Young Y.

Cariño is definitely a fav for me now! I really enjoyed both the taste and the presentation aspects of the dishes. Some ones I really liked: Aguachile, Ravioli, Bluefin Tuna, Tostada, Black Cod. Every savory dish was great, none were a miss for me :). Ravioli gave very traditional rich black truffle taste. I didn't sit Chef's counter, but I could see chef Fenton hard at work with his team and serving the chef's counter guests! I also really liked the ambiance, and the music playing. I would definitely return! I was super lucky to be able to snag a reservation 2 days in advanced! Everytime I check Tock, most reservations are sold out!

Nick P.

I came here to celebrate my birthday with my girlfriend and friends. The restaurant is on the smaller side. We took an Uber but you can easily get here with the CTA. You might have to use Spot Hero to find parking. The tasting menu is $200 per person. They also have a taco omakase for $125 per person. We did the Michelin star tasting menu. Service from start to finish was amazing and attentive. All of the staff was super friendly and helpful. I'm sure many people have gone through every course but I'm not going to do that. This is my second Latin American inspired tasting menu and I really loved every course. I didn't find anything that was super salty or overpowering. I really enjoyed the aesthetics of the food, there is a reason this is a personal favorite of many avid Michelin star foodies.

Michael C.

Amazing experience. The Chef's Counter gives you direct views of how intense each dish preparation is, as well as a chance to have brief interactions with Chef Fenton as he creates his works of art, both visually and gastronomically. We had 14 dishes, each served in coordination to the counter followed by a detailed description from the Chef.

Stewart L.

This was my second Michelin-starred experience during my latest visit to Chicago; Oriole was the first. Located in Uptown (that's a few L stops past Wrigley Field), this unassuming little jewel box underneath the L tracks serves a Latin American tasting menu with much complexity and originality. Executive chef/owner Norman Fenton has an impressive culinary resume and spends a lot of time in Mexico, where he met his wife, where his children were born, and where he has a restaurant in Tulum. Carino's dining room hot spot is the 7-seat chef's counter facing the kitchen. There are also about 4-6 tables. The counter tasting menu has one extra course vs. the table tasting menu. It seems there are 3 reservation times for the tables, while the chef's counter has one seating each night. Afterwards at the counter for 4 nights a week there is a taco omakase experience that I would have to stay up well past my bedtime to try (a definite possibility). Carino's menu is full of dishes that sound familiar---chips and salsa, chicharron michelada, aguachile, ravioli, taco, tostada, quesadilla---but they definitely are not! Each dish has many ingredients, often unique, and many steps in preparation. The menu probably changes slightly every so often, so I won't list what I had. I'd say my favourite plates were the ravioli with huitlacoche (a new taste for me) and corn (most likely to be a menu mainstay), the chicken liver taco, lamb tartare tostada, and the lamb with beets. Carino offers a couple of wine pairings as well as a spirit-free pairing, which is what I had. The drinks were as complex as the food. There's also a cocktail menu. Chef Fenton is not an Executive Chef who merely supervises; he's definitely hands-on and clearly the eye of the storm in the kitchen, whirling about with intent and yet still purposefully conversing with counter guests. The choreography of the entire staff was quite impressive; service was of course excellent. Overall a wonderful discovery and experience. It's nice when Michelin recognizes smaller-scale places that aren't necessarily French or Japanese, but have a purpose, plan and vision that are worthy of accolades.

Kendra M.

My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025! Restaurant: 39/50 Month tried: July Favorite dish: Literally everything, the Aguachile and the corn Ravioli if I have to choose Cariño is undoubtably my favorite new restaurant that I tried in 2025. The counter experience, the food, the chef, the drinks...all just an incredible experience. This is one of those gems that makes me proud to be a Chicagoan and boast our amazing culinary scene. We came in July during a promotional partnership that Carino was doing with Chase. Not sure if it was just because of that special event, but the experience was so intimate. We were sat at the counter and could see all the food being prepared. The chef himself was working just as hard as the other cooks and obviously cares very deeply about his craft. We loved chatting with him and seeing him work. The food was out of this world. The ability to take such a simple thing like chips and salsa or corn ravioli and make it unique and fun was so impressive. The 'chips and salsa' was basically one bite on a spoon of a salsa verde bubble, with crunchy chip pieces on top. The corn ravioli was a mystery dish covered in foam that revealed decadent corn and truffle beneath. We had a taco trio of the most different and unique tacos ever, from chicken liver to a crab taco actually shaped like a crab. The salmon aguachile sauce was so good my husband may have secretly licked the plate. Even the desserts were so thoughtful, like a chocolate shaped like the Teotihuacan pyramids. And, thanks to Chase, they even sent us home with a mocktail and a bottle of salsa. We were rooting for Carino to get a second Michelin star this cycle, because it was on-par or above the other 2-star restaurants we had visited this year. I still forsee that in their future. Until then, you can bet I'm saving my pennies to return ASAP. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Carino for a meal we still talk about.

Carly M.

We went for our anniversary because we like the name and we like Mexican food so wanted to give it a try. It was very cute inside super small. We were greeted right away. I ordered the wine flight pairing, and my husband ordered a couple drinks. The first course really cool. It was a play on chips and salsa and then directly after that we had a very large pork rind. That was awesome and it was Fun to eat. All of the food that we tried was very unique and delicious. One of our favorite courses was the taco flight. The lamb tartare taco was awesome. If you are open to trying new things that are unique and really good I would highly recommend giving this place a try. There is street parking. It's a little hard to find but other than that it was a really great experience.

Sirena L.

Wow. Cariño blew me away! The restaurant is quite unassuming from the outside. The interior is rather small, with a few tables and the chef's counter facing the kitchen. The intimate nature of the restaurant is an asset. We did the tasting menu and the service was absolutely spot on - they were so attentive and so on top of removing plates as you finished each course and replacing your silverware. There was hardly any wait between courses. You could also really see the kitchen staff working their butts off getting each dish out and presented beautifully. The food of course was amazing. I couldn't possibly pick a favorite dish. Each one had great textures and flavors, and I loved the concept of so many of them. There were some flavor combinations I've never experienced before, and even though they aren't necessarily all something I would want over and over again, just experiencing those flavors was kind of mind-blowing! They are able to accommodate some dietary restrictions such as vegetarian dishes, which was what I got, and they did a great job with them! Not everywhere makes the vegetarian version of dishes seem as worthwhile as the regular menu, but I didn't feel like I missed out on anything here. I was also incredibly stuffed at the end of the night. I wouldn't hesitate to come back if given the opportunity! They also do a taco omakase, which sounds like such a fun concept. Thank you to everyone at Cariño for an amazing experience!

Scott V.

Incredible is the best way to describe our Taco Omakase experience at Cariño in Uptown. My husband made reservations for us far in advance of our visit (on the day they opened a new set of dates/times) but made it a surprise for me. We live several blocks away from the restaurant, so as soon as we started walking there, I guessed exactly what we were doing. Cariño is in a small storefront on Broadway, just south of Leland. You'd almost miss it if you did not know it was there. Once inside, it's an intimate and inviting place to be. Their Taco Omakasa is $125 per person (not including service charges and tip) and includes two cocktails/mocktails and eight-courses (although it seemed like more). During the service, they also offer an optional course at an extra charge. Honestly, this was one of the best meals that I ever had. Guests are seated in front of the compact kitchen where you watch Chef Fenton and his team of sous chefs work their magic with precision and in a symphony of motion. For the first course, they served an oyster prepared with an almost endless list of ingredients. It was delicious--truly the best oyster dish that I have ever had. Each following dish meticulously prepared and beautifully presented in synchronized service. There were tacos, tortas, and several dessert courses. Each one unique and delicious. The Cariño team works hard to create the very best dining experience possible. Even though $125 sounds like a high price, for the quality, quantity, and presentation, their Taco Omakasa is a fine-dining bargain...AND the price includes two wonderful cocktails or mocktails. When guests are seated, they present their menu of available drinks. However, because the meal is based on ingredients used for their earlier dining service, they do not present a food menu. Although Chef Fenton notes all the ingredients before serving each course, it's difficult to remember everything that was served. There was only one downside to our experience--and it had nothing to do with the restaurant or the Cariño team. There was a group of four guests who had tried to cancel their reservation because they had been partying all day long. Not surprisingly, Cariño does not allow a last-minute cancellation without having to pay for the meal. When the courses were presented, they seemed to gobble down the food like hungry dogs--not savoring the presentation or the experience--interrupting the pacing of the service. They also did not interact with us or any of the other guests. I cannot speak more highly of Cariño. It's truly one of the best restaurants in Chicago.

This is really a gem, with fantastic and creative food. We got in off a wait list when visiting Chicago from out of town. My expectations were high, and not disappointed. Price was reasonable for this level of food. Tiny place, and this adds to the charm.

Shari B.

Very small, dark and intimate dining room. The chef was super friendly and was chatting with the guests at counter all evening. I wish I chose the counter seats since I love watching the process of plating. We had a very enjoyable and memorable dinner. The dishes were beautifully presented and the flavors were great. I haven't had a tasting menu experience in a long time where I actually enjoyed almost every course. I definitely recommend this place if you are into tasting menus!

Bianca P.

We went to Cariño tonight for their late-night taco omakase and I couldn't recommend it more. The restaurant itself only seats 20, but the omakase is 6. The taco tasting was tons of fun and felt really unique and personal. They started us with a beautiful oyster before moving into the rest of the courses which included numerous tacos along with a few other goodies. The service was perfect and the vibes were immaculate. We can't wait to come back.

Christina D.

The food was amazing! This is my first Michelin star tasting menu experience and it was so much fun and so exciting. The menu was interesting and really good. The flavors were really well balanced. The spice level was just enough even my fiancé who usually hates spice thought it really added to it. The service was amazing. They were so informative and attentive. It definitely feels like a more casual experience even though it is a tasting menu you can end up feeling really comfortable. I also had the wine pairing and I enjoyed all of the selection but the first was my favorite. One of the most memorable dining experiences I've ever had. Glad I got to enjoy it.