By Michelle Chiodo

In a city where we love to eat, figuring out how to feed us is no easy fare.

As you plan your weekend, take note: Chicago restaurant closings keep rolling in. The latest to shut its doors, Kamehachi in Streeterville (not the Old Town location, which is being relocated), joins a list of other big names like Flatwater and Ben Pao that have called it quits in 2011. The Chicago market is unwaveringly competitive and saturated. Economy, overhead and market trends are large considerations. But there’s a more recent dynamic at play that influences where we choose to feast: digital mobility.

Social media, deal finders and endless mobile apps have turned our restaurant choices into a night at the slots. If we search long and hard enough, eventually we might land the world’s greatest meal deal in the world’s greatest city. Digital mobility directly sets our focus on where to go, while easing the guesswork, in no time at all. The impacts:

Wow Factors Are Everywhere

We are inundated with choices and, thanks to the smart phone, each new option is a mobile click away. It seems chic sushi restaurants are more commonplace than coffee shops in the city. Though I hate seeing one of my favorite late-night spots close its doors, it’s hard to dwell.  I can drive up the street to try another. Late-night hours, great ambiance and friendly service are big pluses. Foodies also appreciate menu quality, differentiation and presentation, but what decent restaurant doesn’t strive for this? The challenge is providing a distinct experience and driving repeat business in a highly saturated market. How does the restaurant engage its customers, even when you’re not at the table? Believe that mobile integration and interconnectivity will keep growing in importance here.

Deals, Deals and More Deals

For foodies especially, the options are overwhelming. Many places now ask if I have a Groupon as soon as I am seated and, admittedly, I often do. Collective buying power sites like Living Social and Gilt City keep the market competitive and attract new diners. Even sites like DailyDibs.com group a bunch of different deal channels so you don’t have to search. With the recent launch of immediate deal finder Groupon Now!, there’s no doubt the rest will follow suit.

Deal sites undoubtedly drive the direction of business, though word is still out on whether it is long-term. No longer is it simply asking, Italian or Thai? Now it goes something like, I have a Groupon for this place in Bucktown and a LivingSocial deal for another in Lakeview. Which expires first? They have changed around our dining priorities.

Who Said It? Matters Less Than It’s Been Said

Word-of-mouth still rules. There are just many, many more ways to get word on the street. I enjoy checking out reviews by professional critics whenever I get a chance, and they might get me to try a good restaurant here and there. But sites like Yelp, Chewsy and Foursquare let us engage in the review process and can have immediate impact on perception. They don’t always provide the full picture, but restaurants can track what’s being said about them…recommendations, buyer bewares and all.

Digital mobility is now part of the equation, and restaurants should continue to take note. So, what gives Chicago restaurants staying power? As the list of options and incentives increases, and so do the closings, perhaps a digital strategy report card could be the final word.

Until then, there’s Yelp.