Chicago is long on charm, but short on the alfresco-dining days. When summer hits, we typically take an outdoor meal anywhere we can get it — even if that means having lunch on a random sidewalk. But after checking out the new addition to Local Chicago, we’re turning into full-fledged patio snobs. Serving classic American fare like jalapeno cornbread and lobster salad, the Gold Coast restaurant just debuted a Pinterest-worthy patio. The outdoor dining area is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it’s about as lush as patios come.
Turns out, restaurant owners David Flom and Matt Moore take landscaping as seriously as they take their famous burgers. They tapped the team from Anne Roberts Gardens to create a living garden wall, and the result is a vibrant display of more than 3,000 plants. Spider plants, begonias, wild petunias, and more create a downtown jungle of sorts, and believe us: There’s no prettier place to snack on Angus sliders.
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There may be a wait, so call ahead to reserve your spot. That’s right: This secret garden takes reservations.
The Local Chicago, 198 East Delaware Place (between Michigan Avenue and North Dewitt Place); 312-230-8887.
Photo: Courtesy of The Local