The Savoy, Chicago

The Savoy may be landlocked, but it doesn't let that stop it from excelling at seafood. "There are a lot of nice things about The Savoy, not the least of which is the fact that the seafood it sources is lovely," says one Time Out Chicago review. The restaurant's crown jewel is its raw bar, which features tuna tartar, ceviche, and oysters on the half-shell. Crab cake appetizers with mascarpone vinaigrette make for another highlight, while the pork belly confit with seared scallops stands out among the menu's more landward entrees.

A classic wooden bar lines one of the restaurant's walls, but the cocktails are anything but traditional. The gal behind the bar, Deidre Darling, has dedicated a portion of the lengthy wine and drink list to cocktails made with absinthe—the famous "green fairy" that fueled the Parisian creative scene during the Belle Époque. Some have long rosters of ingredients with just a tiny hint of the licorice-flavored liquor, while others are simpler: one part absinthe to four parts water, dripped from a vintage absinthe fountain and served with an optional sugar cube and a note reminding you to keep sharp things away from your ear.