The 2024 Banchet Awards for culinary excellence — Chicago’s top local food honors — were announced early Monday.
Named in honor of the legendary chef who helmed Wheeling’s Le Francais restaurant in the 1970s and ’80s, the annual awards recognize the Chicago area’s restaurant scene innovators. Awardees will be announced at a gala event on Jan. 26 at Venue SIX10.
“I think the Banchets exist as a testament to the innovation of this city’s restaurant scene. That it is world-class. That it is first-class. When we gather once a year, it’s a reminder of how vibrant and exciting our industry is as well as the decades of innovation that got us here,” said Michael Muser, co-owner of the Michelin-starred Ever restaurant, and the organizer of this year’s awards event.
Here is the list of this year’s nominees:
Competing for Best Restaurant laurels are:
Midwest-Mediterranean fusion stalwart Avec West Loop Argentinian mainstay El Che Steakhouse and Bar Danish-American modern seasonal table Elske The self-described “Adriatic drinking food” of Joe Flamm’s Rose Mary in Fulton Market
The finalists for 2025 Best New Restaurant (open less than two years):
Uptown Latin-infused taco destination Cariño West Town’s wood-fired Brazilian-inspired grillmasters Brasero Lincoln Park Americana standout John’s Food and Wine South Loop 1930s supper club Oliver’s
The list of finalists for Chef of the Year, another closely watched category, includes omakase sushi master Otto Phan of Kyōten, handmade pasta maven Sarah Grueneberg of Monteverde, S.K.Y. restaurant group all-arounder Stephen Gillanders and gastro-tavern craftsman Kevin Hickey of The Duck Inn.
This being Chicago, there’s also a Best Pizza category. Finalists are Pistores in River North, Milly’s Pizza in the Pan on Argyle Street, Spacca Napoli Pizzeria in Ravenswood and Robert’s Pizza and Dough Co. in Streeterville.
Additional nominees of the 2025 Banchet Awards include:
Best Heritage Restaurant
StumaraSoul & SmokeNew Village Gastro Pub & KaraokeOcean Grill & Bar
Best Neighborhood Restaurant
Bungalow by Middle BrowDaisy’s Po-Boy and TavernKie-Gol-LaneeLe Bouchon
Rising Chef of the Year
John Dahlstrom, NettareMadalyn Durrant, Bar ParisetteMike Satinover, Akahoshi RamenChris Jung, Maxwells Trading
Bar of the Year
Nine BarBisousSepiaGolden Years
Best Counter Service
Migos Fine FoodsRagadanSanta Masa TamaleriaJ.P. Graziano Grocery
Sommelier of the Year
Jelena Prodan; S.K.Y., Valhalla, ApoloniaKat Hawkins; Miru, Tre Dita, St. Regis BarPatti Robison, AcantoScott Stroemer, Galit
Best Hospitality
BrindilleDear MargaretJeongAnelya
Best Design
BraseroTre DitaBazaar MeatPerilla Steakhouse
Pastry Chef of the Year
Bo Durham, Mindy’s BakeryTC Lumbar, ElskeAntonio Incandela, Mariscos San PedroSarah Mispagel-Lustbader and Ben Lustbader, Loaf Lounge
The local Banchet awards have been joined by the national James Beard Awards for culinary excellence when the latter moved its home base to Chicago in 2015. Both honors put an incomparable spotlight on the dining scene here.
“The Jean Banchet Awards will forever be in Chicago. We hope we’ll be able to boast that the James Beard Awards will be here for just as long. We hope the Beards know how much we appreciate having their show in Chicago,” Muser said.
Contributing: Miriam Di Nunzio, Sun-Times