Please assign a menu to the primary menu location under menu

Hot Spots

According to Michigan Avenue Mag, here are the best hot spots to spot celebrities:

If your goal is to spot a celebrity in Chicago—or dine like one—add these star-studded restaurants to your itinerary. Whether you’re after sushi or steak, and want to rub elbows with Pharrell or Mila, there’s an eatery for you.

Chicago Cut Steakhouse

Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari at Chicago CUT Steakhouse.

Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari at Chicago Cut Steakhouse.

Managing partners David Flom and Matthew Moore nailed it with Chicago Cut’s cozy yet contemporary dining room. The expansive menu makes it the perfect option for celebrities seeking the true Chicago steakhouse experience. 300 N. LaSalle St., 312-329-1800

Notable sightings: President Barack Obama, Robin Thicke, Paula Patton, Kristin Cavallari, Jay Cutler, and Michael Bay

Celeb-loved dishes: Fittingly, President Obama dined on steak during a recent visit.


RPM Italian

Giuliana Rancic at RPM Italian.

Giuliana Rancic shakes up cocktails at RPM Italian.

Giuliana and Bill Rancic are stars in their own right, and their resto RPM Italian makes for a celeb-worthy scene with delicious Italian-inspired dishes and a trendy atmosphere. 52 W. Illinois St., 312-222-1888

Notable sightings: Lady Gaga, First Lady Michelle Obama, Michael Jordan, Cindy Crawford, and Lisa Marie Presley

Celeb-loved dishes: Favorite menu items include the wood-grilled octopus, 38 oz. prime dry-aged bistecca fiorentina, and prime beef meatballs.


Nellcôte

Ke$ha at Nellcote.

Musicians like Ke$ha love Nellcôte.

West Loop’s Nellcôte draws inspiration from Villa Nellcôte—the location where The Rolling Stones recorded Exile on Main Street—making it a magnet for the musically inclined. The European-inspired spot offers private areas perfect for stars who want to relax and blend in. 833 W. Randolph St., 312-432-0500

Notable sightings: Ke$ha, Arctic Monkeys, The Fray, Channing Tatum, Cecily Strong, and Lana Del Rey

Celeb-loved dishes: Bands gravitate toward the Neapolitan pizza, made by chef Jared Van Camp with house-milled flour, or the dry-aged bison ribeye.


HUB 51

HUB 51 interior.

HUB 51’s chic interior attracts celebrities.

HUB 51’s large dining area and buzzing bar boast a chic yet laid-back vibe and an expansive menu to boot. The option to pop downstairs to sister-lounge SUB 51 after dinner doesn’t hurt either. 51 W. Hubbard St., 312-828-0051

Notable sightings: Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, Fergie, and Josh Duhamel

Celeb-loved dishes: Parents-to-be Ashton and Mila were fans of Martha’s carrot cake, and others stars have opted for the pulled chicken nachos.


SUNDA

Billy Dec and Michelle Williams at SUNDA.

Billy Dec sits with Michelle Williams at one of his Chicago hotspots, SUNDA.

The ever-popular River North resto offers New Asian fare and a contemporary ambiance. 110 W. Illinois St., 312-644-0500

Notable sightings: Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Christian Slater, Mark Wahlberg, and Michelle Williams

Celeb-loved dishes: Celebrity favorites include the crispy Brussels sprouts salad and tail of two tunas, complemented by sake-based cocktails.


Siena Tavern

Fabio Viviani at Siena Tavern.

Fabio Viviani gets ready to serve celebrity-approved cuisine at Siena Tavern.

Top Chef contestant Fabio Viviani’s Siena Tavern attracts everyone from elite athletes to sought-after actresses with its unique Italian/Mediterranean-influenced plates and bustling bar. 51 W. Kinzie St., 312-595-1322

Notable sightings: Derek Jeter, Pharrell Williams, Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union, and Emmy Rossum

Celeb-loved dishes: Word is that the Wagyu meatball made Pharrell very “Happy.”


Bottlefork

Billy Dec and the cast of Chicago PD at Bottlefork.

Billy Dec poses with the cast of Chicago PD at Bottlefork.

Rockit Ranch’s newest dining destination, Bottlefork, opened its doors in February, but has already seen tons of celebrity foot-traffic. The inventive resto seamlessly fuses its food with drinks, and vice versa. 441 N. Clark St., 312-955-1900

Notable sightings: Sophia Bush, Marlon Wayans, Gabriel Iglesias, Billy Zane, and Dee Snider

Celeb-loved dishes: Groups often opt to complement their meal with the larger-than-life Bill Brasky cocktail.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY FACEBOOK.COM/SIENATAVERN (VIVIANI); HENSON CONSULTING (HUB 51 DINING ROOM); BARRY BRECHEISEN (GIULIANA; KE$HA); CHICAGOCUTSTEAKHOUSE.COM (CUTLER, CAVALLARI); ROCKIT RANCH/BILLY DEC (CHICAGO PD/SOPHIA BUSH)  


Read more about celebrity hot spots at http://michiganavemag.com/the-latest/food-and-drink-news/postings/which-chicago-restaurants-attract-celebrities#GmcK8GJDs8fbXSd2.99

Tim Padavic
Editor-in-Chief