Chicago

Volcanic BYOB

If its name references the Eastern oriental shore from which sushi is derived--I can readily agree that Coast stays true to its roots. The fish is fresh and rolls melt in your mouth. They have a selection of unique "special" rolls as well as many basics; escolar reigns over the menu. The Volcano Roll and Spicy Creamy are two favorites. The seafood soup is a must: a sweet light broth completely devoid of any fishy aftertaste. The service is fast and bustling. To top everything off, four magical letters: BYOB. However, this fun perk does not at all diminish Coast's elegance. The lighting is dim and romantic, the decor chic and tasteful. The wait can take a while on Friday and Saturday nights so come prepared with friends and booze and pop a cork until your table is ready. To debrief: fresh and delicious sushi, BYOB, and open late (until midnight)--three's a charm at Coast!

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Restaurants • Bucktown

Purely Gigantic Portions

This a typical Chicago neighborhood diner with a pretty cool selection of Mexican inspired art like Day of the Dead hand-carved figurines, pottery, and jewelry. The menu is extensive offering everything you can think of from pancakes to paninis, and the food is perfectly fine. The real draw are the portions that are so humongous, it's best to come with an appetite and a few friends. This is a welcome addition to Western Avenue where there aren't many restaurants in the area serving up coffee and breakfast.

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Coffee • Bucktown

Good, Clean, American

Got eggs? Sure, they do and plenty of 'em to make your dream breakfast come true. The French Toast smothered in fresh seasonal berries is excellent. The decor is kitschy, but cute. This is a nice place to grab a cup of coffee and unload random conversation. It's unpretentious and the service is spot on. Apparently the word got out because even though there are two of these in Chicago, this one always has a line out of the door on the weekends. Go for brunch on a weekday and you won't have to wait in line. If you're looking for a good, clean American contemporary breakfast or brunch then Toast is the way to go.

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Restaurants • Bucktown

All You Can Eat Bacon Nights

Imagine sitting in a bar on a Monday night. You're enjoying a beer with friends, and your waitress comes up to the table and asks, "Can I bring you some more bacon?" No, you're not dreaming of an alternative universe where bacon is considered one of the four food groups, you're in Chinaski's for All You Can Eat Bacon Night. Named for a Charles Bukowski character, Chinaski's is heavy on the lit theme: Sandwiches are named after famous authors and poets, and the bar features literary readings and open mike nights. Speaking of sandwiches, the list of burgers is not for the small appetite, with choices ranging from a burger with peanut butter to one topped with a corn dog, to one with chicken tacos. Be sure to get the tasty homemade chips topped with kosher salt and parmesan with your sandwich. Other specials include $10 bottles of wine on Fridays.

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Nightlife • Bucktown

Slumming

Caoba, like most places north of North Avenue, seems to be courting the chest hair and gold chain set. But it's either not working or I've gotten extremely lucky the times I've been; I've managed to have several meals unmolested by the smell of sports deodorant body spray. The outdoor patio is an excellent spot to grab a lunch--the relaxed, yet upscale decor provides a nice nest from which to enjoy some of the finest people-watching in the city. I was pleasantly surprised with the food. While the ceviche was just average, the Queso Fundido and spicy Enchiladas Potosinas more than made up for it. The restaurant has a good selection of beer and tequilas, an adequate wine list, and their Paloma is refreshing and strong. Still, I'm not sure how this place will fare in the winter. If you can manage to slip in and out without getting a pound of glitter on your shirt because the girl at the next table bumped into you, you'll be delighted by the delicious and reasonably priced selections.

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Nightlife , Restaurants • Bucktown

Always Surly

You stupid bastard. You forgot to pick up a quart of milk, huh? Spent all that time at Jewel, only to forget, and instead of driving back, you walked over here. We're convenient, and, like the sign says, we're always open. That'll be $8.50. Walking around with itchy ears and desperately need some Q-Tips? That'll be $7. You're right, I do think $7 is a ridiculous price to ask for Q-Tips. Make it eight. Actually, make it $12. You could buy a bottle of Cristal for what Always Open charges for a case of Old Style. And don't even think about buying batteries--the price tag says "Market Price."

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Supermarkets • Bucktown

Smell Like Fruit For Days

When a haircut and manicure just isn't enough, it's time to head over to Spa Soak for the ultimate beauty treatment. If you need a deep tissue massage, facials that make you smell like grapefruit for days, or even a completely relaxing treatment like reflexology, then this is the place for you. Whatever your poison, Spa Soak is sure to please and it is beautifully hidden in a brick loft on Milwaukee Avenue. The staff--knowledgeable and wonderful--will do everything in their power to make you feel at ease. If you can handle sensory overload, check out the products they have for sale on the wall while you wait.

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Shopping • Bucktown

Whiplash Compulsory; Brakes Optional

If you grew up in Chicago, thoughts of WhirlyBall may bring you back to the golden age when birthday parties had goody bags, playgrounds had Skip-Its, and TVs were graced by Eagle Man commercials. But during that innocent time, little did you know the joy this bumper-car-lacrosse-hybrid sport would yield once you were old enough to buy drinks from the adjacent bar, and your motor skills advanced beyond the realm of Hungry Hungry Hippos. It is time now to revisit your childhood birthday hotspot with your new circle of friends or co-workers, which is sure to include someone to whom you’d enjoy inflicting mild spinal cord pain. But act in haste, before someone realizes that drunken competition in bumper cars with no brakes should be illegal.

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Nightlife • Bucktown

Praise Jesus

Finally, you can be a hedonist on a budget! Todd's Wine just opened in the Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhood and everyone is drinking estate-produced wines without breaking the bank. The store is small, but you'll find a good selection of Napa Valley and Australian wines. There's also a collection of microbrews and some Belgian beers. The best part is that the owner is more than generous in letting you sample before you purchase. He is also eager to talk about his merchandise--this can become a pretty long conversation and will probably use "wine language" that you won't understand, but it seems to make him really happy to have an attentive ear. Todd's is a beautiful store and, in a neighborhood increasingly being bought by "major" companies like Bebe and Marc Jacobs, it's good to see a small business thriving. Sure, you can go to Dominick's or Jewel for a cheaper version of that Pinot, but if you buy it from Todd's you are more likely to know how to pair it and why it tastes so good.

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Liquor Stores • Bucktown

Ice Age

Every good Midwesterner has a soft spot for confection-pushing, packrat grandmas. If the smell of pie crust and mothballs gives you that warm fuzzy feeling, do pay a visit to Margie's, where the interior comes complete with jukeboxes, antique dolls, and teddies that look like they barely made it out of World War I. Established in the 1920s, Margie's looks as though it hasn't changed much over the years, a fact which is eerily reflected in some of the anachronistic wait staff. You can skip the soup and tuna sandwiches, and get straight to dessert. Banana splits made with homemade ice cream and turtle sundaes rank among crowd favorites, and for the hedonistic, Guiness Book-inspired 12-year-olds out there, they’ve even got a special with a half-gallon scoops. It's open late most nights, and best of all, in the ubiquitous Grandma fashion, Margie's doles out free cones to anyone who got an "A" on their current semester's report card.

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Landmarks , Restaurants • Bucktown

Ice Cream as Big as the Sun

Now that we live in an age where you can easily get any food you like served to you in a portion larger than your head (burritos, burgers, and buckets of soda), it's easy to forget that Margie's Candies has been dishing out sundaes on this scale since 1921. Gargantuan amounts of ice cream are stuffed into vases, giant ceramic clamshells, and whatever other knick knacks they happen to have lying around and are then drenched with fudge, nuts, and homemade candies. Margie's doesn't mess around: they make their own ice cream with 20% butterfat, which seems to be stretching the limits of legality if not sanity. They do serve soups, sandwiches, and a charmingly retro Hawaiian plate, but the vast majority of the menu is dedicated to making sure that you leave with your face and fingers a sweet, sticky mess. Rumor has it that first-timers get 10% off--just be sure to look sufficiently shocked to see your fellow patrons in ice cream up to their elbows.

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Landmarks , Restaurants • Bucktown

My Kingdom for a Milkshake

Is it irresponsible to dedicate an entire radar to a milkshake? Oh, but it simply is that good. I am guilty of making the 30-minute commute to Irazu just for a to-go Aveno shake--a blend of oatmeal, cinnamon and milk/soy/water reminiscent of horchata. And even though it's always the drink that lingers in my sensory memory, the main plates are notably delicious and cheap. Homemade Costa Rican basics and colorful salads characterize the menu. It's pretty rare to stumble upon a sit-down place with sandwiches for under five bucks these days, and as a bonus, Irazu is flexible with swapping out sides, and catering to vegetarian and vegan patrons. And if you have vegan friends, you know that one can only have so many sympathy veggie patties at Subway before madness strikes.

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Restaurants • Bucktown

If You Name It, They Will Come

Thanks to the continual sprouting up of boutiques, coffee shops and mediocre restaurants offering "American-style" cuisine (fried foods with extra cheese and sides of ranch), the boundaries between Bucktown and Lincoln Park continue to blur. Mercifully, the bar Lemmings hearkens back to the days when Bucktown was a fringe neighborhood full of uniquely architectured buildings with cheap rent and bars with cheap drinks. The tall boy cans of PBR are welcomingly priced at $2.75 a pop and the startlingly jovial atmosphere on a recent Friday night begs for you to stick around and cajole a few Irish Car Bombs out of the bartender who's more than happy to pour them since he's (apparently?) been jonesing for one since his shift started five hours ago. The clientele is more "Brah, check it: I just hung up my MBA over my middle-management desk! Yo, what's the Cubs' score?" than I would care for but one has to remember that Hey, you're in Bucktown aka Lincoln Park West. The spot does offer free wi-fi which led to the interesting scene of one of the aforementioned white-collar 20-somethings strutting into the bathroom with his laptop in one hand, beer in the other all the while yammering on his bluetooth.

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Nightlife • Bucktown

You Know How It Is

I was rapping with my cardiologist the other week. You know the deal; before tee time at some hoity toity country club: Doc Cardio: "Brian, you need more cholesterol in your diet. You're too damned healthy." Brian: [Disbelieving] "Doc? Really? What can I do?" Doc Cardio: "I know times are tough with gas prices what they are. Here, take this Benjamin, get your grub on at Hot Chocolate and call me in the morning." So with my cardiologist's blessing I went over to Hot Chocolate and ordered: Burger, standard order--I kid you not--aged cheddar and bacon, standard! Would I like a fried egg on that? Hell and Yes! Peanut Butter and Truffle Milkshake, if there's a better way to wash down a burger, I've not heard of it. The unsweetened whipped cream provides the perfect amount of fluff-melting thickness and the chunks of peanut butter provide ample amusement as you try to suck them out of the straw. And what service! The burger was, admittedly, awfully charred for an order of medium-rare, but they were terribly apologetic and brought forth a delicious if not cholesterol-dense dessert of warmed brioche doughnuts, gratis!

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Restaurants • Bucktown

Geographica Spectacula

The Map Room is where old copies of National Geographic go to die. This travel-themed bar is one of the best in the city if you're looking for fine beers from around the world. Owned and staffed by beer lovers, they have over 200 beers on their menu at any given time. Twenty-six of those are on tap. One is a cask-conditioned ale on a hand pump, and the rest are available in bottles. If you're bewildered by all the options, you can learn more during their monthly beer school, where a local brewer teaches different beer styles. Another monthly lecture series called Cafe Scientifique brings together scientists and those who are curious about science. Be warned: Each lecture is limited to only fifty people a session. Hell, take that advice for the average weekend too--this joint is usually packed, so it's wise to find your way there early.

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Nightlife • Bucktown

Just Think! It's So Close!

A hidden gem located on the corner of Lyndale and Western Avenue, this BYOB serves a variety of fresh American contemporary cusisine. Upon entering, it seemed rather small, but oh, this is not the case. There are three separate dining rooms. One is located in the front, one in the back, and there is a whole floor upstairs, which can be rented out for special occasions. Opt for one of the daily specials, which are always very tasty. They also have excellent desserts. One in particular looks like an inside-out Cannoli covered in a variety of berries. All in all, a great place to have dinner with friends or family.

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Restaurants • Bucktown

Danny's Tavern

Folks are saying that Danny’s has gone the way of much of Bucktown and Wicker Park. That is, it’s become yuppified and cold-hearted. Drop by on a Saturday night and you might believe the hype, but pop in on a Tuesday evening and it’s still the same comfortable, quiet, drinking-in-someone’s-house scene. The genius of Danny’s is that it’s many things to many people. For the home-bodied drinkers, the bar is situated in a converted house on a quiet street. For the dancers, there’s a host of rotating deejays that kick up the beats on most nights. For the Art Institute students and their quietly carousing posses, artwork is displayed subtly along the walls (there once was an installation here that consisted of duct tape slapped to the walls in sharp patterns). Tiny nooks and candlelit tables (almost no electricity is used here) create an intimate space for above-average bar chatter. Yes, there’s a swanky sushi joint around the corner and a modern furniture store up the street. Elements of city life, these are. Lament the loss of The Way Things Were with a beer at Danny’s. You’ll remember why this city—and this neighborhood—is still so great.

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Nightlife • Bucktown

Jane's

Charming and intimate, Jane’s is the perfect date spot. Greeted by a beautiful brick wall adorned with local artwork, this narrow space has an interesting, contemporary look. There are two tables situated on a platform adjacent to two windows bordering the door, which are often saved for couples. On the opposite side of Jane’s is additional space dressed all in white, which can be rented out for special occasions. They serve a variety of American contemporary fare as well as a few vegetarian tofu dishes. Service can be hit or miss. Hint: if going for a romantic dinner, request the window seat when making reservations.

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Restaurants • Bucktown

Vella Cafe

It’s not easy being the CTA these days. Between the delays, falling objects—lookout below!—and closures, it’s downright depressing. Perhaps Vella Café, the newly opened breakfast and lunch spot located right below the Western Blue Line stop, can change that. Created by the same duo responsible for the addictive panini sandwiches at Green City Market—don’t panic; their treats are still available the twice-weekly market—this bright and cheery 50-seat spot features wholesome food with an emphasis on local and organic ingredients—think market vendor regulars, such as Heartland Meats and Prairie Pure Cheese. Breakfast means stuffed French toast with almond butter and seasonal fruit or amaranth pancakes with orange butter and bananas. Blunch ups the yum factor with chicken sausage crepes with caramelized onions and potato-parsnip pancakes with a poached egg. Lunch is all about paninis, natch—the brisket with butterkase, a Green City fave, is on the menu here, too—and soups and salads. Sweet tooths can get their fix with housemade scones, cookies, and coffeecakes, which pair perfect with Vella’s iced Vietnamese coffee. And the frittata panini and medium coffee breakfast special will make the morning commute a smoother ride. At least something’s right on track.

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Restaurants • Bucktown

Meritage Café & Wine Bar

Meritage Café, the gastronomic gem in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, is such an authentic bistro that after a few glasses of wine, you may forget that you’re in Bucktown. The décor is quintessentially Gallic; tables made from wine cases, dark wood trim, and upholstered banquettes. The tables are cozy enough to be romantic, but spaced well enough so that your conversation remains private. Meritage specializes in authentic fare, but often given an American twist. The white asparagus salad, topped with a poached egg and dressed with porcini vinaigrette is a sensual combination of flavors and textures. Flavorful pork loin, served with grilled apples and sprinkled with wild boar bacon and a drizzle of cider demi-glace was heart-stoppingly cholesterol laden enough to satisfy any Frenchman. While the green tea grilled ahi tuna with miso sauce is a nod toward healthier eating. The short but varied list of wine offerings at Meritage surpasses that of many bistros abroad. The friendly and knowledgeable staff that is eager to please. This place ain’t cheap, a three course dinner with a glass of wine will run about $70 a person, but the high quality and excellent service make it a wise investment.

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Restaurants • Bucktown