Spring is in the Air

Spring is in the air and it's time to clean out more than just your closet--everyone's diet could use a little rejuvenation as well. That's why fine restaurants all over Chicago now cater to the health-conscious--and we're not just talking tofu. From low-carb menus to vegan fine dining, these places are Chicago foodie favorites when it comes to eating right. Protein dieters will think they've died and gone to heaven at Fogo de Chao, a sophisticated South American restaurant where servers dressed as Brazilian gauchos make the rounds with giant skewers of slow-roasted meat. From meltingly tender filet and garlicky picanha to smoky pork sausages and lamb chops, carnivores can dig into 15 select cuts at this all-you-can-eat establishment, along with diet-busting sides like creamy mashed potatoes, puffy cheese bread and sweet fried bananas. You control the flow of food with a colored disk on your table: Flip it to red and you'll be left to eat in peace; go to green, and the stuff just keeps coming. Be sure to visit the more than 30-item salas bar, laden with marinated artichoke hears, fat stalks of asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes and an assortment of tempting prepared salads. Beside all that food, the restaurant boasts friendly, fastidious servers and a comfortable decor of stone walls, colorful murals and dark wood accents--classy touches that draw crowds of business diners and tourists every day for lunch (served during the week) and dinner nightly.