42 Degrees N. Latitude
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square, Ravenswood

4500 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60640

Carrie W. writes: Latitudes is that nourishing, healthy, more stable relationship that you couldn't have dreamed was possible when you were still with that jerk  - we'll call him The Brownstone.  The guy who wouldn't call you, spilt beer on your clothes, and left his…

Steelo
Neighborhood: Wicker Park

1850 W Division St
Chicago, IL 60622

Christine R. writes: I love this shoe store, I have never ever left here without something new and cute for my feet. Plus the staff is great and the price isn't that bad.

Sephora
Neighborhood: Near North Side

520 N Michigan Ave # 129
Chicago, IL 60611

Ellen M. writes: I wasn't in love with it, but it's a great concept.  I loved being able to compare several brands side by side, of many price ranges.  The anti-aging products looked intriguing, not that I need them...

Actually, it was handy on my sister's wedding…

Edwardo's Natural Pizza Restaurant
Neighborhood: Near North Side

1212 N Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60610

Kristin C. writes: I really enjoy dining in at this unpretentious little spot.  The first time I ate here, back in early October, I pulled a major Kristin dining no-no; my boyfriend and I sat on the same side of the booth!  The horror!  In our defense, there was one…

Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown Lakefront
Neighborhood: Near North Side

511 N. Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60611

Jenny R. writes: I stayed here in one of their suites. It was my birthday and my bf at the time had arranged it so that when we were out to dinner, the hotel staff came into the room and sprinkled rose petals on the bed and floor. They also turned the stereo on to…

Lincoln Square Lanes
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square, Ravenswood

4874 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60625

Justin V. writes: This cavernous, poorly illuminated behemoth sits atop an ACE Hardware in near-perfect camouflage, its door unmarked and uninviting, it's littered stairway giving no clue to the FUCKING BOWLING WONDERLAND awaiting you upon entry.

No blacklights, no…

Erwin
Neighborhood: Lakeview

2925 N Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60657

Colleen C. writes: Well, as I sit here stuffed full of fancy American food...I can honestly say that the Wednesday night special at Erwin ($25 prix fixe) is quite the deal. Seriously...

First of all, they don't give you an abbreviated menu to choose from, I approve of…

Bloomingdale's Home Store
Neighborhood: Near North Side

600 N Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

Nancy K. writes: A very nice selection of home goods.  Housed in what was Medinah Temple, at one of the counters they have a collection of memorabilia.  I'm glad they did not knock this building down but it is a little weird knowing what it was and now it's a…

Catch35
Neighborhood: The Loop

35 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601

Jami K. writes: A solid choice for lunch in the loop. It's diner food made fresh to order, and packaged to go. Their options for vegetarians are limited (like all seemingly all places in the Loop) but at least what they have is a little better than Subway. I went…

Puma Store
Neighborhood: Near North Side, Gold Coast

1051 North Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60610

Natalie E. writes: Something happened a year ago, when I was stuck in State College Pennsylvania, and it wouldn't stop raining, and I was totally depressed: I was walking by a little shoe store, and I saw these Pumas in the window, bought them to make myself feel…

Homer's Restaurant and Homemade Ice Cream

1237 Green Bay Rd
Wilmette, IL 60091

Nancy K. writes: Great ice cream.  Family owned and operated since 1935.  Recently revisited after several years away -- and the ice cream is sooo goood!  I won't wait so long to visit here again.  The restaurant is medium sized with a fair amount of seating -- love…

Lifetime Fitness

455 Scott Dr
Bloomingdale, IL 60108

S to the izzo F. writes: This my home away from Home. I work out almost everyday I have three club memberships but I only really use one!   Lifetime is busy but it's so big that you are never really waiting very long for any piece of equipment. The staff is awesome! It's…

Westgate Flower & Plant Shop

841 S Oak Park Ave
Oak Park, IL 60304

Robert R. writes: Everyone here is so knowledgeable! They make me look classy.

The Pasta Shoppe & Cafe

116 N Oak Park Ave
Oak Park, IL 60301

Andrea R. writes: I was cursing The Pasta Shoppe & Cafe on my way to a lunch meeting today because I was having some issues finding it. No, it's not difficult to find...I'm just directionally challenged & apparently so is my new garmin.  But once my not so handy dandy…

Lincoln Park Noodle House
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park, DePaul

2428 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

molly c. writes: yum yum!
i was part of a b-day group here last night! yeah, it's the week of molly mcbutter and leigh k.'s respective 28th birthdays!! weee!!

anywho, the rangoons were good. i shared an order with dan and i KNOW that i could have eaten all 6 myself!…

Johnny's Grill
Neighborhood: Logan Square

2545 N Kedzie Blvd
Chicago, IL 60647

Brian B. writes: Plato once posited that humans create objects that attempt to mimic an idealized form.  I.E., any chair we make strives to be the ideal "Chair".  IKEA and decades upon decades of obnoxious philosophy grad students have smushed  this concept, but I'll…

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Neighborhood: The Loop

225 S Canal St
Chicago, IL 60606

E. V. writes: I don't understand how anyone can give Krispy Kreme a bad review.... It's a freaking doughnut!  A damn good doughnut!

Handlebar
Neighborhood: Wicker Park

2311 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60647

Matt L. writes: We didn't make the cut here [frowny face]. Turns out we just didn't have enough ink or facial hair. Or maybe it was the "Fuck You, Hipster" t-shirt my friend was wearing. I don't know. For some reason our server was just not into, eh, what's the…

X/O Chicago
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3441 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60613

Allie B. writes: I just wanted to give this restaurant a big hug ...  :)

Went on a Friday night with my fiance and one of his best friends.  Had a nice table by the window and were in full-on celebration mode.  Each of us ordered a pre-dinner cocktail, 3 courses for…

F212
Neighborhood: Near North Side, River North

401 North Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60610

elizabeth n. writes: I stumbled on this place by accident and I'm really glad I did because it's great.  It's this cute little place that has all types of sandwiches, sweets, and drinks.  Drinks meaning hot chocolate and teas, not alcoholic drinks.  Great lunch place -…

Mr Kite's Candies & Nuts
Neighborhood: Near North Side

6 W. Maple
Chicago, IL 60610

Kate B. writes: I can't vouch for Mr. Kites nuts, but his candies sure melt in my mouth.

The best almond bark and dark chocolate malt balls ever.

Gramaphone Records
Neighborhood: Lakeview

2843 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657

Phillie P. writes: I will always have a love/hate relationship with this place. I give my review to the OLD shop located further south on Clark. This new one is pretty..but doesn't have the memories of the old one.  

I've been going to this shop since...82. Well not the…

Oak Park Bakery

904 South Oak Park Ave
Oak Park, IL 60304

Nancy K. writes: One of the best bakeries for miles.  Best chocolate eclairs.  Very good bread.  Very good selection.

Featuring butter coffee cakes --is on their labels, haven't tried them yet

John Fluevog Shoes
Neighborhood: Wicker Park

1539 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

stephy s. writes: I'm sorry, but have I just died and gone to funky shoe heaven?! This store can't be real?! I mean, yeah, I physically touched their shoes and tried not to pant too hard while in public, but really...was this place for realzzz, yo or just a…

Cafe Orange

5639 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60686

S R. writes: Bingsoo heaven! :)  Never thought my bingsoo dreams will ever come true..until I fell in love with this voluptuous mountain of red beans and vanilla ice cream topped with a red maraschino cherry. Go for the fruity soju martinis, they're weak but…

Huck Finn Donuts & Snack Shop
Neighborhood: McKinley Park

3414 S Archer Ave
Chicago, IL 60608

Clarissa J. writes: These donuts came at such a high price.

Got up one Sunday morning with that annoyingly familiar craving for fresh donuts.  Gaarrrr.  It's a beautiful day; John wants to take the car out for a spin.  So, we decide to combine the donut and joy-ride…

Chef's Catalog
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3009 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657

Chris S. writes: This is the place to go if you need that certain something for the kitchen that you can't find elsewhere. Also great if you need some advice before making a purchase, as the staff is very friendly and very knowledgable-most of the time they don't…

El Tapatio Cafe
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3400 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60657

Matt L. writes: Probably my favorite Mexican place in Chicago. It's a step below Las Palmas and slightly cheaper, but the food is more flavorful. This is one of the few restaurants where I will order a chicken breast. I think of chicken as generally boring so I…

The Long Room
Neighborhood: Lakeview

1612 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL 60613

Colleen C. writes: Jimminy Christmas, what took me so long to get here? I love this place!

Great beer selection (though of course after two silent killer martinis at Blue Stem, I ordered a cider, because I'm a wussbag like that), easy, cool vibe...well presented, yet…

Renga Tei

3956 W Touhy Ave
Lincolnwood, IL 60712

Keiko S. writes: Finally, a true Japanese restaurant that's fairly comparable to the 3-star casual places we used to frequent back in Cali. Perhaps I'm being too generous with the stars, but I think it deserves the praise in light of how deceiving the other…

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park, DePaul

958 W Wrightwood Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

Nicole R. writes: Lou Malnati's is my second favorite place for pizza in the city behind Gino's.  The deep dish just has amazing flavor, the crust is beautifully crumbly, and the sauce is a bit sweet without being overly sweet.  My advice is to order the buttercrust,…

Shelly's Freez
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square

5119 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60686

Dave K. writes: An oasis on this west-of-Western stretch of Lincoln, Shelly's will catch your attention with its colorful signs for just about every item on the menu. $1.65 for a chocolate dipped vanilla soft-serve cone is a steal, I think. And absolutely delicious…

Rose's Lounge
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

2656 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

Filly G. writes: Finding a good dive in Lincoln Park is like finding a $100 bill in a homeless man's couch. Rose's Lounge is truly a diamond in a crater of cubic zirconia mined by really, really white people who look really, really orange.

Rose herself bartends and…

Sapori Trattoria
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park, DePaul

2701 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614

Andrea R. writes: First rule of eating at Sapori Trattoria- never pay full price! With all the deals and coupons going on at this place paying full price for a meal here is like paying the first price a car salesman gives you (yep, that's dumb too).  

We were there for…

Emmits Irish Pub and Eatery
Neighborhood: Near West Side, River West

495 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60610

Leslie K. writes: Emmit's is like that group of seriously cool laid back girls in college that I wanted to be friends with so bad but they thought I was crazy but I continued to go back time and time again trying to impress them with my antics being like "hey who…

Pizzeria Aroma
Neighborhood: Edgewater

1125 W. Berwyn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640

phil t. writes: super fast service! and hands down one of the best Italian spots.
the owner knows good food and takes good care of everybody;)

Wlup FM
Neighborhood: Near North Side, River North

230 Merchandise Mart Plaza
Chicago, IL 60654

Patty V. writes: Deep Cuts/Lost Tracks weekend-awesome!!!

Villa Palermo Pizza and Catering

2154 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60659

Patty V. writes: I used to love VP when it was further west on Devon. It was our fave for munchies back in the day. Great pizza,thick or thin, depending on your mood. Food was always very good as well. I no longer live nearby,but have very fond,if not fuzzy memories…

437 Rush Restaurant
Neighborhood: Near North Side

437 N Rush St
Chicago, IL 60611

carolynne r. writes: Went here as part of Restaurant Week.  

Friday night and even though the place is only 1/2 full, we are seated in a tight corner behind a server's station.  There was a stapler, roll of paper and a stack of menus 6 inches from BF's head on a shelf.…

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Neighborhood: Near North Side, River East

675 N Saint Clair St
Chicago, IL 60611

marissa d. writes: So a few days ago I woke up and felt like maybe I was going to die. It was the most pain I've ever felt in my life. Needless to say, I called my friend (who was at Frances's trying to enjoy his breakfast) and said, "LISTEN. I NEED TO GO TO THE ER.…