Chicago business owners are understanding how supporting the local food economy can have a positive impact on not only their business, but their community too!  If you are looking to support a business that is putting effort toward using locally produced ingredients, check out the list of restaurants and grocery providers below.

Of course, please share with us your experiences and recommendations on our forum or by contacting us.

RESTAURANTS

312 Chicago
136 N. LaSalle Street

This downtown Italian restaurant prides itself on classic dishes that showcase the freshest local ingredients.  312 Chicago support local farms like Nichols and Slagel Family Farms.

Big Bowl
6 E. Cedar and 60 E. Ohio

Just because this restaurant is part of the Lettuce Entertain You empire, doesn’t mean they don’t like to keep it local when they can!  Season permitting, Big Bowl procures their produce from Farmer’s Market like The Green City Market.

Birchwood Kitchen
2211 W. North Ave.

This Bucktown favorite is surely to have something for everyone.  Offering tasty menu items with ingredients from  Mint Creek Farms and Zingermans Creamery, just to name a couple.

Bistro Champagne
4518 N Lincoln Ave

Offers a seasonally changing menu based on the best ingredients that can be found. They seek products from local organic farmers throughout the Midwestern growing season and is committed to the use of organic food products and strongly supports the sustainable, low impact agriculture movement.

The Brown Trout
4111 N. Lincoln Ave.

Head North on Lincoln for a casual, fine dining experience.  The Brown Trout proudly grows their own herbs on the buildings rooftop and gets some of their grass fed meat from Slagel Family Farm.

Carnivale
702 W. Fulton Market

This 35,000 sq. foot West Loop hotspot serves authentic Nuevo Latin cuisine and boasts a rooftop garden and supports The Green City Market, Becker Lane Organic Farm and Kinnikinnick Farm.

Chicago Diner
3411 North Halsted Street

Meat free since ‘83, The Chicago Diner offers an all vegetarian and mostly vegan menu with a selection of Chicago Diner vegan baked goods are now featured at participating Whole Foods Markets in Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Missouri, Michigan & Minnesota.

Green Zebra
1460 West Chicago Avenue

If you’re looking for a contemporary vegetarian experience, this West Town restaurant has it.  This small plates restaurant is a proud patron of Werp and Spence Farms.

Lula Cafe
2537 North Kedzie Boulevard

If you find yourself in Logan Square, make time to eat at Lula Cafe.  Their seasonal organic menu is interesting and delicious, getting their ingredients locally from Gunthorp Farm, Genesis Growers and Mint Creek Farm, to name a few.

Mado
1647 North Milwaukee Avenue

Not far from the six corners of North/Milwaukee/Damen, this restaurant features Mediterranean flavors and Midwestern farmers.   BYOB and enjoy plates prepared with ingredients from Slagel Family Farm, Spence Farm and Green Acres.

North Pond Restaurant
2610 North Cannon Drive

Situated within the grounds of Lincoln Park, at the edge of a pond overlooking Chicago’s dramatic skyline, North Pond can easily claim the city’s loveliest setting.  They are proud to work with producers like Genesis Growers, Prairie Fruit Farms and La Quercia.

Sepia
123 W. Jefferson Street

Sepia’s seasonal menu are rooted in tradition, highlighting the best of the season, favoring local artisan growers like Slagel Family Farms and Stone Circle Farm, and sustainable practices.

Soprafinna MarketCaffe
111 East Wacker Dr.
200 E. Randolph St.
10 North Dearborn St.
175 West Jackson Blvd.
222 West Adams St.

This cafe is certified green by the Green Restaurant Co-op. In order to achieve this Guaranteed Green status, a restaurant must achieve standards in the areas of sustainable purchasing for food, cleaning products, food serviceware and furnishings, as well as management of energy, water, waste and air quality.

Spiaggia
980 North Michigan Avenue

Head to the Magnificent Mile to experience fine Italian dining.  Spiaggia is proud to get some of their local ingredients from The Green City Market and Kinnikinnick Farm.

The Great Taste Cafe
355 East Grand Avenue

The Great Taste Cafe is an exciting new restaurant from G-Free-V, the people who brought The Balanced Kitchen.  Experience fresh local organic food (from farms like Henry’s Farm) in a beautiful downtown setting.

Uncommon Ground
1401 West Devon Avenue
1214 West Grace Street

Both locations are Guaranteed Green by the Chicago Green Restaurant Co-op. Their Devon location boasts a certified organic rooftop farm. The 2500 square foot deck (654 square feet of soil) was made from post-consumer recycled materials.

Union Pizzaria
1245 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL

This Evanston pizzaria proudly uses locally grown & organic ingredients whenever they are available.  Some of the local growers they support are Seedling Enterprises and Kinnikinnick Farm.

Vie Restaurant
4471 Lawn Ave, Western Springs, IL

This suburban restaurant prides itself on it’s Seasonal, Contemporary American Cuisine.  The restaurant has direct relationships with farms in the tri-state area including Dietzler Farms and Werp Farms.

GROCERS

The Green Grocer
1402 W Grand Ave

Chances are if you walk into this little grocery store, you’ll get a warm greeting by the owner, Cassie Green.  Pop in to pick up some produce or wine and spirits and even get a discount for bringing in your own bag.

Dill Pickle Co-op

3039 West Fullerton Avenue

This community owned grocery store is committed to fresh, local, and organic food is met with affordability in mind.

Chicago French Market
131 N. Clinton Avenue

Chicago finally has its first and only year-round, indoor marketplace providing you with permanent, convenient and personal access to local artisans and purveyors.

New Leaf Natural Grocery Store
1261 West Loyola Avenue

This Loyola grocery store provides customers with local and organic products and now delivers to Pilsen, Wicker Park, Logan Square, Ukrainian Village and the South Loop.

True Nature Foods
6034 North Broadway

This organic community market opened in 1982 and strives to be a trusted source of natural foods and products.

Edible Alchemy Foods Co-op
Multiple pick up locations around the city.

Edible Alchemy’s produce shares are assembled to fill your kitchen with fruits and veggies for about 2 weeks for 2 vegetable lovers cooking 3-5 meals a week.