Cafe 28
Neighborhood: North Center, Lakeview

1800 W Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60613

Alice S. writes: Mmmm ... yuca!

My friends dragged me from packing for my imminent move, and took me here for my birthday dinner this past weekend. I've been to Cafe 28 before for dinner as well as brunch, so I was happy! We shared a goat cheese appetizer (my friends…

Potbelly Sandwich Works
Neighborhood: The Loop

155 N Wacker Dr Ste 1
Chicago, IL 60606

Jen L. writes: edit: how do i upload a pic to local fotos if i wasnt the first to review? in the mean time, chk out my foto gallery!

ooo mmmmmm goosieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee e! cowabunga my friends! what would i have done without JUICE? lol.. honestly, i was def…

Charlie Trotter's
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park, DePaul

816 W Armitage Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614

Joe L. writes: They rounded the corner, and pulled up in front of Charlie Trotter.

The name of the restaurant sounds like the cousin of a one famous boy wizard and little bitch.

There we were, three young gentleman pulling up in a less than fashionable steed. Handing…

Potbelly Sandwich Works
Neighborhood: West Lawn

7601 S Cicero Ave
Chicago, IL 60652

Kapo T. writes: I was in Chicago, Midway for a layover coming back from a conference trip in DC.  I was trying to find something to eat and to kill time before my flight home.

I always prefer to eat other food instead of sandwich but this was highly recommended from…

Schubas
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3159 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60657

Jelena Z. writes: Goose...bumps. Yep, that's what the intimate feel of Schubas' live music room gives me. Every seat is the 'best seat in the house' in this tiny venue, with pin drop-clear acoustics that will literally make your hair stand on end.

Damien Dempsey for…

Powell's Bookstore
Neighborhood: Hyde Park

1501 E 57th St
Chicago, IL 60637

Zach H. writes: Given that this Powell's location is next to the University of Chicago the selection is seriously skewed towards academic stuff, especially philosophy, social theory, history, etc. So if that is your bag (it's definitely mine), check this place out.…

Art & Science
Neighborhood: Wicker Park

1554 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Lindley E. writes: Since moving to Chicago 3 years ago I haven't had a regular go-to place for my hair. For the first 2.9 years that was fine - I had long hair and resolved not to cut it, so I didn't unless I was out of town. All that changed after a trip to San…

Portillo's Hot Dogs
Neighborhood: Near North Side, River North

100 W Ontario St
Chicago, IL 60610

Nicole R. writes: Portillo's is pretty good fast food, a notch above the typical chain places like McDonald's and Burger King.  It is a chain itself, but a local chain, so I guess that makes it a little more acceptable to some people (although I don't really care…

La Vita Restaurant
Neighborhood: University Village

1359 W Taylor St
Chicago, IL 60607

Claire Y. writes: Great Italian food with a casual-chic, modern ambiance.  The wait staff was SO friendly and attentive for my party of four.   The pork chop was RIGHT on point, the pastas were perfectly al dente with just the right amount of sauce, and the desserts…

Myopic Books
Neighborhood: Wicker Park

1564 N Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622

Kathleen O. writes: Myopic books makes me grateful to be solo in the city.  I can leave my apartment at 10:30 p.m. and wander into a good old-fashioned, musty, surprised-filled, classic used bookstore - with cats!

I want to see, smell, touch books.  I want to browse and…

J Gordon Designs
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

2326 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614

Deirdre R. writes: Ever get the feeling when you walk into a hair salon that you are underdressed? That maybe you should have picked up some club wear to match the annoyingly modern and cold design? You won't feel that way at J Gordon. This is a laid back place with a…

Park West
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

322 W. Armitage Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614

Daniel T. writes: I've been seeing shows at Park West for a long time. There was also a stretch of several years where I was a stagehand there. I can definitely say that Park West is my all time favorite mid-size venue for enjoying concerts. I can say that both as a…

Delilah's
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park, DePaul

2771 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

Justin V. writes: First bar I ever went to in Chicago.  

Never seen it sober.

Good.  Cheap.  Rock and roll.  (Like my ex-girlfriend, but a bar.)

I'd be in here 24/7 if it was open 24/7.  (Like my ex-girlfriend, but a bar.)

There's occasionally a bunch of assholes in here…

Paint

930 W Diversey Pkwy
Chicago, IL 60614

Kristin C. writes: A self-proclaimed low maintenance girl, I can count the number of mani/pedis I have received in my lifetime on ONE set of toe nails.  Sad, I know .  It is just not something I remember to do (but wish the light bulb would come on more).  

That being…

WhirlyBall
Neighborhood: Bucktown

1880 W Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

Kristin R. writes: Wow what a CRAZY time whirlyball is! I loved it and had so much fun. I was a bit hesitant at first given the nature of the game and the fact that I knew absolutely nobody that was playing whirlyball, except for a friend of mine. Oh and the main…

Potbelly Sandwich Works

630 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60201

Dee W. writes: Potbelly's overall as a chain is decent enough.  It's usually not one of my first options for a meal but you can get a warm sandwich for an average enough price.  My husband swears by the Wreck sandwich which includes salami, roast beef, and turkey…

The Soupbox
Neighborhood: Lakeview

2943 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60657

Nancy K. writes: Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.
Ludwig Van Beethoven.

Great soup.  

We bought the lobster bisque last week and couldn't finish it, so I used the rest to make a sauce for shrimp and rice...mmmmmmm!  

As a wonderful twist of fate a new…

Harmony Grill
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3159 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60657

Ellen M. writes: I survived Schubas in four-inch heels, no breakfast or lunch that day, but I did get a beer...time to siddown and eat!

Dinner was goooood...mac & cheese, perfectly cooked with a little outer shell but creamy inside.  I heart grandma food like this…

Sai Cafe
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park, DePaul

2010 N Sheffield Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

Brett D. writes: I think I can.... I think I can... I think I can....  (keep a review short and sweet that is). Let's see shall we?** ***

So Sai Cafe was one of the first sushi joints I ever tried in Chicago. I lived down the street, it was convenient and the sushi…

Evanston 1st Liquors

1019 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60201

Keiko S. writes: We were recently in desperate need of Thai Singha beer in a large quantity, and while most liquor stores and asian markets didn't carry the product, Evanston 1st Liquors readily saved our day! The price was slightly lower than the average, too. Their…

W Chicago Lakeshore
Neighborhood: Near North Side, River East

644 N Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60611

Nish N. writes: Now this is what a hotel experience should be about. When I checked in, Front Desk Jen asked me about my flight and taxi ride in, had my room all ready.

And the room itself was terrific - king-size bed, a plasma tv, nice modern accents, and slick…

Aurelio's Pizza

18162 Harwood Ave
Homewood, IL 60430

Rebecca S. writes: As mentioned by other reviewers, I'm one of those hooked on the super six.  I grew up on this pizza and hands down, it's the best pizza!  I love the crust and the sauce!  

I walk by this establishment on my way home from work and the smell of pizza…

Jane's
Neighborhood: Bucktown

1655 W Cortland Street
Chicago, IL 60622

Katie H. writes: BLADOW!! Five mofuggin stars, hey HEY hey.

Typically I wake up on Saturday earlier than I'd like (my internal clock blows) with a hangover ranging from 2 to 6 on the Ohfuckometer. This Saturday was different because the night before was completely…

Kuni's Japanese Restaurant

511 Main St
Apt 3W
Evanston, IL 60202

Colleen C. writes: On an excellent recommendation from John C (The North Shore yelper) I trekked to Kuni's last night for some much desired sushi. Not a place to see or be seen (John's words, I echo the sentiment), Kuni's is mom 'n pop sushi at its finest.

The decor is…

Cafe Selmarie
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square, Ravenswood

4729 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60625

Katarina X. writes: The clientele is certainly women of a certain age, but the service and  the food can't be beat!
Before we brought my boyfriend's mother in, I discreetly told the hostess that she was bordering on senile and can at times be very, very rude by no fault…

Marketplace On Oakton

4817 Oakton St
Skokie, IL 60077

Erin H. writes: Being relatively new to the Chicago area, I've been making the rounds to the various markets near-ish to my E. Rogers Park home, searching for a produce selection that comes even remotely close to the fresh food nirvana so easily available in…

Potbelly Sandwich Works
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

2264 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

Kathleen A. writes: I think I loved Potbelly more when it was one little store on Lincoln that I had to trek to.... but somehow they managed to expand without annoying me.  They provide really great service (it was the only place I trusted to have a sandwich ready for…

Chicago Comics
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3244 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657

Jerry M. writes: Well, smack me on the ass and call me a comic book nerd.

Over the past year I've been flirting with comic books, or more importantly, various incarnations of Joss Whedon's 'verse in cartoony form, from Buffy Season 8 to Angel: After the Fall to the…

Jazz Showcase
Neighborhood: South Loop

806 S Plymouth Ct
Dearborn Station
Chicago, IL 60605

Nancy K. writes: Lost their lease -- and they are looking for a new home.  They have been at this location (on Grand near Clark) for 10 years, in Chicago for 50 years and have been around since 1947.  

Joe Siegel, the club's founder, is looking for another place to…

Simon's Tavern
Neighborhood: Andersonville, Edgewater

5210 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60640

KELLIE K. writes: Simon's is proof that you don't have to be a lesbian bar in a "lesbian neighborhood" to keep a lesbian happy.  All you need is a nice, clean place to sit, a great selection, and a wonderful and attentive bartender (thank you Jackie for keeping my…

Morton's
Neighborhood: Near North Side

1050 N State Street
Chicago, IL 60610

Andrea R. writes: Yes, it's a chain, but this is the original so worth having dinner there...

* Warm, soft loaf of bread
* 2 orders of colossal shrimp alexander for the table
* Delicious jumbo lump crabmeat cocktail for myself
* another warm, soft loaf of bread
* 3 1/2 lbs…

Millennium Park
Neighborhood: The Loop

201 E Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60686

Ed U. writes: San Francisco needs a bean.
We deserve a bean.
Give us a bean...PUHH-LEEEEZE!

It's very cool how you can see fun-house images of the Loop skyline in the polished reflection of this art piece by Anish Kapoor. Its officially lofty name is "Cloud Gate",…

Brookfield Zoo

1st Ave and 31st St
Brookfield, IL 60601

piper p. writes: Brookfield Zoo helped me become The World's Coolest Aunt this past holiday season. My 6 year old niece came to me a couple months before the holiday and announced with all the gravitas she could muster: "This year, I am collecting elephants."

I loved…

Village Creamery

4558 Oakton St
Skokie, IL 60076

Ling L. writes: Slap a "homemade" mention in your sign, and I'm stopping in, no matter how seemingly rundown or old your place might be. That's just the case with Village Creamery.

Tucked in a corner with the faceplate of a sign gone, it is easy to dismiss it. But…

Park Hyatt
Neighborhood: Near North Side, River East, Magnificent Mile

800 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

Jenny R. writes: I came here last minute, around 2am on a Sunday morning. The only room they (conveniently) had available was their suite for $600 bucks...ouch! I thought, "I'm definitely going to have to put out now." Thanks a lot Park Hyatt.

It was a beautiful…

The Hideout
Neighborhood: Noble Square

1354 W Wabansia Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Matt L. writes: You have to be joking me.

I don't exactly know how to explain it, but I think this place is so ironic that it's ironic. Bear with me a moment here... Ok, now lets say a bunch of people hate chads and trixies, so they decide they're not going identify…

Greek Islands Restaurant
Neighborhood: Near West Side, Greektown

200 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60661

Madalyn G. writes: .....so for dessert, my very debonair friend from Madrid says to the server ---- in his very thick Castilian accent ---- "I'll have a Scotch with a vi-NEE-ya ice cream ..."  What comes back is a gooey, warm Scotch caramel sauce floating lazily atop…

Loews House of Blues Hotel
Neighborhood: Near North Side

333 N Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60610

Nancy K. writes: Closed

Completely remodeled and is now the Hotel Sax Chicago.  
http://www.hotelsaxchi...