Lula Cafe
A Logan Square café for brunch or a seasonal dinner. The current restaurant schedule separates afternoon service from dinner and keeps Tuesdays closed.
Hopleaf
Belgian beer and a meal in Andersonville. Everyone entering must be 21 or older, so this is an adults’ outing rather than a family stop.
Green Mill
A jazz room in Uptown where the performance is the reason to go. Read the set and admission details before arriving; the room’s late-night programs vary by day.
A live band is part of the room. Choose the current set and seating for the evening you want.
Kumiko
Japanese drinks and small plates in the West Loop. Bar service and the weekend daytime café are separate visits; choose the room and menu when booking.
Chicago Over 50
Over 50 Chicago
A good meal, a favorite band or a neighborhood bar. Find an evening that feels like yours.
6 spots
Green Street Smoked Meats
Central Texas-inspired smoked meats and a drink in a warehouse-style West Loop room. The entrance is down the brick alley; choose the tray from the current menu.
Lem’s Bar-B-Q
Rib tips and hot links connect this Chatham counter to Chicago’s own barbecue story. Takeout is the point here; this is the 75th Street restaurant.
Sanders BBQ Supply Co.
A wood-smoked barbecue meal in Beverly. Meat is sliced to order, and the restaurant asks groups to order together so the meal moves through the line together.
Smoke Daddy ... Wrigleyville
Smoked meats beside Wrigley Field, with published Bears and Cowboys watch parties. This is the Wrigleyville restaurant; the former Wicker Park branch is closed.
Smoque BBQ
Brisket, ribs and sides make this Pulaski Road smokehouse the meal. This is the original restaurant, separate from the former Smoque Steak business.
The Tonk ... Honky Tonk BBQ
A Memphis-style barbecue meal with a band in Pilsen. The former Honky Tonk BBQ now uses The Tonk name; the current restaurant address is on Racine Avenue.
A live band is part of the room. Choose the current set and seating for the evening you want.
What these spots are known for
The same over 50 spots, sorted by the reasons people actually pick them.
Live Music
Where can I eat and hear a real band?
BBQ and Smokehouses
Who is actually running a pit?
Sports on TV
Where can I watch the game with food and drinks?
Rooftops and Patios
Can we sit outside?
In the MICHELIN Guide
Who has the inspectors paying attention?
Brunch
Where is brunch worth the wait?
Craft Cocktail Programs
Who is taking the bar seriously?
Vegan and Plant-Based
Where can I eat with no asterisks?
Community Quotes
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