Fish and chips

Burrata

Chef/owner John Manion of the vaunted La Sirena Clandestina favors wood-fired offerings from an open hearth at this Argentinean-inspired hotspot in the West Loop.

Website: elchebarchicago.com

Address: 845 W. Washington Blvd.

Phone number: 312-265-1130

Number of seats: 100

Entrée price range: $26-$68

Popular dishes: Veal sweetbreads with market escabèche and cauliflower purée; herbed Parisian gnocchi with mushroom stroganoff, Swiss chard, charred rosemary vinaigrette, shaved Parmesan and hazelnuts; braised lamb ribs with yogurt and mint relish and fennel salad

What others say: “The focal point of the 100-seat dining space (and adjacent bar) is the wood-fired hearth, its flames roaring so high that those at nearby tables can feel the heat. Hand-cranked elevators position the food just so, and the cooking is remarkably precise.” — Phil Vettel, Chicago Tribune

Interior

Lamb ribs

With a focus on vegetarian fare, though not exclusively, this eatery from Heisler Hospitality on Randolph Row singes and sears bounties of the earth on a crank-operated wood-fired grill.

Website: badhunter.com

Address: 802 W. Randolph St.

Phone number: 312-265-1745

Number of seats: 80 in the dining room, 20 at the bar

Entrée price range: $10-$20

Popular dishes: Butter dumplings with charred cabbage, shiitake, Asian pear and oyster kimchi; tempura fried lemons and Japanese sweet potato with matcha and fish caramel sauce; sturgeon skewer with rice, beans, grilled little gem lettuce, Calabrian chile and lime; maitake mushrooms with parsnips, smoked pecans, Parmesan and lavender.

What others say: “Along with gun racks and truck nuts, in certain parts of the country there's a bumper sticker prevalent on rusty pickups that states " 'Vegetarian' is an old Indian word for 'bad hunter.' " It's from this feeble scrap of woodsman's humor that Heisler Hospitality, the burgeoning bar and restaurant empire behind Trenchermen and Pub Royale, has adopted the name for its latest.” — Mike Sula, Chicago Reader

Interior

Carrots

Chef Stephanie Izard creatively channels China — and disparate Chinatowns near and far — at this lively, elaborate eatery in Fulton Market.

Website: duckduckgoatchicago.com

Address: 857 West Fulton Market

Phone number: 312-912-3825

Number of seats: 100

Entrée price range: $15-$22

Popular dishes: Slap noodles with shrimp and goat sausage; Forbidden Goat fried black rice with pickled quail eggs; Chongqing chicken with chiles; Ham Sui Gok: Glutinous rice dumplings with goat.

What others say: “Through some miracle on one visit, my party landed the last remaining Peking duck, and we saw God.” — Jeff Ruby, Chicago magazine

Ribs

Dumplings 

In the West Loop, rum runs voluminously at this speakeasy-style bar with Latin American dishes that make sharing a common pursuit.

Website: ronerochicago.com

Address: 738 W. Randolph St.

Phone number: 312-600-6105

Number of seats: 125

Entrée price range: $18-$42

Popular dishes: Ensalada de palmito: hearts of palm, Belgian endive, radicchio, pear, hazelnuts and coconut crema; Ropa Vieja: goat, sofrito, goat cheese and focaccia; Cordero: Colorado lamb chops with huacatay sauce and Peruvian potato.

What others say: “With ornate wall tiles from Nicaragua and white-washed brick, the decor combines rustic elements of old world Havana and art deco accents of rum-running during Prohibition, including brass panels and chandelier light fixtures.” — Heather Schroering, Chicago Tribune

Dorado

Cordero lamb chops

Latin American influences are popular at Chicago eateries — and so are wood-fired grills.