In a city obsessed with eating out, it’s no big surprise that the dining/nightlife concept is a big hit with clubgoers. We’re not talking your average bar fare, we’re talking creatively designed menus and cocktails to please discerning palates. And we’re not talking about your average nightlife, either. Offering unique themes, innovative grooves and splashy atmospheres, these places are the best of both worlds:
Adobo Grill
The most interesting aspect of this promising Mexican arrival is its tequila sommelier, who has a vast knowledge of the more than 75 tequilas behind the bar. On weekends, Old Town and Lincoln Park residents crowd the two colorful levels. Music is very lively, consisting of traditional and contemporary Latin beats.
Hours: 4:30-10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4:30-11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 3- 10 p.m. Sunday. 1610 N. Wells St., 312-266-7999.
Deep
The Schaumburg dance club claims to have “the feel of the city without the drive.” In keeping with the subterranean theme, the bar is awash in shades of blue; the sunken dance floor’s tiles would probably look at home in a swimming pool. Uninhibited dancers can take to a platform that surrounds the floor. A long, wavy booth wraps around two walls and makes up the main-seating section, where patrons nibble on bar bites or sip cool cocktails.
Hours: 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 8 p.m.-3 a.m. Friday and Saturday; closed Sunday through Tuesday. 1385 N. Meacham, Schaumburg, 847-330-9500.
DeJoie’s Bistro
When it was on the corner of Kinzie and Franklin in the mid- ’90s, DeJoie’s was a Creole restaurant by day, dance club by night. Co-owners, brothers Steven and Paul DeJoie, maintain that this version is strictly a restaurant, not the place to bust a move. The minimalistic layout includes deep shades of rose and muted tones, a chrome-and-bronze bar and hardwood ceiling and floors. DeJoie’s is the first African-American-owned-and-operated venture on the rapidly developing Randolph Street corridor. The menu, designed by executive chef/co-owner Cliff Rome, is a fusion of country French, Caribbean, Creole and contemporary American elements; the don’t-miss dessert is sweet potato praline. Smooth jazz tunes from the likes of George Benson and Roy Ayers can be heard over dinner.
Hours: 5-10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday, 6 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday. Kitchen closes at 12:30 a.m. Friday, and 1:30 a.m. Saturday. 731 W. Randolph St., 312-382-9999.
Dragon Room
Late-night sushi and sashaying is what this spot is all about. Blending Asian accents and loud, progressive dance music, Dragon Room attracts a young, diverse and monied crowd. If you work up an appetite checking out the bustling dance floor, you can select from the $1 sushi menu or decent sake list. Downstairs is lounge-style seating with down-tempo music; upstairs is the VIP room where deejays spin old-school hip-hop.
Hours: 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Wednesday- Friday; 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Saturday. 809 W. Evergreen Ave., 312-751-2900.
District Lounge
Tucked away in the rear room of Red Light, which serves exquisite Asian fusion cuisine, the District Lounge is a comfortable, yet flamboyant alcove. It’s perfect for people-watching and partaking tasty menu items like lobster rolls and spicy chicken wraps. It gets mighty packed during prime time, but rest assured the signature drink, the Mango Martini, is worth the wait. Another favored cocktail is the Tricktini, a mixture of four vodkas, two rums, pineapple juice and Blue Curacao. The only problem with District Lounge is that there’s no place to dance, and the music definitely makes you want to move.
Hours: 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursday, Friday; 10 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday. 820 W. Randolph St., 312-733-8880.
Encore
Theatergoers looking for a post-show place to go can head to this splashy restaurant/lounge. Located next to the Cadillac Palace Theatre, Encore is anchored by a large, curvy bar where you can order martini specials like the Smokey Joe, Chocolate Russian or Midnight in Chicago. The bar’s menu includes steak tacos, pizza Margherita and deviled crabcakes. Smooth acid jazz and R&B play in the background during the week, but on Friday and Saturday, a deejay spins very loud dance music.
Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m.-midnight Friday; 4 p.m.-midnight Saturday; closed Sunday. 171 W. Randolph St., 312-338-3788.
Gaijin Hotel
Spinning on the Japanese word “gaijin,” usually a derogatory term for tourists, the aim here is to make this late-night lounge-restaurant a place for everyone. Hotel is added for that “all are welcome” feel. GaijinHotel serves globally inspired cuisine, such as Portuguese grilled salmon, Turkish grilled pork medallions and Sri Lankan curried sweet potatoes. And the music is a perfect complement as patrons either dine or drink: Deejays spin nightly and the progressive local band 8FatFat8 plays every Sunday.
Hours: 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday through Friday; 5 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday. 1554 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-862-2600.
Iggy’s
With smooth tunes and an even smoother crowd, Iggy’s is the most wicked place in town to get a late-night bite. The menu offers pasta, chicken and seafood entrees, a New York strip steak, and three popular egg dishes. It’s mainly a place for the 20-something and early-30s crowd who make their way here straight from the bars.
Hours: 7 p.m.-4 a.m. Monday through Friday; 7 p.m.-5 a.m. Saturday; 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday; closed major holidays. 700 N. Milwaukee Ave., 312-829-4449.
Kuklas
The epitome of Chicago’s nouveau-retro nightlife, Kuklas offer patrons the chance to experience the good ol’ days (1940s-’60s) when dining and lounging were grand events. The late-night, River North supper club, which opened a little more than a year ago, patterns itself after New York’s Rainbow Room, a 1940s institution. Well-heeled diners – mostly young, urban professionals – tend to go for hearty menu items like shrimp cocktail in a martini glass, seared tuna or the signature rack of lamb. Also notable are the 50 martinis (served in 12-ounce glasses), 75 different scotches and live music that varies from swing to bossa nova. After 11 p.m. on the weekends, Kuklas fast-forwards its tempo by switching to contemporary dance music and soul.
Hours: 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday through Friday; 4 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday; closed Sunday. Live music at 8 p.m. Thursday, Saturday. 509 N. Wells St., 312-670-9711.
Pops Highwood
A romantic spot that allows for a bite, a sip, or a dip on the dance floor, Pops is the sister venue to Pops for Champagne in Lakeview. Patrons also come for the appetizers and desserts: barbecue chicken, baked brie en croute with apricot glaze, mousse cake and amaretto cheesecake. The Jazz Club, which includes the dance floor, is a smoke-free environment.
Hours: 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday. Music: 8:30-11:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. 214 Green Bay Rd., Highwood, 847-266-1313.
Randolph Wine Cellars
The West Loop space is divided into a wine shop, where customers can purchase from an extensive list of wines, and a two-level lounge, the Tasting Room. The savvy, enthusiastic staff includes four sommeliers. In the Tasting Room, patrons can order by the flight, glass or bottle from a selection of more than 100 wines. Choices vary from moderate to expensive; many liqueurs and spirits are also available. Upstairs offers comfortable seating, eclectic sounds and a breathtaking view of downtown Chicago. Wine-friendly nibbles, such as cheese flights, pates and desserts, complement sippers.
Store hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday. The Tasting Room hours: 4 p.m.-2 a m. Sunday through Friday, 4 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday. 1415 W. Randolph St., 312-942-1212.
Red Wine Room
A neighborhood lounge and wine bar with a SoHo feel, Red pours more than 70 varieties by the glass and bottle. Set in ruby hues with booths and high tables, the bar attracts a diverse crowd, plays an interesting variety of music, and hosts wine dinners every other week. It is connected to Sipario, a trattoria that features Italian homestyle cooking.
Hours: 5 p.m.-2 a.m. seven days a week. The kitchen stays open until 1:30 a.m., serving specialty pizzas. 1958 W. Roscoe St., 773-248-9523.
Samba Room
Groovy ethnic nuggets (reggae, salsa, merengue) blare near the serpentine bar in this colorful Latin fusion restaurant. Patrons will also find cozy sofas and cigars for sale.
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday (bar is open until 1 a.m.), 11:30 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday (bar is open until 2 a.m.), 11:30 a.m.-midnight Sunday. 22 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, 630-753-0985.
Zentra/Bliss
The sexy scene fuses Western and Eastern themes. Chrome fixtures and low red lights meet bold Moroccan colors. Belly dancers shake to aggressive dance music. And the outdoor beer garden is sprinkled with funky red tree lights and Indian handiwork. The four-room club, all 10,000 square feet of it, also boasts a set of swings, a copper island bar and roomy booths. Bliss, the dining oasis inside Zentra, serves American contemporary cuisine with Asian influences. The burgundy velvet booths, candlelight and down-tempo music make for an intimate setting. Specialties include a soy-marinated Chilean sea bass and Jonah crab cakes with a spicy shrimp ragout. Bliss offers a late-night menu on weekends. Zentra’s hours: 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Sunday through Friday, 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Saturday. Bliss’ hours: 5:30-10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday. 923 W. Weed St., 312-787-0400.
