Flora Fauna, which opened in June, is one of Chicago’s most exciting new restaurants. With a focus on adventurous eats, this West Illinois Street establishment is a must-visit for anyone looking for a fun dining experience. 

The theme of this restaurant is “Travel to Table.” That means sourcing ingredients, local and otherwise, to create exciting dishes inspired by owners Jonathan Meyer and Liz Pearce’s experience abroad. It’s a concept that comes off beautifully, represented by small bites like crispy fried mushrooms with pineapple rum  mustard, and lamb tartare with daikon and citrus-cured egg yolk. Larger plates are equally appealing, with options like 16-ounce bone-in prime cowgirl ribeye served with roasted cactus escabeche and jerk pork shank fried rice.

That same level of creativity is brought to the drinks menu. The wine list spans the globe, while the beer list focuses on domestic craft options. Small-batch sake is also available, but the star of the show is the cocktail list. If the Midori celery sour slushy doesn’t appeal to you, then the build-your-own cocktail definitely will. Choose from five different “bases” and add your choice of five different “flavors” to create a drink that’s unique to you.