CHICAGO, April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- From Sable Kitchen & Bar's root-beer-glazed braised bison short-rib sliders to Davanti Enoteca's baked focaccia filled with melty Crescenza cheese, Chicago magazine's dining experts devoured dishes throughout the city to deliver this year's best new restaurants list.  

The May issue of Chicago magazine features 22 great places to eat right now, from Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard's Girl & the Goat to Cumin, named a Bib Gourmand restaurant by Michelin Guide 2011 for offering good value. The story also gives honors for the best chef (Davanti Enoteca's Jonathan Beatty), bartender (Sable Kitchen & Bar's Mike Ryan), and dish (Bistro One West's seared swordfish with radicchio coleslaw and green-onion butter sauce). The issue, which hits newsstands today, also includes an in-depth look at the business behind the Alinea and Next empires, with an interview from Grant Achatz's money guy, Nick Kokonas.

"The best thing about this year's list is that the restaurants are more accessible and affordable than ever," says Jeff Ruby, the magazine's chief dining critic and co-author of the article. "There are still plenty of spots in Chicago where you have to wear a tie, but no one is opening them right now. Anytime you can eat thoughtful food in a casual environment, that seems like a good sign somehow."

This month's issue also features The Diva's New Direction, a look at Ikram Goldman's fashionable journey from dressing Michelle Obama to opening a new 16,000-square-foot megaboutique.  

Elsewhere in the May issue of Chicago:

• Business – Howard Tullman, Chicago's hardest-working serial entrepreneur—who remade Kendall College and gave Rahm Emanuel a place to call home—is busy creating a digital-arts alternative to the four-year college degree.  
• Fashion – Summer's must-have trends, top sunscreens, and favorite perfumes. Plus, sizzling swimwear and long looks—floor-skimming pants, dresses, and skirts.
• Culture – Playwright Sarah Ruhl is back at the Goodman Theatre with the world premiere of Stage Kiss, a comedy exploring love and the line between fantasy and reality.

About Chicago magazine

Chicago magazine is the largest monthly city magazine in the country, with a circulation of more than 150,000. In addition, the company publishes Chicago Home + Garden magazine. Chicago magazine has been honored with many awards, including, in 2004, the most prestigious—the Ellie award for General Excellence in its circulation category, bestowed by the American Society of Magazine Editors.

SOURCE Chicago magazine