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The Dining Table

Crain's Audio Studio
Chicago
Evanston
Boca
Chicago, United States
Chicago Dining Scene
Burl
Bridgeport, Chicago
Omakase
Kilwin's
The Alston
Oprah Winfrey
Restaurant Design
Apero Wine Bar
Indian-Mexican Fusion
Kasama
Kimski
The Publican
New York Times
Le Bouchon
Brand Identity

Crain’s Chicago Business presents The Dining Table with “Check Please!” creator, David Manilow. David tells the story of Chicago through the intimate stories that drive the business of food. You’ll savor the tales about what makes the unique Chicago food scene come to life and hear from those making it happen.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes162Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ManagementBusinessEntrepreneurship

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Latest Episodes

Feld’s Jake Potashnick was named Best Chef in the Great Lakes region by the James Beard Awards. In this episode, host David Manilow talks with Potashnick about his journey cooking at fine dining spots all over the world, from Sweden to Japan.

He re... more

A massive new Greek- and Levantine-influenced restaurant on the riverfront is without question one of the hottest reservations in Chicago. In this episode, host David Manilow talks with the owners of Naia, Luke Stoioff and David Rekhson of DineAmic H... more

In addition to his thriving city restaurants such as DeNucci’s, Gemini and Sophia Steak, Ryan O’Donnell has significantly impacted high-end suburban dining around Chicago. In this episode, host David Manilow talks about this and more with the founder... more

Host David Manilow has interviewed more than 150 chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and culinary entrepreneurs on this show. At the end of each conversation, he always asks about their favorite restaurant. There’s one Lincoln Park spot that stands al... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Luke Stoioff
Co-owner, DineAmic Hospitality
DineAmic Hospitality
Episode: Is Chicago’s riverfront the city’s hottest new dining area?
David Rekhson
Co-owner, DineAmic Hospitality
DineAmic Hospitality
Episode: Is Chicago’s riverfront the city’s hottest new dining area?
Ryan O'Donnell
Founder and CEO of Ballyhoo Hospitality
Ballyhoo Hospitality
Episode: The secrets behind this restaurateur's success
Donnie Madia
James Beard, Restaurant of the Year winner, and builder of One Off Hospitality
One Off Hospitality
Episode: Why the Chicago restaurant community loves this spot
Rachel Kenfora-Carlin
Hospitality professional and critic, associated with Burl
Burl
Episode: Why the Chicago restaurant community loves this spot
Zach Engel
Michelin-starred chef, associated with Galit and Cafe Yaya
Galit, Cafe Yaya
Episode: Why the Chicago restaurant community loves this spot
Heather Bublick
Hospitality professional, Soul and Smoke, Evanston
Soul and Smoke
Episode: Why the Chicago restaurant community loves this spot
Deandre Carter
Chef, Soul and Smoke, Evanston
Soul and Smoke
Episode: Why the Chicago restaurant community loves this spot
Taryn Huebner
Private chef to Oprah Winfrey; owner of The Kismet Table in Lincoln Park
The Kismet Table
Episode: What Oprah's longtime chef cooks now

Host

David Manilow
Host of The Dining Table

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 31 ratings
  • 5 Stars

    Love this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stacyd2208
    United Statesa year ago
  • A compelling weekly snapshot of Chicago’s food scene

    I’ve been a fan of David’s since Check, Please! and I love hearing his conversations with local food and dining figures. Also appreciate the smart industry updates from Ally Marotti. A great weekly listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rachel Rischall
    United States3 years ago
  • Great Chicago area food guide!

    Still reeling from Check, Please! being discontinued, this podcast fills the void nicely and then some! David is a great, well traveled and knowledgeable host! Look forward to every episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    makfood
    United States4 years ago
  • The dining table

    The program is exceptional and David is an incredible host

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KMR .....
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and topics are described as insightful and practical for operators and marketers.
Listeners praise the show's deep Chicago context and veteran industry perspective.
The show is seen as a strong, local alternative to broader national food-media narratives.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The secrets behind this restaurateur's success
Q: So what do you think makes your restaurant successful and what advice would you give to emerging restaurateurs?
The success comes from hospitality and mastering the basics of guest experience, including how issues are recovered and how guests are made to feel welcome and valued enough to return; the emphasis is on ownership, recovery, and consistency.
How Bridgeport’s dining scene is finding its new groove
Q: Do you remember the first time somebody addressed you as chef?
Won Kim recalls feeling surprised and honored, recognizing that the title carried weight but acknowledging that in daily practice it can become a casual form of respect rather than a formal elevation.
One of 2026's most-anticipated restaurants is in Evanston
Q: What will Burl feel like in terms of atmosphere and dress code for families versus date nights?
Burl aims to be approachable and welcoming for families and casual meals, while still offering a thoughtful, elevated experience for date nights, with a space that feels warm, wood-fired, and inviting at multiple times of the day.
The best places to eat in Chicago
Q: What changes have you noticed in food media with platforms like Instagram?
Media attention now prioritizes quick, hooky visuals and upfront hero shots to grab attention within seconds, which has shifted how stories are told and how audiences decide what to watch or read.
Why Chicago still defines the steakhouse
Q: Describe how you approach menu development to balance familiarity with new experiences?
The guests explain that they center on a strong steak program but wrap it with Mediterranean and Greek influences, in-house pastas, and open-fire cooking to differentiate while keeping the core concept recognizable.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Dining Table

What is The Dining Table about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful look at Chicago's food scene, focusing on restaurant leadership, hospitality, design, and culinary entrepreneurship. Episodes frequently center on beloved local spots, chefs, designers, and industry veterans, offering behind-the-scenes perspectives on building teams, shaping guest experiences, and navigating a rapidly evolving dining landscape. Listeners get a mix of storytelling, practical business insights, and community-focused angles—from brick-and-mortar concepts to pop-ups and design-driven concepts—often anchored by Chicago's restaurant history and local producers. This show stands out for its blend of veteran industry voices, deep local context, and accessible takeaways for operators, marketers, and food lovers alike.

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How many listeners does The Dining Table get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Dining Table have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Dining Table has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Dining Table?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Dining Table:

1. Crain's Daily Gist
2. City Cast Chicago
3. Dish From Chicago Magazine
4. Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of The Dining Table are there?

The Dining Table launched 4 years ago and published 162 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Dining Table?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The Dining Table?

Recent guests on The Dining Table include:

1. Luke Stoioff
2. David Rekhson
3. Ryan O'Donnell
4. Donnie Madia
5. Rachel Kenfora-Carlin
6. Zach Engel
7. Heather Bublick
8. Deandre Carter

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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