Finalists for Chicago’s top local food honor, the Banchet Awards, were announced Wednesday morning. This year’s nominees range from casual spots like the Mayfair taco trailer No Pasa Nada and Albany Park’s Noodles Party to fine dining destinations like Avec.
Throughout the day Tuesday, the Banchet Foundation’s Executive Director Michael Muser visited several of the restaurants on the list to deliver the news in person, including Asador Bastian, the River North steakhouse, which is up for Restaurant of the Year.
“I know we’re amongst great company,” said chef-owner Doug Psaltis. “Being included in the best restaurants in Chicago is being included in the best restaurants in the country.”
The Banchets recognize excellence across categories, including Best Heritage Restaurant, Best Counter Service and Rising Chef of the Year. Muser said the goal is to celebrate the breadth of the local food scene, including places sometimes overlooked by the national food awards.
“These are not restaurants that get recognized by organizations,” Muser said. “So we’re local enough to be able to throw some light on them, pat them on the back, tell them they did a good job.”
Perilla Fare’s Andrew Lim, executive chef, and Thomas Oh, director of operations and sommelier. The West Town restaurant is nominated in the Banchet’s Best Hospitality category.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
As the James Beard Awards consider a future outside Chicago, the Banchets are growing their footprint as a recently formed nonprofit, focused on more year-round programming to train and highlight local talent. Now in its 25th year, the awards are named for Jean Banchet, the legendary chef who ran Wheeling’s Le Francais restaurant in the 1970s and ’80s, helping to raise Chicago’s culinary profile.
This year, the awards will expand from Venue SIX10 in the Loop to the considerably larger Harris Theater.
The ceremony will recognize chef Paul Kahan with the 2027 Culinary Excellence Award, and Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen as the 2027 Iconic Restaurant Award. Plus, chef Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Cafe will receive the inaugural Environmental Leadership Award.
“I’m thrilled that The Banchets has created an award recognizing environmental leadership in our industry,” Stegner said in a statement. “Chefs have a real opportunity to make a difference through the farmers we support, the ingredients we choose and the way we operate our restaurants.”
The finalists are selected by an anonymous committee of dedicated foodies, according to Muser. Winners will be announced during a Jan. 31 ceremony at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St.
Here are the nominees for the 2027 Banchet Awards:
Restaurant of the Year
Asador Bastian
Brasero
Cellar Door Provisions
Maxwells Trading
Chef of the Year
Adam McFarland and Tom Rogers (John’s Food & Wine)
Jenner Tomaska (Esmé, Petite Edith, The Alston)
Zachary Engel (Galit, Cafe Yaya)
Zubair Mohajir (Muhājir, Lilac Tiger, Mirra, Sarima, Mariela)
Best New Restaurant
All Well
Creepies
Petite Edith
The Greggory
West Loop’s Creepies is up for two awards: Best New Restaurant and Rising Chef of the Year. On Tuesday, Muser stopped by to present the nominations to chef-owner David Posey and Chef De Cuisine Tayler Ploshehanski.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Rising Chef of the Year
Alex Ching (Bonyeon)
Alex Cochran (Cellar Door Provisions)
Devin Denzer (Atsumeru)
Tayler Ploshehanski (Creepies)
Best Neighborhood Restaurant
Cerdito Muerto
Il Mio
Spice by CMB
Torizen
Best Heritage Restaurant
Lao Hu Tong
Mazor
Nadu
Noodles Party
Muser visited several of the restaurants on the list to deliver the news in person, including Asador Bastian, the River North steakhouse, which is up for Restaurant of the Year.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Best Counter Service
Chomp Pizza
Seedo’s Levantine Bakery
No Pasa Nada
Turkish Doner
Pastry Program of the Year
Fat Peach Bakery
Guillotine Bakery
Smyth
Sugar Moon Bakery
Bar of the Year
Bar Bambi
Belmont Tavern
Culebra
Oliver’s
Chef John Manion was named Chef of the Year at last year’s Banchet Awards. This year, Manion’s South American restaurant, Brasero, is up for Restaurant of the Year.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times file
Sommelier of the Year
Chris Farrell (Indienne)
Claire McDonal (Avec)
Nathan Ducker (Feld)
Olivia Duncan-Williams (Maxwells Trading)
Best Hospitality
Anelya
Brindille
Obélix
Perilla Fare
Best Design
Adalina Prime
Kitty’s Cosmopolitan Club
The Hand & The Eye
Tryzub Ukrainian Kitchen
Iconic Restaurant Award
Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen
Culinary Excellence Award
Paul Kahan
Environmental Leadership Award
Sarah Stegner
Courtney Kueppers is an arts and culture reporter at WBEZ.
Dining and Cooking