Amanda Topper

Amanda Topper is a food and drink writer born and raised in Chicago. She has written about all things food, drink and dining for more than 15 years for publications including Thrillist and InsideHook. She is also the founder and writer for The Ghost Guest, a dining blog she started in 2009 where she shares unbiased restaurant reviews from the U.S. and beyond. You can also find her sharing her favorite places to dine around town on her popular Instagram account (@amandatopper). Amanda also works full time in the market research industry, helping food and drink and restaurant brands better understand their consumers and stay on top of the latest industry trends. Her insights have appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Her interests include al fresco dining, food tourism, wine education and the pursuit of the best doughnuts and almond croissants in existence.

All Articles From Amanda Topper

Table Stakes: July

The 7 best restaurants that opened their doors this month

The Book of Sandwich: Steak

7 Chicago steak sandwiches that kick ass, take napkins

Table Stakes: June

The 8 best restaurants that opened their doors this month

9 At-Home Eats Made by Your Favorite Chicago Chefs

From Bloody Mary mix to beef butter to ‘enhanced’ chocolates

Table Stakes: May

The 6 best new restaurants that opened their doors this month

5 Outrageously Expensive Chicago Dishes Worth Splurging On

The hell’s on a $53 burger?

Dinner Plan: Meet Chicago’s First Dedicated Darts Bar

Dinner Plan: Meet Chicago’s First Dedicated Darts Bar

Call it adult ‘game’ night

A Definitive Ranking of 7 (Mostly Mild) Chicago-Style Giardinieras

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the tangiest of them all?

The 7 Best Gourmet Hot Dogs in Chicago

Your standard Chicago-style franks, these are not

The Bucket List: 7 Large-Format Cocktails to Share Before Summer’s End

The Bucket List: 7 Large-Format Cocktails to Share Before Summer’s End

You’ve got friends, we’ve got cocktails

Table Stakes: May

The best Chicago bar and restaurant openings of the past month

The Hungry Chef’s Guide to Chicago’s Best Cheap Eats

15 chefs dish on their favorite places to dine on a budget

Nine Outstanding Hotel Bars Even Locals Should Know

Room key not required

Table Stakes: March

The best Chicago bar and restaurant openings of the past month