Erik's Delicatessen Restaurant

107 N Oak Park Ave
Oak Park, IL 60301

Matt W. writes: OH NO YOU DI-INT!

I can't believe none of these cracker ass crackers mentioned the one thing that brings me all the way to Oak Park - Erik's chili!

It's a piping hot crock of warm, meaty greatness topped with bubbly, warm cheese and raw onions. I…

Goose Island Beer Co
Neighborhood: Near West Side

1800 W Fulton Street
Chicago, IL 60612

Steve G. writes: The food here is pretty nice.  It's just as nice as most other similarly priced restaurants.  It's great that they have German potato salad, as I'm a mayo-phobe, but sometimes I want to eat potato salad just like everyone else.

What I like best,…

Marion Street Cheese Market

100 S Marion St
Oak Park, IL 60302

Nancy K. writes: Very nice indie cheese market.  They have all sorts of cheese related items.  Very friendly and helpful.

Whiskey Sky
Neighborhood: Near North Side, River East

644 N. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60611

Tanya R. writes: Screw the Hancock observatory...this place has AMBIANCE.  Best music I've ever heard at a bar, and the martinis are excellent.  It's really the best on weeknights because on the weekends it can get super crowded, which throws things off for me.  One…

Nature Yoga
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village

2021 W. Division
Chicago, IL 60610

Kara B. writes: I just went to my first intro class at Nature a week ago. Mark was my instructor. If you are a serious first timer and have no knowledge of yoga this is the perfect class for you. He takes it very slowly, explaining the different poses and having you…

Pottery Barn
Neighborhood: Near North Side

865 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Kristi C. writes: I think my favorite episode of Friends is the Pottery Barn episode where Phoebe is anti-pottery barn and Rachel fills the apartment with Pottery Barn items and Phoebe loves them all.  The store itself is addicting!  I go all the time and always find…

Fly Bird

719 Lake St
Oak Park, IL 60302

Nancy K. writes: Great medium sized gift shop with fun, unique and cool items.  A little of everything -- baby items, boy things, bags, bath & body, fun stuff, housewares, time, lighting, paper goods, etc.  Julia is a very cool and fun person.  

They also have an…

El Mercado Food Mart
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3767 N Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613

Michael S. writes: Once you get beyond the silly almost-redundancy in the gringo-pandering name: "El Mercado Food Mart," this joint is a joy. As their business card says, "lo mejor en carnes de todo tipo productos de Sur America." But they sell items from countries…

Turano Pastry Shop Inc

6501 Roosevelt Road
Berwyn, IL 60402

Nancy K. writes: Freshly baked bread, Mmmmm.  Whenever we're in the area we have to get some of their bread.  Great place to pick up bread, cookies, and pastries.

Vive La Crepe

1565 Sherman Ave
Evanston, IL 60201

Keiko S. writes: UPDATE: While the food is still veeeery good, the service here is disappointing! The waiter saw us carrying bottles of water, and he asked - "you have your own water already, so I'm assuming you don't need any?" WHO THE HECK SAYS THAT??…

Chicago-Main Newsstand

860 Chicago Ave
Evanston, IL 60202

Heather M. writes: This place defies the laws of physics, or math, or space and time, or something like that. Basically, I can't for the life of me figure out how it has such a varied selection of reading material when it looks so small from the outside. Is there some…

Chicago Park District - Norwood Park
Neighborhood: Norwood Park

5801 N. Natoma Avenue
Chicago, IL 60630

Liz M. writes: My beautiful neighborhood park. Big, green, clean, perfect.

Softball fields, running track, outdoor pool, clean locker rooms, playground, basketball and tennis courts, multiple benches, nice field house, many classes offered.

My kids went to summer day…

Graziano's Brick Oven Pizza

5960 W Touhy Ave
Niles, IL 60714

Colleen C. writes: 5 stars for having a low carb menu AND being Italian :) Makes my life a bit easier, and I can be less annoying :)

Food is really good though, large portions, big place. Dinner salad had killer dressing, waiter was superb.

All in all, a great business…

Enoteca Piattini
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park, DePaul

934 W Webster St
Chicago, IL 60614

Rob L. writes: I came here with a group of friends, (about 8 of us), last Wednesday night. We came here not only because we heard great things about it, but because it was also half off glasses of wine. I met up a little early with two friends and started with one…

Flatts & Sharpe Music Co
Neighborhood: Rogers Park

6749 N Sheridan Rd
Chicago, IL 60626

Deanna M. writes: Not every store can be Chicago Music Exchange.

That said, I dig Flatts and Sharpe.  It's very small, as are most retail outlets in Rogers Park.  But they have a decent selection of sheet music and accessories.  The guitar stock is minuscule, but it…

Fly Paper
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3402 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60657

Katarina X. writes: Finding a card for my (Former-military-I-work-f or-the-United-States-Fede ral-Government) Dad's birthday, or to give him any card, or any gift for any holiday is a near-impossible task.
Yet, this teeny-tiny little independant shop by the Southport…

The Original Mitchell's
Neighborhood: DePaul

1953 N Clybourn Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

Rob L. writes: A large menu, but I will stick with the sandwiches and the breakfast stuff. Some great milkshakes, fries and servers you feel that are going to probably call you "Honey" and "Sugar". There is an old school feel to this place which kind of makes it…

Lasalle Flower Shop
Neighborhood: The Loop

212 S Clark St
Chicago, IL 60604

Ramon R. writes: It's an appealing place for businessmen to buy flowers.  I'd say that it's primary clientele.  Prices are good - though you can get flowers for cheaper in a less happening area.

Think Small by Rosebud
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3209 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657

Ren H. writes: This is the perfect store for any dollhouse needs!  They've got all sorts of miniature furniture and accessories for a dollhouse, even down to food!  They also have a workshop here where they build dollhouses and they can turn any real house into a…

Northbrook Garage

1347 Shermer Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062

David S. writes: I agree with everything Mike said. This place is a top notch class act. In addition to everything Mike said, they will even drive me home and pick me up if my wife is not available. Talk about service!!!!

This place was almost condemned, even after…

Mullen's On Clark
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3527 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657

Zak O. writes: The least douchebaggy place on Clark on a Saturday night. If you're friends are high on the Wrigley scene and you aren't, this is the place to compromise with.

Prices are reasonable for the area and they have darts and foosball. It also has a small…

Ginger's Ale House
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3801 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60613

Kathy M. writes: I've been to Ginger's several times for their pub quiz that they have at 7pm on Sunday nights!  Now... think you're a smarty?  Try this one out for size.  I'm usually decent at trivial pursuit type games so I figured I could do pretty good... ummm..…

Grande Noodles and Sushi Bar
Neighborhood: Rogers Park

6632 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60686

Deanna M. writes: I just ate here for the first time tonight.  I sat and ate by myself, spending most of the time reading American Psycho.  Couples kept walking in and picking up their carry-out orders.  I lost my appetite and took most of my pad thai home.

I went for…

Utrecht Art Supply Center
Neighborhood: The Loop

332 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60604

Matt W. writes: I'm not an artist in the traditional sense. I've tried drawing and painting, sculpture and song but I've found Photoshop to be my best brush, my screen the perfect canvas. So what the hell was I doing in Utrecht Art Supply on Michigan Avenue?

Buying…

Meiers Tavern

235 E Lake Ave
Glenview, IL 60025

J. C. G. writes: There is something about a hand-pattied burger served on a store-bought bun.  I think the juices from the meat soak into those buns more quickly, making the bread portion of the burger almost indistinguishable from the burger itself; the real role of…

Marios Gold Coast Ristorante
Neighborhood: Near North Side

21 W Goethe St
Chicago, IL 60610

Jessica S. writes: I love Mario's. It is kind of like a Cheers atmosphere, where everyone seems to know everyone.  The food is good authentic Italian and good sized portions.  I don't think I have ever been able to finish my whole meal there, and always end up with…

Marks Chop Suey On Halsted
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3343 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60657

Brandon H. writes: Nothing out of the ordinary here.. The Mongolian beef was good, but a bit too sweet for me. The Kung Pao chicken (to be fair, they called it Spicy Peanut Chicken) had the perfect level of heat for me, but the sauce was off and a bit bland, probably…

Pizano's Pizza & Pasta - CLOSED
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3466 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657

Nathan K. writes: Lakeview/Wrigleyville location CLOSED

Montrose Deli
Neighborhood: Portage Park

5411 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL 60641

Agnes M. writes: This place is amazing, becuase the business is so great (a strong polish community) the meat is always fresh and the place is always buzzing (especially around the time of big polish/catholic holidays). Even stopping in here for some great pastries…

Architectural Revolution
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3224 N. Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657

Elena D. writes: In wintertime, this lovely little store sells the warmest, most beautiful mittens, in all designs and colours. And Laplander stockings, and other cosy garments made in countries like Mongolia (not sweatshops!). Their beads are interesting and cheap,…

Gucci
Neighborhood: Near North Side, Magnificent Mile, Streeterville

900 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

Julie B. writes: Hey, what did you do with your tax refund check? I blew most of mine on Gucci.  Because I am stimulating the economy like a good American citizen.  I bought that super expensive handbag because I LOVE AMERICA, people.  And then afterwards I stuffed…

Adobo Grill
Neighborhood: Wicker Park

2005 W Division St
Chicago, IL 60686

Vamsi V. writes: We go to this place once every year.....to celebrate our anniversary. Other than that, we avoid it. Now, you may ask....why do you celebrate your anniversary here if you don't like it? This is where we ended up eating after meeting for the first…

Solar Service Inc.

7312 N Milwaukee Avenue
Niles, IL 60714

Sarah F. writes: Are you getting ready to cringe at your gas bill this winter as gas prices are on the rise?  There is another alternative!  Solar Service installs solar systems for hot water and heat all around the Chicago region.  Many people think that solar…

Pie-Eyed Pizzeria
Neighborhood: Noble Square, River West

1111 W. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622

Brent W. writes: Have you had Chicago's Pizza ? I mean, come on, if you've actually lived in Chicago for any length of time, then I'm sure you've at least had a slice of their pizza at some point; and it was prob late night, post bar time.  

Well, if you've had…

Lem's Bar-B-Q House
Neighborhood: Greater Grand Crossing

311 E 75th St
Chicago, IL 60619

Xamyma O. writes: "If you think that Twin Anchors, with it's smokeless, boiled in sauce ribs, has the best ribs in Chicago, you don't know shit about barbeque and you're probably not going to like Lem's very much."

"When Lem's is on, Lem''s may make the best slab of…

Casbah Cafe
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3151 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60657

Rocky B. writes: Finally gave this place a shot after living in the 'hood for almost a year and I'm kicking myself that I waited so long. The ambience is so cute! It's such a warm, inviting and colorful space that just draws you in from the hustle and bustle of…

Atrium Restaurant
Neighborhood: Near West Side

525 W Monroe St
Chicago, IL 60661

Nina C. writes: My favorite place for breakfast downtown, and one of the few places to get a good breakfast on the weekend, especially Sunday -- if you don't want to pay more than $10.  The bill for two is under $25 and the food is very good every time we go.  I can…

Souk
Neighborhood: Wicker Park

1552 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60686

Allison K. writes: Very fun hookah restaurant =) I have been here a few times for the cocktails and the smoking of the hookah.  For a flat fee, you can get a hookah or two for your table and friends and smoke the night away.  They provide many different flavors of…

Dilly Lily
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

742 W. Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614

Laila K. writes: first, i'd like to admit that i'm biased since i did work here for 3 years.  i've remained a loyal groupie ever since.  they always come up with the most beautiful arrangements. every time i come back in, i'm always delighted to see the everchanging…