Cuvee
308 W. Erie St. 312-202-9221
The owners of River North’s Enclave are behind this club and ultra-lounge touting a menu of sparkling wines and champagne cocktails. Enter through the back alley and head up the stairs — but first, you’ve got to get past the door staff.
Loving it: “This place is great and exclusive for a reason! If you’re not dressed in your finest, don’t even bother. You definitely won’t be making it beyond the velvet ropes.”
— bethdd, River North
Reality check: “Going through a back alley, looking for a club located in a post-industrial setting and waiting in line hoping the bouncers will let you in … this type of venue went out of style a decade ago. … If paying the $20 cover charge so that employees make you feel ‘elite’ isn’t your sort of thing, then don’t bother with this place.”
— skyduster, Norwood Park
DMK Burger Bar
2954 N. Sheffield Ave. 773-360-8686
Michael Kornick (of River North’s MK) is part of the team behind this chef-driven Lakeview burger joint with a noisy bar-like atmosphere and a menu featuring grass-fed beef and lamb patties as well as turkey, veggie and portobello options with toppings such as chipotle ketchup and artisan cheeses.
Loving it: “Great value, great atmosphere, great drinks, great service and great food! This makes for a five-star rating for me! The staff went above and beyond … My veggie burger was the best I have ever had!” — tbrassell, Rogers Park
Reality check: “We were greeted by a very friendly staff and sat right away, [but] I was simply disappointed with the food. The burgers are quite small and just OK. … The tables and chairs were also really small. Unfortunately, the bill didn’t end up being very small.” — CKD, Oak Park
Sweetwater
225 N. Michigan Ave. 312-698-7111
This Loop bar and grill, a sibling to the Boundary in Wicker Park, takes its name from both the location (the corner of South Water Street and Michigan Avenue) and pride in a solid stock of “sweet water,” from beer to spirits.
Loving it: “The food was very good and the place is sleek. This corner of the Loop needed something like this.”
— ChicagoGirl327
Reality check: “We went expecting something from the North Side, but found ‘tourista’: high prices, OK food, hard surfaces, loud sports, high turnover and not a very Chicago feel.” — hellojoe, Printer’s Row
Belly Shack
1912 N. Western Ave. 773-252-1414
Asian and Latin flavors converge at this counter-service BYOB from the Urban Belly crew, where a concise salad-, soup- and sandwich-focused menu salutes chef Bill Kim’s Korean heritage and his wife’s Puerto Rican background.
Loving it: “The preparation and flavors were outstanding. … If you’re looking for cutting-edge flavors made with fresh, seasonal ingredients for a few bucks more, then Belly Shack is for you.” — vtsheen, Roscoe Village
Reality check: “Expect to drop a bundle if you plan on even coming close to filling up here. … My wife and I spent about 35 bucks for two very modestly sized sandwiches (with no sides) and a very small salad to share … no drinks, no dessert, no service.” — rainyseason, Bucktown
Old Town Social
455 W. North Ave. 312-266-2277
Old Town’s new grown-up gathering place identifies as a neighborhood spot but boasts some features that set it apart from the pack, including food from former Rick Tramanto right-hand man Jared Van Camp.
Loving it: “This is a wonderful place! I am a huge fan of charcuterie, and this was absolutely fantastic. The cheese plate was also delicious — really tasty! The staff was very friendly, and the whole place had a lively but relaxed neighborhood atmosphere.” — Clair20b, Andersonville
Reality check: “Menu choices: awesome. Food: delicious. Atmosphere: quirky [but] doesn’t really match the food. Service: so bad I remember [it] more than the great food.” — cwd123, Lincoln Park
Compiled from postings on metromix.com.
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metromix@tribune.com
