Food & Wine Named Chicago Eatery Best of 2026
John's Food & Wine in Lincoln Park earned the honor after notable success with its unique hospitality model.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Food and Drink
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Food & Wine announced in early September 2026 that John's Food & Wine is its Restaurant of the Year. The Chicago establishment was founded in 2024 by Adam McFarland and Tom Rogers.
Why it matters
The owners launched the business with a specific focus on long-term employee retention and career development. Their approach has drawn national attention for its departure from traditional tipping systems.
The restaurant maintains an automatic 20 percent hospitality fee and ensures non-management staff earn at least $25 an hour. This rate significantly exceeds the $12.96 per hour Chicago minimum wage for tipped employees.
The players
John's Food & Wine
This Chicago-based restaurant in the Lincoln Park neighborhood was founded in 2024 and operates without traditional tipping.
Food & Wine
This national culinary magazine identifies top trends and dining destinations annually through its expert editorial staff.
Adam McFarland
He is a co-founder of John's Food & Wine who established the business with a focus on employee career growth.
Tom Rogers
As a co-founder of the restaurant, he helped implement the hospitality-focused business model used by the establishment.
The details
Operating in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, the restaurant relies on a 14-day advance booking window that has seen massive demand. The model replaces standard tipping with a mandatory hospitality charge to fund higher wages for all non-management staff.
Timeline
John's Food & Wine was founded in 2024.
Nearly 700 reservations were placed on September 2, 2026.
Food & Wine announced the award in early September 2026.
The publication's October issue reached newsstands on September 18, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
John's Food & Wine represents the growing trend of high-end establishments moving toward service-charge-based compensation to stabilize kitchen and floor staff wages. This business model marks a distinct shift away from the legacy tipping systems that have historically defined the dining industry.
Patrons should anticipate heightened difficulty securing tables as reservation demand increases following the award announcement. Interested diners must plan around the 14-day advance booking window to ensure availability.
The takeaway
The success of this non-tipping model highlights a viable path for improving staff retention in the competitive restaurant sector. Diners looking to support similar businesses should check for automatic service fees on their final checks.
Further reading
For more on the local culinary scene, see Food and Drink.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Travel + Leisure.
Live Poll
Do you prefer restaurants that use automatic service charges over traditional tipping models?
