Oeuf Outhier served at The Blanchard

This season’s hot Chicago restaurants are approachable above all else.

Parenthetical cocktail with bourbon, watermelon, tarragon, cayenne

Seared foie gras served at The Blanchard

The twin spirits of an Indian eatery and a refined English pub commune in this warm, welcoming home for worldly comfort food and mindful drinks by the operators behind other Chicago favorites such as Sportman’s Club, Trencherman, and Lone Wolf.

Website: pubroyale.com
Number of seats: 70 + 40 on the patio
Average per-person check: $30
Popular dishes: Gobi Manchurian: Crispy cauliflower, sweet & spicy Manchurian sauce, sesame and cashew; Rabbit Pie: Cider braised rabbit, marrow, carrots, bacon and flaky crust; Chicken Tikka Kathi Roll: Whole-wheat paratha, caramelized onion, cilantro and cotija cheese.
What people come for: Changing draft-beer menu, curated music selection
Address: 2049 W. Division St.
Phone number: 773-661-6874

Beef short rib with pickled cauliflower

Citrus-cured salmon served at Boeufhaus

The neighborhood of Lincoln Park turns decidedly homey and French in this rustic-contemporary new home for Jason Paskewitz, celebrated for his cooking at Gemini Bistro.

Website: theblanchardchicago.com
Number of seats: 85 + 15 at bar + 64 on the patio
Average per-person check: $50
Popular dishes: Oeuf Outhier: Creamy scrambled egg with chive, vodka-spiked crème fraîche and American sturgeon caviar; dover sole meunière with tournée potato, pea tendril pomme purée, broken brown butter and lemon; duck à l'orange with Grand Marnier glaze, red wine-braised turnips, baby carrots and roasted duck jus.
What people come for: Four preparations of foie gras, extensive wine list
Address: 1935 N. Lincoln Park West
Phone number: 872-829-3971

Darren McGraw and Tim Havidic, with kitchen experience at Charlie Trotter’s and iNG between them, teamed up in Ravenswood and went to work on this small wine bar that aspires to the fundamentals identified in its tagline: “Approachable wines. Rustic comfort food. Damn good desserts.”

Website: ampersandchicago.com
Number of seats: 40
Average per-person check: $35
Popular dishes: Delicata squash with fresh ricotta and nduja sausage; pork belly confit with kohlrabi slaw and braised daikon; wild salmon with parsnip hash and roasted pears.
What people come for: 25 wines by the glass, culinary crafted cocktails, local beers and hard-to-find spirits
Address: 4845 N. Damen Ave.
Phone number: 773-728-0031

India Hot Chicken served at Pub Royale

Basting le boeuf at Boeufhaus