Best of Chicago 2012: Food & Drink

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Best of Chicago 2012: Food & Drink

Best Fine-Dining Restaurant to Reinvent Fine Dining

El Ideas

by Mike Sula on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

What's the best restaurant? Most aggravating question I'm ever asked.

Best Fancy Restaurant

Alinea

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

1723 N. Halsted 312-867-0110 alinea-restaurant.com Runner-up

Best Bang for Your Buck

Big Star

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

1531 N. Damen 773-235-4039 bigstarchicago.com Runner-up

Best Chef

Grant Achatz (Alinea, Next, the Aviary)

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

alinea-restaurant.com nextrestaurant.com theaviary.com Runner-up

Best Up-and-Coming Chef

Mickey Neely (Scofflaw)

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

3201 W. Armitage scofflawchicago.com Runner-up

Best Food Blog

Eater Chicago

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

chicago.eater.com Runner-up

Best Named Restaurant

Girl & the Goat

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

809 W. Randolph 312-492-6262 girlandthegoat.com Runner-up

Best Food Trend

Food Trucks

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Runner-up Doughnuts

Best Cocktail List

The Violet Hour

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

1520 N. Damen 773-252-1500 theviolethour.com Runner-up

Best Cocktail

Juliet and Romeo (the Violet Hour)

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

1520 N. Damen 773-252-1500 theviolethour.com Runners-up

Best Mixologist

Danny Shapiro (Scofflaw)

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

3201 W. Armitage scofflawchicago.com Runner-up

Best Culinary Historian

Paul Fehribach, Big Jones

by Mike Sula on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Between putting in face time at the Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium and plumbing the depths of his historic cookbook collection, the southern Indiana native's kitchen scholarship keeps Chicago relevant in the wider movement to resurrect the lost food traditions of the south. Yes, he buys, butchers, and preserves more locally than most, but his menus meander all over the south, from the Low County to Appalachia to Lake Pontchartrain.

Best Wine List

Telegraph Wine Bar

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

2601 N. Milwaukee 773-292-9463 telegraphchicago.com Runner-up

Best Sommelier

Alpana Singh

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

alpanasingh.com Runner-up

Best Local Distillery

Koval Distillery

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

5121 N. Ravenswood 312-878-7988 koval-distillery.com Runner-up

Best Local Brewery

Half Acre Beer Company

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

4257 N. Lincoln 773-248-4038 halfacrebeer.com Runner-up

Best Brewpub

Revolution Brewing Company

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

2323 N. Milwaukee 773-227-2739 revbrew.com Runner-up

Best Local Brew

Daisy Cutter Pale Ale (Half Acre Beer Company)

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

4257 N. Lincoln 773-248-4038 halfacrebeer.com Runner-up

Best Local Spirit

Lion's Pride Organic Whiskey (Koval Distillery)

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

lionspridewhiskey.com Runner-up

Best Wine Shop

Lush

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

1257 S. Halsted 312-738-1900 lushwineandspirits.com Other locations in Roscoe Village and West Town Runner-up

Best Liquor Store

Binny's

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

213 W. Grand 312-332-0012 binnys.com Other locations throughout Chicagoland Runner-up

Best BYOB

Ciao Amore

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

1134 W. 18th 312-432-9090 ciaoamore.moonfruit.com Runner-up

Best In-House Pasta

Nellcote

by Mike Sula on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

Jared Van Camp's ambitious grain-to-table program, which has the kitchen milling its own flour for bread, pasta, and pizza, achieves its highest pinnacle in the rustic shapes he's hand-rolling and machine-extruding. Camp's southern-Italian-style spaghetti, lightly dressed with tomato and bread crumbs and salted with cured tuna loin shavings, is thick and ruddy with a pronounced nutty flavor, and it sets a new standard for restaurant pasta arts.

Best Place Worth a Wait

Kuma's Corner

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

2900 W. Belmont 773-604-8769 kumascorner.com Runner-Up

Best Alfresco Dining

Piccolo Sogno

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

464 N. Halsted 312-421-0077 piccolosognorestaurant.com Runner-Up

Best Late-Night Eats

Pick Me Up

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

3408 N. Clark 773-248-6613 Runner-up

Best Restaurant for Kids

Wishbone

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

1001 W. Washington 312-850-2663 wishbonechicago.com Second location in Roscoe Village Runner-up

Best Waitstaff

Bellezza Gelato Caffe

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

3637 N. Harlem 773-545-1239 bellezzagelato.com Runners-up

Best-Looking Waitstaff

Lula Cafe

on June 20, 2012 at 12:00AM

2537 N. Kedzie 773-489-9554 lulacafe.com RUNNERS-UP