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Entertainment Access Spotlight (SM) is a beta site created by American Express ® and partners featuring the best in weekly entertainment in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. All of the content on this site is developed independent of American Express.
Editor: Andrew H.
Publisher: Marc S.
Writer: Nicole W.
Writer: Min Jung K.
As an American Express® Cardmember, we invite you to ask the editorial team an entertainment related question. Our entertainment editors will provide expert answers, with other Cardmembers providing additional input on the best in city entertainment!
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CHI: The Wonderful World of Wicked
CHI: A Little Taste of India
CHI: Get Your Skates On
CHI: Do It Yourself Shopping
CHI A&A: Top Floor Views
CHI: A Five-Hour Tour of Flavor
Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, so of course there are special spots in each one. We can't cover all 77 official hoods, so here are just a couple from our favorites.
• Simon's up in Andersonville (5210 N. Clark) is still a couple months away from pouring its first glogg of the season, but stop in anyhow.
• The Village Tap in Roscoe Village boasts a great beer selection, an eclectic menu and one of the coziest beer gardens in the city.
• The Handlebar has quickly become a mainstay for the Wicker Park/Bucktown biking set.
• Cleo's loves its Ukrainian Village patrons so much it serves an all-you-can-eat free buffet late on Saturday nights.
• Once all the tourists are gone, the Billy Goat Tavern is just a friendly neighborhood bar for the North Bridge area. You can even still bend the ear of a newspaper man from time to time.
It's hard to find a cozier wine bar than 404. Tucked into the second room at Jack's in West Lincoln Park, 404 centers on a toasty fireplace, with banquettes, oversized easy chairs and small tables at which to snuggle up to the wine list. Choose from 35 wines by the glass or more than 90 by the bottle, and a little snack to nosh on (the cheese flights are excellent, as is the barbecue chicken pizza). Perfect for a fall date.
Jack's/404 Wine Bar
2856 N. Southport Ave., Chicago | 773-404-8400
Dine, the restaurant in the Crown Plaza hotel in Greektown, has a most unfortunate view of a parking lot out its floor-to-ceiling windows. On the other hand, there's free parking in that lot, which means you won't be hunting for a spot for half an hour before giving up and valeting! You'll find black angus meatloaf, buttermilk fried chicken and even liver and onions on its slightly upscaled comfort food menu — along with a martini list and one of the better red velvet cakes to be found this far north.
Dine
733 W. Madison St. (enter on Halsted), Chicago 312-602-2100
If you're ever in doubt about where to eat in a city, try to find out where the chefs eat; there you'll find the finest food available. In Chicago, Lao Sze Chuan is one of those places. The Chinatown restaurant plays host to kitchen superstars and regular folk alike, tantalizing all with an endless menu of authentic Szechuan dishes that run from the everyday (sweet and sour pork) to the exotic (sour pickle and pork kidney soup). Stop in at lunch for one of the best deals in town: a vast array of options all under $7.
Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S. Archer Ave., Chicago | 312-326-5040
Behind an unassuming front door of a restaurant at the southern end of Lincoln Square are some of the best hamburgers in the city, some say the world. Step into Jury's and decide for yourself. The meat for the half-pound patties is ground fresh every day, then seared to perfection and topped with just the simple lettuce, tomato and onion in its purest form; add bacon or avocado (heck, why not both) and some cheese and you've got a meal fit for a king. Of course, you might be tempted by the wide array of other items on the menu, such as the sauteed walleye or one of the many steak options — you won't be disappointed by any of those, either; unlike so many "best burger" joints, Jury's does everything else well, too.
Jury's
4337 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago | 773-935-2255
It sure feels like the tropics around Chicago right now, so why not perfect the picture by heading to Hala Kahiki for a few drinks? This tiki bar is one of the last of the originals, replete with carved tiki gods, bamboo and coconuts everywhere, and cheesy music piping over the speakers. If you're willing to brave the mosquitos, you're welcome to lounge in the Polynesian patio out back. The drinks are sweet and strong, like they should be — try classic Mai Tai, the chocolatey Chief Hoapili or the decadent Orchid Kiss. If you've got a designated driver (and you'd better, since the bar is in the middle of nowhere), be bold and order the flaming Volcano. Be sure to stop in the gift shop before you leave for a tiki glass or nifty Hawaiian shirt.
Hala Kahiki
2834 River Rd., River Grove | 708-456-3222
It's not clear why Sensational Bites doesn't have a page on their website devoted to their amazing cupcakes; maybe they don't want to be lumped together with those inferior cupcake stores — because they have all the rest beat, hands down. Topped with bright, whimsical flowers of frosting or mounded high with custardy filling and dipped in chocolate (the Boston Cream cupcake, a favorite), Sensational Bites's cupcakes will instantly put a smile on your face and get your mouth watering. And then you notice all the tempting cookies, brownies and rich cakes... ooh, actually, everything this place makes deserves its own fan webpage.
Sensational Bites
3751 North Southport Ave., Chicago | 773-248-2271
One of the great thing about Liar's Club is its DJs; you can't find many places where it's punk, heavy metal and indie rock on the turntables instead of house or techno. The other great thing about the Liar's Club is the drink prices: PBR cans are a dollar on Mondays, and the specials are $2 most of the rest of the week. Drag your biker jacket out of the closet and head on in.
Liar's Club
1665 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago | 773-665-1110
As an American Express ® Cardmember, we invite you to share your question by filling out the quick form below.
Our team of local entertainment guides, along with your fellow Cardmembers will provide the answers!
See all Ask the Experts posts here.
CHI: The Wonderful World of Wicked
CHI: A Little Taste of India
CHI: Get Your Skates On
CHI: Do It Yourself Shopping
CHI A&A: Top Floor Views
CHI: A Five-Hour Tour of Flavor
See all Popular Articles Here.
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