Impress on a First Date

There's a reason this is a Michelin star, James Beard winning restaurant. Make sure to get the Mezze platter, the chef's grandma's recipe!

I have 8 words for you. Sausage stuffed bacon wrapped dates. Taleggio-truffle flatbread.

Riccardo Trattoria is probably my absolute favorite restaurant in Chicago. The pasta, truffles, mozzarella and squash blossoms are unrivaled. You will NEVER have a meal that is less than spectacular w Riccardo in the kitchen.

Since I work and play in River North and live on the north side, I love venturing outside my day-to-day perimeter. Taxim is worth the craziness of Bucktown/Lincoln Park. If nothing else for the quaint atmosphere and best grilled octopus in town.

Forget stodgy and stuffy, the Four Seasons is officially a hotspot for the trendsetting crowd. Chef Kevin Hickey is the coolest Four Seasons chef in - uh - the whole world.