Chicago is just on fire right now in terms of food but you really need to know where to go. My Chicago food experiences were all pretty mediocre when I relied on Yelp and Zagat, but once I got to know some folks there I ended up finding some true gems. NY is exactly the same way - there are tons of mediocre and bad places to sort through, though I will say that I think NY is in a bit of a rut right now, with not much new and interesting going on. I still love the Momofukus, Tia Pol, etc., but they have been around for a while. I'm sure that will change - SF was in the same situation about two years ago, but places like Frances and Commonwealth have signaled a revival.