✦ Neighborhood Guide · River North

Best Restaurants in River North

The best restaurants in River North, Chicago — 4 ranked picks with ratings, must-try dishes and live table availability.

4 picks

River North has 4 restaurants worth the trip, and this is the ranked list. Obelix leads it at 4.9 stars, with Bavette's close behind. Prices run the whole way from $ counters to $$$$ rooms, and the strongest showings are French, Steak and Pizza. If you only order one thing, make it the foie gras tacos at Obelix. 1 of the 4 take online reservations, and the live availability badge on each card shows what is actually open tonight.

River North covers a lot of ground for its size — French, Steak and Pizza are all well represented across the 4 spots we track here, and the neighborhood averages 4.5 stars.

Obelix Watch

Obelix

French  ·  River North  ·  $$$$

★★★★½ 4.9

French in River North — 4.9 across 3,650 diner reviews

Must-try: Foie Gras Tacos, Escargot, Dry-Aged Duck Breast

📍 700 N Sedgwick St, Chicago, IL 60654

Full Details View on Maps
Bavette's Watch

Bavette's

Steak  ·  River North  ·  $$$$

★★★★½ 4.5

Steak in River North — 4.5 across 3,778 diner reviews

Must-try: Bone-In Ribeye, Fried Chicken, Short Rib Stroganoff

📍 218 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

Full Details Reserve on Resy
Zarella

Zarella

Pizza  ·  River North  ·  $

★★★★☆ 4.4

Pizza in River North — 4.4 across 957 diner reviews

Must-try: Tavern-Style Pizza, Artisan Pizza

📍 531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

Full Details View on Maps
Naia Watch

Naia

Mediterranean  ·  River North  ·  $$

★★★★☆ 4.2

Mediterranean in River North — 4.2 across 1,077 diner reviews

Must-try: Falafel with Crab and Roe, Labneh-Truffle Dip, Date Cake

📍 300 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654

Full Details View on Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best restaurant in River North?

Obelix — 4.9 stars across 3,650 reviews, the highest on this list. French in River North — 4.9 across 3,650 diner reviews.

Which of these is the best value?

Zarella at $ — 4.4 stars without the $$$$ bill. 2 of the 4 restaurants on this page are $$ or under.

Do these restaurants take reservations?

1 of the 4 book online — Bavette's. The rest are walk-in or phone-only. Each card here shows live availability for tonight where the restaurant publishes it.

What should I order?

The foie gras tacos at Obelix, the bone-in ribeye at Bavette's and the tavern-style pizza at Zarella. Those are the dishes regulars point to first.

How were these picked?

Ratings and review volume decide the order, but the list itself is drawn from restaurants people actually post about — 3 of the 4 here have a TikTok attached to their card. Every entry is checked as open before it ships.

More CHI Guides

🕯️ Date Night River North