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2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice

1. Next

8.5
953 W Fulton Market (at Morgan St.), Chicago, IL
Molecular Gastronomy Restaurant · Fulton Market · 55 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: From the theater-inspired ticketing system which books diners into tasting menus priced according to time, to meals inspired by Escoffier and Ferran Adrià, Next has rewritten the restaurant experience Read more.

The Aviary is one of 2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice.

2. The Aviary

8.8
955 W Fulton Market (at Morgan St.), Chicago, IL
Cocktail Bar · Fulton Market · 175 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: Craig Schoettler concocts 32 types of ice and incorporates white-hot ingredients ranging from finger limes to Batavia Arrack, earning readers' pick for Best New Bar. Read more.

Butcher & The Burger is one of 2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice.

3. Butcher & The Burger

8.8
1021 W Armitage Ave (at Kenmore Ave.), Chicago, IL
Burger Joint · North Side · 108 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: Here, diners decide among ten patties, ranging from grass-fed beef and elk to free-range turkey. That’s before the buns (split-top egg, pretzel) and specialty toppings (wasabi mayo, pickle chips). Read more.

The Doughnut Vault is one of 2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice.

4. The Doughnut Vault

8.9
401 1/2 N Franklin St (at W Kinzie St), Chicago, IL
Donut Shop · River North · 145 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: Buttermilk and glazed yeast are staples, but the Twitter feed update dough lovers of daily specials that range from pistachio to birthday cake (cake dunked in vanilla glaze with rainbow sprinkles). Read more.

Chicago Waffles is one of 2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice.

5. Chicago Waffles

6.7
1400 South Michigan Avenue (at E 14th St), Chicago, IL
Breakfast Spot · South Loop · 91 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: Waffles taps the full potential of its namesake dish with unexpected combinations, such as green-tea waffles with lemon-ginger Chantilly cream and a Mexican chocolate version with orange anglaise. Read more.

Epic Burger is one of 2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice.

6. Epic Burger

7.8
517 S State St (btwn E Congress Pkwy & E Harrison St), Chicago, IL
Burger Joint · South Loop · 105 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: Chain doesn’t signify commoditized mass culture when the business in question uses cage-free eggs, slices its own fries and serves crispy patties of humanely raised, hormone- and antibiotic-free meats Read more.

Perennial Virant is one of 2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice.

7. Perennial Virant

1800 N Lincoln Ave (at N Clark St), Chicago, IL
New American Restaurant · Old Town Triangle · 64 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: How do you persuade drinkers of big, buttery Chardonnay to try a cocktail instead? Combine vodka, gin and ginger liqueur with pineapple juice and butter, call it Napa Chard, and serve it on the rocks. Read more.

Forever Yogurt is one of 2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice.

8. Forever Yogurt

1924 W North Ave (at N Winchester Ave), Chicago, IL
Frozen Yogurt Shop · Bucktown · 45 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: Feeling gummy bears for your chocolate–peanut butter or the need to pile a dozen toppings over a gallon of fat-free? Pick the cup, pull one (or three!) of the 14 handles and pile on the toppings. Read more.

Goosefoot is one of 2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice.

9. Goosefoot

8.6
2656 W Lawrence Ave (at Washtenaw), Chicago, IL
New American Restaurant · Ravenswood · 25 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: Les Nomades vet Chris Nugent hasn’t lost attention to detail, his mastery of French cooking technique, his penchant for lux ingredients and a tasting menu that reminds diners this is a special event. Read more.

The Southern Mac & Cheese Truck is one of 2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice.

10. The Southern Mac & Cheese Truck

Chicago, IL
Food Truck · Streeterville · 19 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: Since pretty much everything tastes better with melted cheese, chef Cary Taylor isn’t short of options, topping his pasta with everything from smoked bacon and blue cheese to roasted mushrooms. Read more.

Pleasant House Bakery is one of 2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice.

11. Pleasant House Bakery

964 W 31st St, Chicago, IL
Bakery · Bridgeport · 61 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: The steak-and-ale captures carrot-laden pot roast in buttery crust, the chicken Balti channels India by way of Britain with heady curry spices, and the mushroom-kale is a good argument to go meat-free Read more.

Roots Handmade Pizza is one of 2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice.

12. Roots Handmade Pizza

8.0
1924 W Chicago Ave (at N Winchester Ave), Chicago, IL
Pizzeria · East Ukrainian Village · 104 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: Wackier varieties of the Quad-cities style pie include taco pizza, teeming with mozzarella, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and tortilla chips. Olé? Read more.

Pump Room is one of 2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice.

13. Pump Room

1301 N State Pkwy (at E Goethe St), Chicago, IL
American Restaurant · Gold Coast · 94 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: Executive chef Moosah Reaume seamlessly churns out farm-to-table dishes such as roasted beets with housemade yogurt, and whole-wheat flatbread topped with spinach, goat cheese and herbs. Read more.

Public House is one of 2012 Eat Out Award winners: Readers' choice.

14. Public House

400 North State Street (at Kinzie St), Chicago, IL
Bar · Near North Side · 167 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: Public House has taken all the trappings of a typical sports bar—TVs everywhere, cheese curds and beer—and yuppified them. A hefty beer list boasts American craft ales and specialty Belgians. Read more.