2020 promises the return of a team who earned three Michelin stars, a long-dead French icon’s resurrection, and much more

The return of a decorated fine dining chef, the resurrection of a French favorite thanks to a historic collaboration, and a restaurant with robotic servers will provide Chicago’s dining scene with plenty of diverse options in 2020. There’s also tons of star power thanks to a Top Chef champ opening his first restaurant, Robert De Niro finally opening the Nobu location in Chicago, and José Andrés’s full-service Chicago arrival. Dig in below to Eater Chicago’s most anticipated restaurants of the year.

This list is sorted alphabetically.

Ambria

Address: 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, Lincoln Park

Key Players: Alinea Group, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

A historic collaboration between two of Chicago’s most successful restaurant groups plans to resurrect a long-dead French icon in 2020. Principals of the Alinea Group and Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises are implementing “major renovations” inside the historic Belden-Stratford building in Lincoln Park to turn part of it into Ambria 2020, a reboot of the French classic that closed in 2007 after a 27-year run. Expect legendary chef Grant Achatz to “moderniz[e] the very best classical dishes and ingredients” inside a space that will be “all new, modern, and stunning” with “nods to the original.” It’s currently slated to open around mid-year.

Seven people, the principals of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises and the Alinea Group, pose standing against a blue wall.
A historic collaboration between the Alinea Group and Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises plan to resurrect Ambria in 2020.
 Lettuce Entertain You [Official Photo]