Someone's Having a Birthday!

Graham Elliot Bowles, whose stylish namesake River North eatery caused a stir in 2008 for its carefree takes on classic dishes and cocktails, celebrates his big day on Jan. 4.

Happy Birthday, Graham!

L20 tops Tribune's list for 'best new restaurant'

L20's "exotic preparations" of seafood dishes impressed the Chicago Tribune's Phil Vettel the most in 2008. (Photo: L20)


"Chicago's best new restaurant hands down was L20, the magnificent seafood restaurant in Lincoln Park where Laurent Gras oversaw exotic preparations of gooey duck clam, cold smoked Golden Eye Snapper, (an) amazing golden egg composition with pork belly and carpache, and some of the best soufflés I've ever had," said Chicago Tribune Dining Critic Phil Vettel in his year-end video of the city's Top 10 best new restaurants of 2008.

He also mentions a number of new hotel-based eateries, including Lockwood at the Palmer House, Sixteen at Trump Tower and Mercat A La Planxa in the Blackstone Hotel.

Peep the video here for the entire list.