The Top 10 Local Restaurants In Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois, is a suburban town for city-dwellers. Once dubbed ‘Heavenston’ for its numerous Methodist churches, today the name evokes bucolic tree-lined suburbs and the picturesque shores of Lake Michigan. The presence of the highly respected Northwestern University and the town’s proximity to Chicago have lent Evanston a youthful energy and creativity. The past few years have seen Evanston experience a culinary explosion, with several new restaurants opening each year. Here are 10 of the town’s best dining establishments.
Found Kitchen & Social House
Although it only opened in 2012, Found has quickly become one of Evanston’s most popular and celebrated venues. With monthly charity fundraisers and a commitment to locally-sourced ingredients, it has become a true pillar of the community. The decor, with a deliberately haphazard arrangement of mismatched vintage tables, chairs and paintings, gives the restaurant one of the hippest airs in town, equal parts urban warehouse and eccentric manor. Alongside a faithful local clientele and a menu heavy on generous sharing plates, it’s easy to feel like you’ve been invited to a friend’s kitchen. Chef Nicola Pederson has a passion for seasonal produce, taking special delight in autumnal flavors – sample the fennel, apple and sweet potato soup, or the pan-roasted celery root.
Found Kitchen, 1631 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL., USA, +1 847-868-8945
2. Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop
Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop
Sitting next to the vast lakeside campus of Northwestern, one of the US’s oldest and finest universities, the Dixie Kitchen looks like it should be in the opposite end of the States. With checkerboard tablecloths surrounded by fishing accoutrements from the bayou, it’s the best place in the north for a taste of the Deep South. And don’t just take our word for it – when located in its former spot in Chicago, it was Barack Obama’s favourite place to eat. From jumbo to jambalaya, crab cakes to crayfish, here you’ll find all manner of Creole, Cajun and southern cuisine. The catfish – served with a traditional corn muffin – is perhaps the highlight of the menu.
Dixie Kitchen, 825 Church St., Evanston, IL, USA, +1 847-733-9030
3. Oceanique
Oceanique
Evanston’s culinary scene may be dominated by trendy new pop-ups and rustic New American concoctions, but there’s always room for fine dining. Situated on the edge of the lively Main Street neighborhood, Oceanique is one of the most glamorous restaurants in the whole Chicago area and has been an Evanston institution for twenty-five years. Chef Mark Grosz has a reputation for incredible friendliness, regularly chatting to guests and sending out amuse-bouches on the house. His food, which mixes traditional French fish and seafood dishes with an adventurous global touch, is superb. The Maine lobster comes garnished with mozzarella, caviar and avocado, whilst the scallops are accompanied by coriander and kimchi.
Oceanique, 505 Main St., Evanston, IL, USA, +1 847-864-3435
4. Prairie Joe’s
Diner, Restaurant, American
5. Bistro Bordeaux
Bistro, American
6. The Cellar
Bistro, Restaurant, American, Gluten-free
7. Farmhouse
Farmhouse
Farmhouse, a relatively recent arrival on the scene, looks exactly as you might expect, featuring rough fittings of battered wood, paintings of livestock and corrugated tin light shades. Sister to a Michelin-starred branch in Chicago, the much vaunted Farmhouse embodies the farm-to-plate ethos of contemporary Midwestern cuisine. Everything on the menu comes from Illinois and the surrounding states, even the forty-odd draft beers. The small menu delivers wholesome rustic fare with a focus on well-dressed cuts of meat, but the highlight might be the beer-battered Wisconsin cheese curds, served with house made catsup.
Farmhouse, 703 Church St., Evanston, IL, USA, +1 847-492-9700
8. Soulwich
Soulwich
Much of Evanston’s vitality comes from its status as a university town; indeed, Northwestern has become the town’s largest employer. Nestled in the center of the downtown district, Soulwich is a hugely popular lunch haunt for students. It may just offer the best sandwiches in town – Vietnamese-styled báhn mi stuffed with fillings that range though all of South and East Asia, whether Japanese wasabi teriyaki, Indonesian ginger or Indian paneer. Most baguettes come available in meat, vegetarian and vegan options, and you can enjoy them both inside the bright, spacious interior or at a table on the lively street.
Soulwich, 1634 Orrington Ave., Evanston, IL, USA, +1 847-328-2222
Edzo’s Burger Shop
Invariably elected the best burger joint in Evanston, Edzo’s serves patties of freshly-ground beef from a selection of local farms. The proprietor Eddie Lakin opened Edzo’s with the aim of transferring his knowledge of fine-dining to simple American food. Until recently, with the opening of a second branch in Chicago, he prepared, cooked and served the burgers himself. Though superficially the menu is simple, with just a couple of burgers and hot dogs, frequent special additions – think squash blossoms filled with goat’s cheese or braised goat – keep the prospect of return visit enticing. Even the hand-cut fries, which come served with almost a dozen toppings, are inventive.
Edzo’s Burger Shop, 1571 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL, USA, +1 847-864-3396
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