Pearl’s Southern Comfort

Chicago’s been on a Southern food kick of late, and this sparkling Andersonville charmer is a straight up hepcat. Its enormous arched windows open up to a completely revamped 100-year-old room, featuring long exposed ceiling beams, whitewashed brick, dark slate walls and soft leather chairs.

But even with all that design swag, the main draw at Pearl’s Southern Comfort is still the food. For starters, there’s the ace barbecue, but guests should hardly stop there. Try the enormous double cut pork chop, grilled to supple perfection and paired with “dirty” farro salad, Cajun slaw and pork jus. Another staple, the Louisiana jambalaya, is served decadently dark and spicy, brimming with tender chicken, Andouille sausage and Crystal hot sauce.