Warlord

"Warlord, a breakout star of 2023, was involved in unreported allegations of abusive behavior by one of its owners." - Ashok Selvam

"The Verdict: Most definitely worth the wait. In fact, this New American spot recently made our list of 25 Best Restaurants In Chicago. Limited hours. No reservations. An unpredictable menu. Warlord opened in May with little information beyond the above, which we normally consider red flags. But we can now tell you that the line out the door isit’s worth the wait. And since they're open until 2am, that wait can be a pretty long one. The menu changes everyday, which is both exciting—"This ramp pasta is incredible!"—and bittersweet—"Will I ever see these miso butter scallops again?" Warlord is playing hard to get, but that only makes us want this spot even more. " - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen

"Limited hours. No reservations. An unpredictable menu. We normally consider all of these red flags—but we’re here to tell you that the line out the door is worth the wait. And since they're open until 2am, that wait can be a pretty long one. The menu changes every day, which is both exciting—"This ramp pasta is incredible!"—and bittersweet—"Will I ever see these miso butter scallops again?" Warlord is playing hard to get, but that only makes us want this spot even more. " - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru, nick allen

"Warlord’s menu changes daily, but within the chaos lies one constant: the burger. The thick dry-aged beef patty is unbelievably juicy, well-seasoned, and has the perfect amount of char. Charred onions and caramelized onion mayo give it a pleasant tang and sweetness, and everything is sandwiched between a squishy bun that feels like memory foam. Cheese? Nope. But you won’t care. " - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"Despite the aggressive name (and the fact that Warlord doesn’t take reservations), this New American spot in Avondale is very welcoming. Chefs will playfully present a Miller High Life like it’s a vintage cabernet, and tell you to stay at your candlelit table for as long as you want—and since they're open until 2am, that can be a pretty long time. The food is why you’ll want to stay forever. The menu changes everyday, which is both exciting—"this ramp pasta is incredible"—and bittersweet—"will I ever see these miso butter scallops again?" It’s playing hard to get, and makes us want this spot even more. But at least there is one constant on the menu, an incredible burger that is guaranteed to pair well with the High Life." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru