2008 Eat Out Awards

BUN IN A MILLION Sausage emporium Hot Doug’s won Best Cheap Eats—and earned the most votes of any restaurant in any category.

Photo: Saverio Trugulia

Okay, maybe it’s not such a tough job, eating and drinking every night on our company’s dime. But deciding who deserves one of our annual Eat Out Awards? Trust us, it’s no picnic—there’s an entire city’s worth of great eats out there and only 40 awards to give. Luckily, we had a little help. We left it up to you, the readers, to decide which of this year’s new restaurants is tops, which bartender makes the best cocktails and which bakery serves the sweetest sweets. Then we chimed in with our own favorites. The results may shock, please or even disappoint, but one thing’s for sure: Our winners will inspire you to go out and do some “work” of your own.

	Critics' Picks: Our experts wined and dined their way through countless restaurants and bars throughout Chicago. Here are their picks for the best of the best.
	Readers' choice: We asked, you answered. Here are your favorites throughout the city, according to our online poll.
	Late seatings: The top food trends and events we're hoping to see in 2008
	Regulars report: Foodies talk about their favorite Readers' Choice spots