In a city of more than 6,000 restaurants, new joints pop up as frequently as champagne bottle corks on a New Year's Eve. But which ones are really worth celebrating? Searching for answers, Chicago magazine, the largest city monthly in the country, scoured the city and suburbs for the area's finest new eateries. The May issue hits newsstands on Thursday.


"Our city is a dining mecca -- a center for great and innovative restaurants -- and a new roster of special places opens each year," said Richard Babcock, Chicago's editor. "Our May issue shows you why our selection of 21 new restaurants represent the best of the rookie class. These are some of the top places to eat now."


Chicago magazine's list of best new restaurants includes: Aigre Doux, Blu Coral, Chalkboard, Chiyo, DeLaCosta, Erba, Ginger Asian Bistro, Habana Libre, Koda, Marigold, Mulan, Niche, Osteria Di Tramonto, Sage Grille, Sam & Harry's, Sequel, Sol De Mexico, Tay Do, Tepatulco, Tramonto's Steak & Seafood, Xel-Ha.


Elsewhere in the May issue of Chicago:

-- Skokie's Big Idea: Trying to wake its sleepy town center, the Village of Skokie has bypassed upscale retail in favor of luring science and technology companies. But will the suburb's $750-million plan pay off?

-- Inside Mr. Interior: Nate Berkus has parlayed a taste for simple elegance (and a blessing from Oprah) into a booming design business, and he's done it without losing his sunny charm.

-- Bull Buster: A profane, old-school disciplinarian, Scott Skiles was the perfect coach to mold the Chicago Bulls into a hustling, winning team. But is he the right man to lead them all the way to a championship?