Michael who? We have our own champions to crow about.

Today Brendan Sodikoff (Gilt Bar, Maude’s Liquor Bar, Au Cheval) goes for gold with his latest sure-to-be-packed haunt, Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf.

Design Acumen: 9.6
The judges love Sodikoff’s menagerie: Upstairs includes oxidized mirrors scrawled with brasserie buzzwords, tufted booths, and a vintage sink spilling with raw catch; downstairs gets broody with papier-mache animal busts, low lighting, and Persian rugs.

Mastication Mastery: 9.9
Points for excellent execution of straightforward classics: seafood towers, Gruyere popovers, and fresh oysters. Bonuses for beef that’s dry aged in-house, short rib stroganoff, black label meat loaf, and pork porterhouse for two. Standout sides include potatoes loaded, baked, mashed, and hashed.

Liquid Luster: 9.8
A game-changing brown spirits list (Scotch, whiskey, bourbon), memorable throwbacks (cognac Sazerac, Kir Royale), plus winning wines (Sodikoff’s most diverse list to date).

Victory has never tasted so sweet.

Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf, 218 West Kinzie Street, between Wells and Franklin Streets (312-624-8154).

Photo: Tetra Images / Getty Images