Best Lunch Restaurants in River North (Chicago)

332 restaurants available nearby

1. Ema - River North

4.7

Exceptional(4556)

Price: Expensive

• Mediterranean • River North (Chicago)

Booked 130 times today

A Mediterranean & California-inspired restaurant featuring small plates & Chef CJ Jacobson's lighter style cooking in Chicago's River North.

A photo of Mercadito - River North restaurant

2. Mercadito - River North

4.6

Exceptional(6303)

Price: Expensive

• Mexican • River North (Chicago)

Booked 87 times today

We are the city’s top Mexican restaurant for authentic modern cuisine, specialty tequila and mezcal cocktails, located in the heart of River North. Our culinary team features popular Mexican dishes, including our signature tacos, as well as fresh salsa and guacamole, ceviche, esquites and more.Mercadito's lounge is nestled in the lower level of Mercadito. It offers a speakeasy-style experience with a chic and exclusive ambiance. The space features banquet-style booths and dim lighting that enhances the elegant wood furniture, creating an inviting and intimate atmosphere. Once inside, guests can enjoy the full Mercadito menu, with the same delectable cuisine and beverages that our restaurant is known for.

A photo of Beatrix - River North restaurant

3. Beatrix - River North

4.6

Exceptional(5353)

Price: Moderate

• American • River North (Chicago)

Booked 147 times today

Beatrix is a neighborhood coffeehouse, restaurant and meeting place in Chicago’s River North, Streeterville, Fulton Market and Oak Brook neighborhoods. The restaurant was created by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises’ Founder Rich Melman, Executive Partner and Divisional President Marc Jacobs and Chef Partners John Chiakulas, Rita Dever and Susan Weaver. The menu features healthy meets delicious options, and is known for its iconic coffee and bakery counter including signature cookies, in-house pastry favorites and house blends from our very own, Beatrix Coffee Roasters. Beatrix is open daily for coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

A photo of La Grande Boucherie - Chicago restaurant

4. La Grande Boucherie - Chicago

4.5

Awesome(989)

Price: Very Expensive

• French • River North (Chicago)

Booked 79 times today

Housed in Chicago’s Belle Époque building, the unique Art Nouveau-inspired space honors the iconic building’s legacy while providing guests with a one-of-a-kind atmosphere and menu. La Grande Boucherie blends the ambiance of an indulgent steakhouse with a refined Parisian brasserie charm, and fuses traditional French cuisine with Chicago’s River North culinary heritage. The two-story restaurant boasts custom curved stained-glass windows overlooking the bustling streets of Chicago. The interior features custom mosaic marble floors, authentic fixtures, and a racetrack bar sourced from France. Guests can lean into the view and take in all that Chicago has to offer.

A photo of Pizzeria Portofino restaurant

5. Pizzeria Portofino

4.8

Exceptional(1590)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • River North (Chicago)

Booked 174 times today

Pizzeria Portofino is a sun-drenched casual restaurant located directly on the Chicago riverfront offering hand-stretched pizzas, coastal wines, an expansive patio and breezy decor that will instantly transport you to the Italian Riviera.

A photo of SUSHI-SAN - River North restaurant

6. SUSHI-SAN - River North

4.8

Exceptional(1328)

Price: Moderate

• Japanese • River North (Chicago)

Booked 118 times today

Sushi-San serves up the best sushi in Chicago made with the freshest ingredients they can find, all served with a side of old-school hip-hop and ice-cold beer. The bar is kept stocked with rare Japanese whisky, sake, wine and inventive cocktails. Join them for lunch and dinner.

7. Siena Tavern

4.7

Exceptional(6067)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • River North (Chicago)

Booked 86 times today

Entirely Rooted In A "From Scratch" Approach, We Present Upscale, Classic Italian Fares, Straight From Top Chef Alum, Fabio Viviani. Siena Tavern'S Extensive Wine List And Our Highly Contemporary Design, Interspersed With Rustic Details, Elevates The Genuine Italian Dining Experience While Simultaneously Maintaining Authenticity. Farm To Fork, Refined And Redefined.

A photo of Quartino - Chicago restaurant

8. Quartino - Chicago

4.5

Awesome(11024)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • River North (Chicago)

Booked 134 times today

Quartino Ristorante is a lively, authentic Italian restaurant and wine bar in Chicago's River North neighborhood. Our menu features Italy's regional specialties including artisanal salumi, Neapolitan thin-crust pizza, house-made pasta, and seasonal dishes. Menu items, served in moderate portions and meant to be shared, are perfect for adventurous diners ready for a unique experience.

9. Hawksmoor Chicago

4.5

Awesome(361)

Price: Moderate

• Steakhouse • River North (Chicago)

Booked 77 times today

Welcome to Hawksmoor Chicago, where we bring our acclaimed steakhouse experience from the UK to the iconic LaSalle Powerhouse in River North. Our ethos is simple: ‘Buy the best and let it shine.’ We serve all-natural, pasture-reared, dry-aged beef from US family-run farms, cooked over charcoal and seasoned simply with sea salt. Our seafood, sourced from trusted Northeastern fishermen, is prepared with equal care.In our 16,500 sq ft space, featuring barrel-vaulted ceilings and touches from the Golden Age of Travel, Hawksmoor is perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re stopping by for cocktails, a casual lunch or a special celebration, we make sure you leave full and happy. We also offer private dining for groups of 10 to full venue buy-outs for 500—ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and corporate events.And don’t miss our Sunday Roast: dry-aged beef, beef-dripping potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and bone marrow gravy—something like a Thanksgiving dinner every Sunday.

A photo of The Smith - Chicago restaurant

10. The Smith - Chicago

4.7

Exceptional(2727)

Price: Moderate

• American • River North (Chicago)

Booked 72 times today

The Smith is a casual American brasserie with a simple mission — make people happy! We care about every meal and every moment. The menu features bistro classics, seasonal fare, and craft cocktails. Walk in the door and you’re in for a great time. Whether it’s date night, drinks on the town, a big birthday bash, a working lunch, a boozy brunch, or an I-don’t-want-to-cook-tonight night, we’ve got you covered.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

D
Dennis
Las Vegas •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
We enjoyed everything and our server was wonderful!
More info
Ema - River NorthPrice: Expensive• Mediterranean• River North (Chicago)
•
4.7
S
susan
Chicago / Illinois •5 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Stunningly beautiful space, ambiance, great, attentive service and superb food! My highest recommendation!
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La Grande Boucherie - ChicagoPrice: Very Expensive• French• River North (Chicago)
•
4.5
A
Amanda
Detroit / Eastern Michigan •6 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Their happy hour was amazing! The star of the show was the mango guacamole.
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Mercadito - River NorthPrice: Expensive• Mexican• River North (Chicago)
•
4.6
W
WhitneyVIP
Las Vegas •1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
The food and vibes were great! Our waitress, Casey, was amazing. Only thing that was really annoying was their obvious urge to turn tables over. In a matter of minutes, we had 4-5 separate people try to take our food that we were clearly still eating (literally said “no thank you, we’re still working on that” while we were mid-chew). The same thing happened with our drinks. We had a bottle of champagne in an ice bag that we repeatedly had people take out of the bag to check how much was remaining. Other than feeling rushed, this place was awesome.
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Pizzeria PortofinoPrice: Expensive• Italian• River North (Chicago)
•
4.8
OT
OpenTable Diner
Miami - Dade •1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Best breakfast we had in Chicago! I had an outstanding breakfast with fluffy pancakes and perfectly poached eggs on avocado toast. Each dish was delicious and beautifully presented. The rich coffee and attentive service made the experience even better.
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Beatrix - River NorthPrice: Moderate• American• River North (Chicago)
•
4.6

Best Lunch Restaurants in River North (Chicago)

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332 restaurants available nearby

1. Ema - River North

2. Mercadito - River North

3. Beatrix - River North

4. La Grande Boucherie - Chicago

5. Pizzeria Portofino

6. SUSHI-SAN - River North

7. Siena Tavern

8. Quartino - Chicago

9. Hawksmoor Chicago

10. The Smith - Chicago

See what locals rave about

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