Lettuce Wrapped: Our Favorite Dishes & Drinks of the Year
Your 2025 Dining Hit List
If there was a Spotify Wrapped recapping the number of dishes and drinks served at Lettuce restaurants in 2025, we’re pretty sure it would break the algorithm, as there’s too many to count! While it’s impossible to showcase all of the favorites from this past year at Lettuce, here are a few crave-able standouts, from the deliciously new to the nearly iconic, that made 2025 a year to remember.
Crying Tiger Dessert at Crying Tiger
Crying Tiger roared onto the Chicago dining scene in October and this 3D dessert created by Lettuce Pastry Chef Juan Gutierrez has been a fierce presence on social media feeds ever since! The perfect way to end a culinary adventure through Southeast Asia presented by acclaimed Chef Partner Thai Dang—this one-of-a-kind dessert features a 3D-printed chocolate mold encasing a wild Thai banana pie, served with a decadent Foster sauce.
Make a reservation at Crying Tiger
Dirty Martini at Gus’ Sip & Dip
Martinis continued to dominate the cocktail conversation this year, but none has been more revered than Gus’s Sip & Dip‘s freezer door Dirty Martini. Between helping Sip & Dip land on Bon Appetit magazine’s list of the “9 Best New Bars of 2025,” to making its own star turn in the The New York Times, this elegant drink has been the talk of the town since the spot for classic cocktails and timeless tavern-style fare opened on New Year’s Eve.
Gus’ Sip & Dip is walk-in only, first-come, first-served
Bluefin Tuna Experience at Miru
One of the most in-demand seats at any Lettuce restaurant in 2025 has been for Miru’s Bluefin Tuna Experience. Available on Wednesday evenings from September – May at The St. Regis Chicago’s modern Japanese restaurant’s eight-seat sushi bar, guests delight in a multi-course menu that guides them through the unique nuances of Bluefin, from lean to fatty, thoughtfully paired with Japanese ingredients to enhance every bite, concluding with the renowned Miru-Ishi dessert, and with wine, sake and non-alcoholic beverage pairings available for an additional cost. Pricing is $150 per person, plus tax and service fee, not including beverage pairings. There are two seatings available each evening and reservations open up 42 days in advance, and we recommend booking early…this one’s a hot seat!
Make a reservation at Miru
Vesper Crudité Martini at Mon Ami Gabi – Bethesda
Mon Ami Gabi – Bethesda reopened on Bethesda Row in April, revealing an all-new look, a revamped menu, and an enticing new Chilled Martini Program, featuring a vodka-based Dirty Martini, a gin-forward Classique Martini and the intriguing Vesper Crudite Martini, made with Hendricks’ Gin, crudité-infused Ketel One, and Lillet Blanc. Plus, there’s an unbeatable new Happy Hour, Monday – Friday from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM in the French bistro’s gorgeous new wrap-around bar area only, where you can some exclusive new bar snacks such as Taverne-Style Croque Monsieur and French Onion Dip, as well as specially priced drinks. Oui, oui.
Make a reservation at Mon Ami Gabi – Bethesda
Smoked Cheddar Labneh at Aba – Nashville
Lettuce opened its first-ever location in Tennessee in September with Aba – Nashville, (followed by Sushi-san – Nashville in November), and we’ve enjoyed a warm welcome to Music City! One of the dishes exclusive to the location has been bringing the heat: Smoked Cheddar Labneh. This colorful starter spread is just one of many delicious mezze options that await at the 12,000-square-foot Mediterranean oasis, recently opened in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood.
Make a reservation at Aba – Nashville
The New Food Menu at Three Dots and a Dash
You know and love the tasty tropical cocktails at Three Dots and a Dash in River North but this year, Crying Tiger’s Chef Thai Dang and Lettuce Culinary Director Chef Max Robbins also teamed up to devise an all-new, international street food-inspired menu that has been a game changer. Come for the 1944 Mai Tai, stay for the Loaded Luau Cheese Fries, Thai Curry Crab Rangoon Dip, New & Improved PuPu Platter, Coconut Sunset Sundae, and more late-night bites!
Make a reservation at Three Dots and a Dash
Dubai Chocolate Cookie at Summer House
Dubai Chocolate was everywhere this year, so of course The Cookie Bar at Summer House made it into an of-the-moment cookie that was a must-have across all locations. Chocolatier and Lettuce Pastry Chef Juan Gutierrez created Summer House’s very own Dubai filling in-house using pistachio cream, toasted kataifi, tahini, and salt, along with European semi-sweet chocolate.
Make a reservation at the Summer House location nearest you | Visit or order online from The Cookie Bar by Summer House
Tableside Beef Tartare at RPM Steak
RPM Steak continues to source the best, and this year, it followed up the debut of its exclusive Japanese wagyu with a range of new menu items featuring Westholme wagyu out of Australia, including the showstopping Tableside Beef Tartare. You’ll be mesmerized as an RPM chef masterfully mixes this decadent beef with a quail egg, a drizzle of oil and shaved black truffle on a spinning plate right at your table, and serves it up to enjoy with house-made chips.
Make a reservation at RPM Steak
Showgirl Spritz at Pizzeria Portofino
The life of a showgirl is not an easy one…but a spritz from Pizzeria Portofino will always make things better! In honor of the new album from the world’s most beloved (or reviled?) pop star, the riverfront restaurant (named one of OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in the U.S. 2025), famous for their innovative spritzes, created the limited-edition Showgirl Spritz, the perfect sip to enjoy while channeling Elizabeth Taylor with “the viewwwwwww of Portofino” on your mind. Though last year’s Portofino Purse continued to reign supreme on the socials, proving that true icons never go out of style. Stop by to sip one with your team.
Make a reservation at Pizzeria Portofino
Chef’s Favorites To-Go at Big Bowl
Big Bowl had a big hit this year with the launch of Chef’s Favorites To-Go, their new family package for carryout and delivery! Perfect for summer picnics, busy weeknights and family gatherings, each package offers a choice of two appetizers, two main dishes and one fried rice or noodle dish from a select list of family-style options and serves four people. Available in Lincolnshire and Schaumburg for $75, plus tax, and in Edina and Ridgedale for $79, plus tax, you can always count on Big Bowl to come to the rescue with a quick, easy and delicious meal!
Explore the Chef’s Favorites To-Go menu from Big Bowl – Lincolnshire
Explore the Chef’s Favorites To-Go menu from Big Bowl – Schaumburg
Explore the Chef’s Favorites To-Go menu from Big Bowl – Edina
Explore the Chef’s Favorites To-Go menu from Big Bowl – Ridgedale
Buffalo Shrimp at Shaw’s Crab House
The iconic Shaw’s Crab House – Chicago marked its 40th anniversary in River North this year, and proving that it can still make headlines four decades in, as the cast of FX’s The Bear promoted Season 3, they unanimously named the seafood institution as among their go-to dining Chicago dining spots, with mentions on Late Night with Seth Meyers, and in GQ, Conde Nast Traveler, Chicago Tribune, Secret Chicago, and many more, with King Crab Legs and the Buffalo Shrimp named among the cast-favorite dishes. Pro tip: Order the Buffalo Shrimp on Shaw’s all-new Happy Hour menu, which just made its triumphant return after a multi-year hiatus! View the Happy Hour menu at Shaw’s Crab House – Chicag0.
Make a reservation at Shaw’s Crab House – Chicago
Discover more Happy Hour deals near you.
Banana Bread Cold Brew at Beatrix
Banana bread, but make it a latte! Beatrix helped trailblaze the specialty milk trend in Chicago this year by creating three of their very own house-made flavored milks: Banana Milk, Strawberry Milk and Root Beer Milk. From there, the barista team set about creating unique blended coffee drinks, such as the Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha, Iced Root Beer Chai Latte, Iced Strawberry Matcha, and one that everyone went, well…bananas for—Banana Bread Cold Brew! The mix of Beatrix’s house-made banana milk, hazelnut, cinnamon and Beatrix Coffee Roasters Cold Brew is the best way to start your day (or enjoy as an afternoon treat).
Make a reservation at the Beatrix location nearest you
Maki Rolls at RPM Seafood
RPM Seafood added four exclusive new maki to its menu AND introduced Happy Hour, during which you can enjoy some of these delectable rolls, such as the Spicy Ebi Shrimp and Bluefin Tuna & Avocado, at a special price! Since debuting in January, the bar at the riverfront seafood favorite has become the place to be in River North Monday – Friday from 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM. Along with maki, sip RPM signature cocktails like the Crystal Paloma and seasonal Old Fashioned, select wines, and more bites for just $10, plus more deals on more favorites like RPM Pearl Oysters, Dover Sole Fish & Chips, Prime Steakburger and RPM Golden Kaluga Caviar Service.
Make a reservation at RPM Seafood
Kids’ Pizza-Making at Summer House – Las Vegas
Las Vegas’ littlest chefs got a new way to flex their culinary chops this year with Kids’ Pizza-Making at Summer House – Las Vegas! Launched this summer, children 12 and under have been enjoying creating their own delicious pizzas, for $9.95 per person, plus tax. Kids can dive into the fun of shaping their pizza dough with a sprinkle of flour, spread with their choice of red or white sauce, then sprinkle it with cheese and their favorite toppings. Once the pizzas are ready, the Summer House team bakes them to perfection and delivers them back to the table for a delightful dinner that’s fun for the whole family.
Make a reservation at Summer House – Las Vegas
The Lincoln Park Lunch at Sushi-san – Lincoln Park
In 2024, you helped us welcome Sushi-san to the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago. In 2025, the Lincoln Park location introduced a new fan favorite: The Lincoln Park Lunch, available daily from 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM for just $38 per person, plus tax (gratuity not included). This full spread of San favorites includes: Roasted Edamame, Miso Soup, Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, Hamachi Ponzu Signature Sashimi, Akami Nigiri, Salmon Nigiri, Negi Hamachi Nigiri and an Umami Scallop Handroll. It’s an epic amount of food at a tremendous value, so check it out today! Truly one of those #IYKYK Lettuce experiences.
Make a reservation at Sushi-san – Lincoln Park
Golden Fluffy Pancake at Bub City
Bub City‘s new weekend brunch menu sauntered onto the scene earlier this year with the thickest, most perfect pancake you’ll ever taste. Chef Max Robbins overhauled the entire brunch menu at Bub City – River North and Bub City – Rosemont, which features sweet and savory signatures such as the Day Breaker Burrito, Cinnamon Sticky Buns, Breakfast Tostadas, and more, along with this new crowd-pleasing favorite.
Make a reservation at Bub City – River North | Make a reservation at Bub City – Rosemont
Decker’s Sourdough Bagels Pop-Up by Wildfire Restaurants
It didn’t take long for Decker’s Sourdough Bagels, born in the kitchens of Wildfire, which marked its 30th anniversary in 2025, to find a huge fan following with it’s hand-rolled artisan sourdough bagels and house-made whipped cream cheese spreads. In fact, Decker’s very first pop-up in October at Summer House in Lincoln Park sold out within hours, with subsequent pop-ups selling out pre-orders faster than founder and head bagel-maker Chef Joe Decker could say “bagel sandwich.” Available for carryout only by the single, half-dozen and dozen, and via walk-in at rotating locations (follow on Instagram for the latest updates), while supplies last.
View the menu at Decker’s Sourdough Bagels
Monday Lasagne Verde at Tre Dita
Available exclusively on Monday nights, Tre Dita‘s Lasagna Verde is a centuries-old recipe passed down to Chef Evan Funke by his mentor, Alessandra Spisni. Made with rich ragù vecchia, creamy besciamella, and aged Parmigiano Reggiano, it’s made us actually look forward to Mondays in 2025!
Make a reservation at Tre Dita in the St. Regis Chicago
Single-Vineyard Wines at RPM Restaurants
This year, RPM Restaurants began pouring its debut collection of three expertly blended single-vineyard wines—52W Cabernet Sauvignon, Cèpe d’Été Chardonnay and Three Kings Pinot Noir—available exclusively at RPM Italian (Chicago, D.C. and Las Vegas), RPM Steak and RPM Seafood, created from grapes grown in California vineyards dedicated exclusively to RPM. A collaboration years in the making, the RPM wine team, led by Beverage Partner Richard Hanauer and RPM Steak Wine Director Brennan Sopko, worked hand-in-hand with acclaimed California Central Coast winemaker Andrew Jones of Field Recordings, to bring these bottles from vine to table. We’ll raise a glass to that!
Make a reservation at the RPM Restaurants location nearest you
Cookie Shakes at The Cookie Bar by Summer House
Summer House’s beloved oversized cookies got their very own dedicated space in Streeterville this fall with the opening of The Cookie Bar by Summer House! Exclusive to this first-ever freestanding location? Coffee, foam foam toppers, soft-serve, sundaes, shakes and…wait for it…Cookie Shakes. That’s right, you can get any flavor Summer House cookie blended with soft-serve into a shake. If that’s not worthy of a place on this list, nothing is.
View the menu and place an online order from The Cookie Bar by Summer House
Frozen ‘Sconnie at L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge
L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge is beloved for its menu of Old Fashioneds, and this summer introduced a brand new one that quickly became a guest favorite: the Frozen ‘Sconnie! This fruit-forward slushie version of a Wisconsin Old Fashioned, made with Korbel brandy, orange and lemon juices, cherry syrup, and angostura bitters, offered the perfect way to stay cool on the patio at the Northwoods supper club-inspired spot in Lincolnwood. This frozen favorite is off the menu for the season, but you can count on its return once we’re on our way to warmer temps!
Make a reservation at L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge
$1 Fro-Yo at Rotisserie Ema
Another frozen delight of this summer: Rotisserie Ema $1 Fro-Yo Fridays returned, with the all-time favorite Frozen Greek Yogurt with olive oil + sea salt for just $1 (plus tax), available every Friday from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Plus, new this summer, for an extra $2 (plus tax), you could add Strawberry-Rhubarb or Candied Pistachios with Crumbled Cinnamon Phyllo toppings. Delish. But wait! There was more: During two special pop-up events on 4th of July and Labor Day? Unlimited toppings for $4.95 (plus tax). We already can’t wait for the first Summer Friday of 2026!
Follow Ema on Instagram to stay in the know on $1 Fro-Yo Fridays 2026
Tavern-Style Pizzas at Saranello’s
Saranello’s in Wheeling rolled out the best new tavern-style pizzas in Chicagoland! Available exclusively for carryout, the buttery, crunchy, cracker-like crust of these hand-rolled pizzas, made in-house daily, launched just in time for the Big Game in February and have become a family staple for busy weeknights, parties and more. The pizzas are available in 12-inch or 16-inch featuring options like Cheese, Sausage, Pepperoni, White Truffle Mushroom and Build-Your-Own. The 12-inch option is also available as a gluten-free option! Order Tavern-Style Pizzas for carryout from Saranello’s.
Make a reservation at Saranello’s
Sunday Spritzes at Ema
Spritzes reigned Sundays at Ema this year, with four exclusive sips that became available all day long! Seasonal selections include the Low-Key Spritz with cinnamon, coconut and lime, Torino Bramble with blackberry and lemon, Scorsa Spritz with maraschino and salers aperitif and Levante Spritz with blood orange and sherry for $15 each, plus tax. Each come topped with chilled prosecco, ideal for sipping alongside Ema’s Mediterranean favorites. What’s not to love?
Make a Sunday reservation at Ema – River North | Make a Sunday reservation at Ema – Glenview
Three-Course Lunch at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab – Las Vegas & D.C.
Last but not least, Joe’s Classic Three-Course Lunch has been delighting guests for years at the Chicago location (which celebrated its 25th anniversary in October!), but fans in Washington, D.C. can now enjoy the special menu, available daily for dine-in only from 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM, for $42.95 per person, plus tax (gratuity not included), and in Las Vegas for dine-in only Monday – Friday from 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM for $46.95 per person, plus tax (gratuity not included). Choose from favorite starters like Ahi Tuna Tartare or Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail. Then, savor main courses including a Colossal Lump Crab Cake or Petite Filet Mignon, and finish with delightful desserts like Key Lime Pie or Peanut Butter Pie. It’s the ultimate power lunch for an incredible price!
View the lunch menu at Joe’s Seafood – Washington, D.C. | Make a lunch reservation at Joe’s Seafood – Washington, D.C.
View the lunch menu at Joe’s Seafood – Las Vegas | Make a lunch reservation at Joe’s Seafood – Las Vegas
Please note the following restrictions for the Gift Card Holiday Promotion:
*Holiday Bonus offer expires December 30, 2025. Holiday Bonus is valid January 2 – April 15. Additional Holiday Bonus restrictions apply. Visit the Lettuce Entertain You Gift Card FAQ page for details. Frequent Diner members can choose to receive either points or Holiday Bonus. Gift Cards are only valid as payment for in-person dining, or as payment for the order subtotal, service fees, and delivery fees for online orders placed directly through Lettuce Entertain You restaurant websites, Lettuce.com or the LettuceEats ® app. Gift cards are not valid on orders placed through a third-party delivery service, including but not limited to Caviar, DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats, or Postmates. Lettuce Gift Cards are accepted for final payments of private parties and catering events up to $1,000 per event, excluding deposits.
