More Than Pizza

Looking for good food in Chicago? Here are five more choices.

1. Avec. 615 W. Randolph St., 312.377.2002. Small-plate specialist Paul Kahan and his team produce housemade salumi, pour dozens of wines by the glass, and seat their guests at communal tables.
2. North Pond. 2610 N. Cannon Drive, 773.477.5845. Chef Bruce Sherman champions local and sustainable food sources at this refined spot lodged in an Arts and Crafts–style building in leafy Lincoln Park.
3. Frontera Grill. 445 N. Clark St., 312.661.1434. Celebrity chef Rick Bayless introduced American diners to regional Mexican cooking at this River North classic.
4. Mercat a la Planxa. 638 S. Michigan Ave., 312-765-0524. Newcomer Mercat does some of the best Spanish in the city, offering tapas like pimentos de padrón (fried peppers) that are rarely found stateside.
5. Spiaggia. 980 N. Michigan Ave., 312.280.2750. Chicago’s best fine-dining Italian restaurant overlooks Oak Street Beach from a trilevel room. Don’t miss the gnocchi.