"Joe Flamm and his partners went big in Fulton Market, opening a meticulously designed restaurant that’s become a destination for out-of-towners who know Flamm from his Top Chef win. But Rose Mary, described as “Adriatic drinking food,” is also locally beloved for its European notes that fuse Italian, Croatian, and Midwestern sensibilities. The pastas would be at home at Spiaggia, one of the best Italian restaurants in Chicago before it closed, where Flamm cut his teeth. The ribs have a sticky sauce that breeds a familiarity to those who grew up on both the Southwest or Northwest sides. Try the cevapi, a Balkan-style sausage. The octopus, cooked over a wood grill, is perfect. There’s a great energy in the restaurant, which also offers a seasonal tasting table during the warmer months. Reservations are a must for the latter." - Ashok Selvam
