Two Illinois Restaurants Named Among America’s Best New

The Reality of Restaurant Success Rates

With the rate at which restaurants fail, it's always great to see a handful that manage to weather the storm of the first year.

While tumultuous, only 17% of restaurants fail in year one, but only 51% make it past year five, according to a new study on owner.com.

All that is to say that when you get wins in the restaurant industry, you should take them because tomorrow is not guaranteed in that business.

READ MORE: Illinois Pizza Menu from 1984 Will Make You Want a Time Machine

Celebrating Exceptional Dining: Esquire's Best New Restaurants

That's why I love lists like the one Esquire put out just a few days ago, highlighting The Best New Restaurants in America for 2025.

The first thing I do is check whether a local place or one nearby was called out. Lucky for me, Chicago is right down the road and Esquire nary misses a chance to throw the Windy City some love.

Must-Try Deliciousness at Mirra

They didn't just mention one restaurant, but two, and both sound like must-try restaurants: Mirra, with a dish on the menu so good and packed with flavor; Esquire says, "One bite spans the globe."

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Google says Mirra has 4.6 out of 5 and is located at 1954 West Armitage Avenue.

READ MORE: Only Two of America’s Best Pizza Places Are in Illinois

Pizz'amici: A Pizza Lover's Paradise

The other is a pizza joint, and who doesn't love pizza? Pizz'amici is so good, "there is usually a line out the door." Esquire also says the crusts are "thin yet tensile" and the sauce is "zingy yet sweet."

Overall, Pizz'amici sounds like a pizza lover's dream, and Google reviews largely agree, giving it a 4.5 out of 5. The restaurant is located at 1215 West Grand Avenue.

Are there any other brand-new restaurants that should be called the best in Illinois? Let us know.