Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Great beer and thin crust pizza. Get there by 6 on weekends, 7 on weeknights, to beat the crowds. Gets loud when busy.
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Piece Brewery
1927 W North AveGreat beer and thin crust pizza. Get there by 6 on weekends, 7 on weeknights, to beat the crowds. Gets loud when busy.
Quiet corner byob with outdoor seating, serves thin crust with seasonal ingredients. Easy carryout.
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Craft Pizza
1252 N Damen AveQuiet corner byob with outdoor seating, serves thin crust with seasonal ingredients. Easy carryout.
Rick Bayless’ modern casual Mexican is a good option any time of the day. Try the tortas and save room for churros.
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Fonda Frontera
1471 North Milwaukee AvenueRick Bayless’ modern casual Mexican is a good option any time of the day. Try the tortas and save room for churros.
Lighter brunch fare with excellent coffee, tea, and baked goods. Lovely patio in the back. Can get crowded on the weekends.
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Birchwood Kitchen
2211 West North AvenueLighter brunch fare with excellent coffee, tea, and baked goods. Lovely patio in the back. Can get crowded on the weekends.
Pancakes as big as your head! On weekends, arrive at 9 when it opens or suffer long lines.
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Bongo Room
1470 N Milwaukee AvePancakes as big as your head! On weekends, arrive at 9 when it opens or suffer long lines.
Vintage brunch/lucnh vibe that’s hard to define. Great service and chicken and waffles. At 1.5 miles away, you can bike or stroll through Humboldt Park.
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Grandma J’s Local Kitchen
1552 North Kedzie AvenueVintage brunch/lucnh vibe that’s hard to define. Great service and chicken and waffles. At 1.5 miles away, you can bike or stroll through Humboldt Park.
Classic diner with friendly staff, large portions, and the greatest chicken lime tortilla soup in the world. Brunch.
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Janik's Cafe
2011 W Division StClassic diner with friendly staff, large portions, and the greatest chicken lime tortilla soup in the world. Brunch.
Another favorite brunch spot. Diner vibe with masterful donuts and other baked goods. Pro tip: order a donut as a brunch starter.
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West Town Bakery & Diner
1916 W Chicago AveAnother favorite brunch spot. Diner vibe with masterful donuts and other baked goods. Pro tip: order a donut as a brunch starter.
Seasonal, eclectic byob, adjacent to the Empty Bottle bar/music venue. Opposite the Lockdown, a biker bar known for big, delicious burgers.
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Bite Cafe
1039 N Western AveSeasonal, eclectic byob, adjacent to the Empty Bottle bar/music venue. Opposite the Lockdown, a biker bar known for big, delicious burgers.
Coast Sushi Bar
2045 North Damen AvenueReliably good sushi in Bucktown north of the boutiques.
Extensive Himalayan (Nepalese and Indian) menu in a slightly formal setting. Try momos, the Nepalese take on dumplings, or anything from the Tandoori (char-grilled) menu.
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Cumin
1414 N Milwaukee AveExtensive Himalayan (Nepalese and Indian) menu in a slightly formal setting. Try momos, the Nepalese take on dumplings, or anything from the Tandoori (char-grilled) menu.
Fresh take on a meatless menu in alternative atmosphere for brunch through dinner. Back patio opens in warm weather. Top picks: Black Bean Maduro, Everything Green Salad, and Ground Nut Stew.
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Handlebar
2311 W North AveFresh take on a meatless menu in alternative atmosphere for brunch through dinner. Back patio opens in warm weather. Top picks: Black Bean Maduro, Everything Green Salad, and Ground Nut Stew.
So many sandwiches! So many beers! Check for special tasting events, live entertainment.
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Jerry's Sandwiches
4739 N Lincoln AveSo many sandwiches! So many beers! Check for special tasting events, live entertainment.
Quiet corner spot where Latizia makes pastas, pizzas, pies and offers a prodigious wine selection. You can’t go wrong with the bruschetta sampler or the goronzola pear ravioli; sit on the back patio i
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Enoteca Roma
2146 W Division StQuiet corner spot where Latizia makes pastas, pizzas, pies and offers a prodigious wine selection. You can’t go wrong with the bruschetta sampler or the goronzola pear ravioli; sit on the back patio i
Great pizza (deep dish or thin crust) for delivery or no-wait dine-in. Not the hippest vibe.
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Pizano’s Pizza & Pasta
2056 West Division StreetGreat pizza (deep dish or thin crust) for delivery or no-wait dine-in. Not the hippest vibe.
Chicago’s best deep-dish (try “The Lou”). No dine-in; carryout or delivery only.
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Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
1120 N State StChicago’s best deep-dish (try “The Lou”). No dine-in; carryout or delivery only.
The best New York Style pizza in Chicago. By-the-slice or whole pie. Your best bet for late night or a pizza snack.
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Santullo's Eatery
1943 West North AvenueThe best New York Style pizza in Chicago. By-the-slice or whole pie. Your best bet for late night or a pizza snack.
Antique Taco Wicker Park
1360 N Milwaukee AveFish Taco is excellent!
Mana Food Bar
Veggie friendly.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
1505 N Milwaukee AveAlmond Brittle Ice Cream. Try it!
Mindy’s HotChocolate
1623 N Damen AveGet the namesake!
Letizia's Natural Bakery
2144 W Division StGreat breakfast sandwiches! Solid pastries!
Hash Chicago
1357 N Western AvePork and squeak! Great local 'Dark Matter' coffee.
Chop Shop
2033 W North AveGreat local meats and craft drinks.
Umami Burger Wicker Park
1480 N Milwaukee AveSolid burgers and onion rings.
Lockdown Bar & Grill
1024 N Western AveHuge burgers with a heavy metal vibe.
Smoke Daddy BBQ - Wicker Park
1804 W Division StBBQ and live music.
Runa Japanese
2257 W North AveBYO and great sushi
Dove's Luncheonette
1545 N Damen AveSouthern diner with lots of tequila.
Pub Royale
2049 W Division StBritish Pub with Indian small plates. Try a Pimms cup.
Shopping
Fairly comprehensive used bookstore. Especially good selection of Chicago books and fiction.
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Myopic Books
1564 N Milwaukee AveFairly comprehensive used bookstore. Especially good selection of Chicago books and fiction.
Drinks & Nightlife
Big Star
1531 N Damen AveWhiskey and Tacos!
First City and the Smokehouse pizza. Lots for veggies too!
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Revolution Brewing - Brewery & Taproom
3340 N Kedzie AveFirst City and the Smokehouse pizza. Lots for veggies too!
It's a the original in Chicago. Great pulled pork and pub chips.
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Goose Island Brewhouse
1800 N Clybourn AveIt's a the original in Chicago. Great pulled pork and pub chips.
One of the original beer bars in the city. A classic corner bar. Pretzel rods on every table.
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Map Room
1949 N Hoyne AveOne of the original beer bars in the city. A classic corner bar. Pretzel rods on every table.
Bangers and Lace
1670 W Division StBeer and sausage. Try the "six pack" sampler.
A sports bar with big screens and a big beer list.
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Fatpour Tap Works - Wicker Park
2005 W Division StA sports bar with big screens and a big beer list.
Emporium Wicker Park
1366 N Milwaukee AveOld school video games and craft beer.
Links Taproom
1559 N Milwaukee AveGreat beer list and a huge selection of sausages.
Terrific cocktails and a nice quiet vibe--silence your cellphone.
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The Violet Hour
1520 N Damen AveTerrific cocktails and a nice quiet vibe--silence your cellphone.
Strong drinks, live music, red lighting, leather booths.
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The California Clipper
1002 North California AvenueStrong drinks, live music, red lighting, leather booths.
Simple menu but always changing. Great patio to sip your cocktail on. Cold? Stay in and play checkers.
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Sportsman's Club
948 N Western AveSimple menu but always changing. Great patio to sip your cocktail on. Cold? Stay in and play checkers.
Have a cocktail at the bar. This use to be an old Russian bath house many years ago.
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Trench
2039 West North AvenueHave a cocktail at the bar. This use to be an old Russian bath house many years ago.
One of the original bars on the street--hasn't lost its charm. Belly up to the bar with a PBR. Listen to some live music.
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Phyllis Musical Inn
1800 W Division StOne of the original bars on the street--hasn't lost its charm. Belly up to the bar with a PBR. Listen to some live music.
Happy Village
1059 N Wolcott AveCheap beer and a ping pong table room. Great beer garden too.
Another great dive in the neighborhood. Touts itself as "the home of the arts". Free pool, a solid juke box, and many bobble heads and strange treasures on the walls.
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Innertown Pub
1935 W Thomas StAnother great dive in the neighborhood. Touts itself as "the home of the arts". Free pool, a solid juke box, and many bobble heads and strange treasures on the walls.
Double Door
Up and comings.
Subterranean
2011 W North AveMusic every night of the week.
The Empty Bottle
1035 N Western AveAlso a great bar.