Mahari

Chicago

"Mahari brings not just the vibrant cuisines of the African diaspora to Chicago, but also chefs blazing their own paths," said Louisa Kung Liu Chu in the Chicago Tribune . Rahim Muhammad and his mother co-own the Hyde Park restaurant, whose dining room, with its woven-grass ceiling, creates "an escape from the everyday." Mahari's strong communal vibe starts in the kitchen, where cooks from across the Caribbean, West Africa, and the American South contribute to a menu overseen by Muhammad. His Louisiana upbringing and Le Cordon Bleu training shine through in a "spectacular" prawn and polenta dish and "stunning" salmon calas—a savory twist on New Orleans' breakfast rice cakes. A Haitian chef creates the pikliz, a peppery condiment, used for the popular lamb burger while a

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