Pesto
What Makes it Special: Neapolitan-leaning pizzas with a more chef-driven topping play than average.
A loud, social Old Town bar-restaurant where pizza is the anchor for groups who want a high-energy hang. It shines when you treat it like a party table: one signature pie, one salad, and drinks that match the room’s momentum.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dime Piece Pizza, Trixie Salad, Jalapeño Homies
What Makes it Special: High-energy Old Town scene with pizza built for group ordering.
8.1
A Thai-and-sushi hybrid that’s quietly strong on maki variety, especially when you treat it like a roll-focused stop rather than an everything-menu order. The best results come from choosing one signature roll and one classic maki, then calling it.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dragon maki, Crunchy Spicy Tuna maki, Volcano maki
What Makes it Special: A wide maki lineup with signature rolls that hit best when ordered focused.
#11
KFire Korean BBQ
8
KFire Korean BBQ’s Old Town location brings build-your-own Korean BBQ plates, wings, and gluten-free options to a fast-casual strip along Clybourn. Locals use it for satisfying kalbi bowls, spicy chicken, and catered platters that travel well for office lunches and group dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
KFIRE Spicy Chicken Plate, Kalbi Bowl with Kimchi, Bokki Fries
What Makes it Special: Fast-casual Korean BBQ plates, wings, and gluten-free options in a convenient Old Town location.
#12
Spoko
8
Vibes:
Business Lunch Power Players
Comfort Food Classics
Hidden Gems Heaven
Group Dining Gatherings
Spoko is a modern Polish spot serving zapiekanka, maczanka sandwiches, sausages, and pierogi in a laid-back, beer-friendly room. It’s a non-obvious but fun choice for business lunches with colleagues who appreciate heartier food and don’t mind a slightly more casual, neighborhood feel.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mushroom Maczanka Sandwich, Zapiekanka Open-Faced Sandwich, Pierogi Platter
What Makes it Special: A modern Polish street-food restaurant where substantial sandwiches and pierogi make for memorable, comfort-heavy business lunches.
#13
Nepal House
8
The Old Town outpost of Nepal House brings a sit-down menu of Nepali momos, curries, and familiar North Indian staples to Division Street. It works as a reliable option when a proper table, full plates, and a mix of vegetarian and meat dishes are the priority.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Momo, Chicken Tikka Masala, Garlic Naan
What Makes it Special: Nepali momos share the menu with classic Indian curries in a full-service setting.
Gussie's Handmade Italian focuses on fresh pastas, seasonal sauces, and cocktails in a modern Old Town space just off North and Wells. It fills a niche between neighborhood trattoria and special-occasion spot, with enough polish for dates but a menu flexible enough for casual plates at the bar.
Must-Try Dishes:
Rigatoni Pomodoro, Brown Butter Honey Ravioli, Linguine al Limone with Shrimp
What Makes it Special: Handmade pasta and seasonal seafood plates served with a cocktail-focused bar program.
Worthy Picks
#15
Fireplace Inn
7.9
An Old Town tavern that earns its keep with long-running barbecue ribs in a classic, sports-bar setting. Come for the rib-and-sides comfort meal and treat everything else as supporting cast to the core BBQ order.
Must-Try Dishes:
BBQ baby back ribs, Courtyard potato, Onion rings
What Makes it Special: A ribs-first Old Town institution with a true tavern rhythm.
#16
Orso's
7.9
Orso's Italian Restaurant has served Old Town for decades with a long menu of pastas, chicken dishes, and pizzas in a classic dining room and grapevine-covered patio. Regulars lean on familiar standards and relaxed, slightly nostalgic energy more than chef-driven reinvention.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lasagna Bolognese, Chicken Parmesan, Salmon Vesuvio
What Makes it Special: Long-running Old Town stalwart with a leafy patio and crowd-pleasing classics.
#17
Taco Pros
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Group Dining Gatherings
Late Night Legends
Taco Pros Old Town is a quick-service spot focused on mix-and-match tacos, burritos, bowls, and late-night combos. Since expanding from its original Oak Park location, it’s become a convenient neighborhood option for customizable plates and catering-friendly trays.
Must-Try Dishes:
3 Taco Combo, Burritos, Nachos Supreme
What Makes it Special: Counter-service Mexican cocina with a flexible menu built for combos and catering.
7.8
A big-room Old Town sports bar where the burger is built for high volume and watch-the-game pacing. Expect a crowd-forward vibe, fast table turnover, and a burger that plays best when you keep it classic and treat everything else as supporting cast.
Must-Try Dishes:
Benchmark Burger, Wings, Fries
What Makes it Special: High-capacity sports-bar energy with a dependable burger option.
7.8
Corcoran's Grill & Pub is an Old Town Irish-American bar across from The Second City with a big patio, late hours, and a pub menu where wings are a top seller. The appeal is less specialty-shop precision and more having solid saucy wings alongside burgers, beers, and comedy crowds.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pub Chicken Wings (15 Count), Garlic Parmesan Wings, Guinness BBQ Wings
What Makes it Special: A lively Old Town pub where saucy pub wings, pints, and patio seating pair with pre- and post-show crowds.
#20
The VIG Chicago
7.7
A high-energy Old Town bar-and-grill with an American menu that’s designed for steady ordering rather than a single knockout dish. It works best for sports, brunch-y daytime hangs, and group dinners when you want dependable classics and a lively room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Burger, Chicken tenders, Mac and cheese
What Makes it Special: Big, lively Old Town bar for American classics and games.
7.7
Hom Mali Thai Sushi is a newer Old Town spot pairing classic Thai curries and noodles with a compact sushi menu in a polished, relaxed dining room. Locals use it as a weeknight standby when a table of pad thai, curry, and a few maki rolls sounds better than committing to a full omakase.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad Thai, Green curry with vegetables, Spicy tuna roll
What Makes it Special: Thai dishes and approachable sushi share one room, making it easy for mixed cravings at one table.
#22
Woodie's Flat
7.6
A multi-level Old Town sports bar where the burger is a late-night-friendly anchor alongside wings and drinks. It’s best when you lean into one burger choice and one shareable side—more ‘fun bar meal’ than destination burger pilgrimage.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mac Attack Burger, Sweet Bourbon Wings, Seasoned Fries
What Makes it Special: Late-night sports-bar burger option with a lively, multi-floor setup.
7.6
A Wells Street Irish-American bar built for groups who want familiar pub food with a little more polish than the average game-day stop. The menu is strongest in shareables—wings, pretzels, and snacky plates that hold up with beer and a loud room.
Must-Try Dishes:
LG's wings, Bavarian pretzel with cheese fondue, Irish potato skins
What Makes it Special: Irish-American bar food designed for sharing with beers.
#24
Old Town Pub
7.5
A classic Old Town neighborhood pub where the draw is straightforward comfort food, TVs, and the steady rhythm of a long-running local hangout. It’s best when you treat it like a burgers-and-pizza utility stop rather than chasing anything elaborate.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheeseburger sliders, Tavern-style pizza, OTP calzone
What Makes it Special: Neighborhood pub comfort food anchored by burgers and pizza.