South Branch, Chicago

Behind the waterfront restaurant's brushed-metal façade, a tempting bill of fare enraptures taste buds with gourmet burgers and wraps, fresh seafood, and shareable appetizers. During warm months, diners lounge upon the open-air patio, gazing across the stone-clad banks of the Chicago River while canvassing passing seagulls for fish recommendations. Inside, a warmly lit spread of sleek polished woods, slate walls, and cityscape vistas frames meals with an elegant, cosmopolitan touch. An impressive beer and cocktail list accompanies mouthwatering finger foods or main plates of pasta, while burgers satisfy appetites and consciences with sustainable and hormone-free beef from Niman Ranch.