Chicago Doesn't Make Cut; Gets Honorable Mentions

Bristol gets "honorable mention" as a "Best New Restaurant of the Year" from Esquire. (Photo: Neil Burger)


When Esquire's controversial writer John Mariani was in town last fall giving props to Mercat a la Planxa for being named to the mag's prestigious Best Restaurants of the Year list, who knew that would be the last time we'd see a winner in a while.

Since then, he's dined at a number of notable eateries, causing even more controversy in Chicago, and made a few enemies.

Could that be the reason not one Chicago restaurant made the big list for 2009?! Instead, The Bristol, Publican, Province and Sepia (which opened in July 2007, so confused why it's on the list . . .maybe it missed the deadline for 2008?!) had to settle for "noteworthy honorees of the year." Interesting stuff.

Eating Las Vegas has the entire list of winners—and Top Places Not to Miss—here.

Look for the November 2009 issue of Esquire on newsstands next week.