2432 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincoln Park
At this friendly neighborhood bar in Lincoln Park, a long wooden bar runs the length of the room in the front and red vinyl booths line the walls in the rear. Sports fans can chow on Buffalo wings, homemade pizzas or spicy popcorn shrimp while watching the games, or stop by to shoot pool. Home to the Buffalo Bills and the Big 10, Lincoln Station boasts 13 HD televisions, including two big screens. READ MORE
3304 N. Western Ave., Roscoe Village
Having sprouted up across the suburbs, Meatheads Burgers and Fries opened a city location in fall 2012. The fast food burger chain boasts its use of all-natural ingredients, never using frozen meat for its Angus Beef burgers. Chef-inspired specialties like the NY Reuben burger on marble rye bread with sauerkraut, thousand island dressing and grilled onions and the Hawaiian burger with pepper jack cheese, pineapple and jalalpenos don the menu, among others. But guests can build their own too -- even substituting beef for chicken. Dress it up with signature sauces like cucumber wasabi and bacon ranch or keep it simple with honey mustard and barbecue. Throw on as many toppings as you'd like, as there are nearly two dozen to choose from. A selection of hot dogs, kids' meals, hand-dipped milkshakes and sandwiches are available as well. READ MORE
844 W. Randolph St., West Town
Inside this rustic buger bar, look for farm-friendly touches like 10-foot exterior barn doors, antique furniture and wallpaper, an exposed pie-making kitchen and family-style dining tables.The burger menu is fairly streamlined, focusing on what they do best grass-fed, hormone- and antibiotic-free beef, with options for turkey or vegetarian lentil patties as well. Served on a poppy seed bun with all the fixings, these burgers pair up with sides such as rainbow dark potato chips with French onion dip, German bacon potato salad, garlicky mac and cheese and cucumber potato salad. If you're not in the mood for a burger, go for the Farmer's Wife salad with romaine lettuce, avocado, red pepper, carrot, watermelon, corn and lemon dressing. Look for daily specials such as a Great Lakes yellow walleye fish fry on Friday nights or grass-fed ground beef chili on Thursdays. Fun cocktails and canned beer round out the drink offerings. And after you're good and full, order homemade ice cream with flavors such as pecan crisp, vanilla, chocolate and burnt sugar, served in a cup or cone. READ MORE
431 N. Wells St., River North
This masculine, upscale sports bar in River North is just steps away from the Merchandise Mart. The name gives a nod to the city's two major sports teams, plus a hint at the subtle stock market theme throughout (note the stock ticker stretching across the main bar and the menu, called "The Wells Street Journal.") If you want to take advantage of this spot's coolest feature--pay-by-the-ounce beer taps built right into the table--make a reservation for one of five premium booths sitting 8 to 15 or so people (depending on the day, minimums may apply). With a solid food menu by David Blonsky (Quartino), Bull & Bear's kitchen will be slinging eats all day long, from entree salads and gruyere-topped Kobe burgers at lunch to honey-miso salmon and pork chop with apple fennel salad for dinner. Happy hour appetizers are sports bar classics amped up a notch, from pigs in a blanket with citrus slaw to truffle fries with garlic-lemon aioli. READ MORE
459 N. Ogden Ave., West Town
This casual bar and eatery from the owners of Matilda gives a nod to the building's original uses as a gas station and auto detail shop – two garage doors open up onto a 55-seat beer garden on Ogden Avenue. On the menu you’ll find dry-rubbed chicken wings with homemade blue cheese sauce or a 10-ounce salt-and-pepper encrusted burger served with a block of cream cheese topped with sriracha-tossed baby arugula, sauteed tomato and onion salsa. For veg-heads, try unique picks such as vegetarian biscuits and gravy with fried okra and sage gravy.And to drink, there’s a host of craft beers and fine spirits and a classic cocktail menu as well. READ MORE
844 W. Montrose Ave., Buena Park
The owners behind Hops and Barley open another neighborhood tavern focused on burgers, wraps and other comfort-food eats. Expect a full bar, small plates and a sidewalk cafe. READ MORE
3516 N.Clark St., Wrigleyville
This Wrigleyville bar and grill opened Dec. 2004 (in a former Billy Goat tavern) to serve classic American fare, including homemade burgers and fries, three different flavors of wings, chicken sandwiches, wraps and warm chocolate chip cookies, served with a cold glass of milk. Dark mahogany wood, a marble bar and rare black and white photos give the place a nostalgic feel, but the 11 plasma HDTVs keep this tavern in the present day. Steps from Wrigley Field, Merkle's is a pre- and post-game spot for Cub fans and plays host to loyal Illinois and Iowa alumni. READ MORE
2095 S. Kirk Rd., Geneva
On the Illinois Prairie Path, the Geneva Country House echoes the design of the Clarendon Hills original on a larger scale, with a spacious cedar deck overlooking a landscaped pond. The pub menu offers several types of burgers including a half-pound beef sirloin, buffalo and ostrich, as well as onion rings, salads, grilled salmon. Try your burger on dark rye, topped with cheese, tomato, leaf lettuce and perhaps grilled or raw onion.READ MORE
1900 S. State St., South Loop
This South Loop burger eatery serves turkey, veggie and chicken burgers on brioche or pretzel buns. Choose from creations such as the Jersey Shore burger with pepperoni, marinara and fresh mozzarella, or a turkey burger topped with cream cheese and cranberries. You can also opt to build your own burger by selecting from two dozen toppings. Hungry for some other finger-friendly food? Burger Point also serves wings with barbecue, Asian teriyaki and other seasonal sauces and fries. READ MORE
22221 N. Pepper Rd., Lake Barrington
A fully operational brewhouse, this Lake Barrington gem has been wetting suburban whistles since 1996. Its in-house restaurant opened in 2003 and offers an enormous menu and a private party room for up to 200 guests. It has a full bar with 11 hand crafted beers on tap. READ MORE
1448 N. Wells St., Old Town
This Old Town bar and eatery is known for its barbecue baby back ribs, jumbo glasses of vodka-spiked lemonade, and of course, its cozy fireplace-warmed setting. A lineup of specialty burgers includes one piled high with housemade barbecue sauce, pulled pork and bacon. To wash it down, there's a handful of Goose Island brews on draft, plus the beforementioned vodka-lemonade in 16-, 32- and 44-ounce sizes. Though Fireplace is a bar first and foremost, it also gathers a dinner crowd for steaks and seafood. READ MORE
3700 N. Clark St., Wrigleyville
A decade ago, Billy Dec, CEO of Rockit Ranch, opened Rockit Bar & Grill in River North, and three years ago, he opened this second location in Lakeview just steps from Wrigley Field. When Dec noticed that customers were tweeting him photos almost exclusively of burgers at the bar's Wrigley location, he asked his managers to pull sales records and found that burgers accounted for 75 percent of orders. So, they revamped the space into a specialty burger spot, with choices like The Hottie, a spicy burger with cream cheese-stuffed peppers on top. READ MORE
6262 N. Harlem Ave., Norwood Park
This old fashioned Edison Park fast food joint features hand-flipped burgers, Chicago-style hot dogs and warm, drippy gyros. Eight flavors of ice cream may be eaten from a cone or sipped from a straw. READ MORE
3281 W. Armitage Ave., Logan Square
This quirky neighborhood hangout comes to Logan Square courtesy of Mike Dyra and Joe Sabath, the former owners of Cleos in West Town and Bucktown. The decor is quirky -- think marbles everywhere you look -- and the menu is, in a word, wallet-friendly. Most menu items are under $5, from a spicy mayo-drizzled fried chicken hoagie to pita pizzas to diner-style burgers with customizable toppings. A dozen beers on tap include local craft picks such as Half Acre Daisy Cutter and Three Floyds Alpha King. The kitchen stays open late churning out booze-soaking snacks such as fried cheddar cheese curds and wings matched with sauces such as bourbon barbecue and pico lime, a creamy chili-lime sauce. Vegetarians, don't miss the homemade garlic-avocado hummus, veggie burger or veggie hoagie. Daily deals such as $3 Jameson shots every day and a $4 bloody mary bar on Sundays are sure to keep the neighborhood's so-called broke hipsters happy. The only thing that could make everyone happier? The 90-seat back patio that's tented and heated during the winter. READ MORE
25 E. Delaware Place, Gold Coast
Owner Debbie Sharpe first opened Cru Cafe in the early 2000s and then transitioned it to Feast to mirror its Bucktown counterpart. In June 2012, she brought Cru back to its original Gold Coast spot, serving wine and desserts in a comfortable setting.READ MORE
3101 N. Sheffield Ave., Lake View
This dark North Side bar is flea market chic. Inverted lamps and picture frames hang from the ceiling, and snowboards and dominoes hang on the walls. There are plenty of cozy leather booths and tables for conversation. For a more intimate feel, wander downstairs into the candle-lit Baby Atlas lounge, where you can sink into cushy couches. Tunes vary from Guided By Voices to the Dave Matthews Band to Johnny Cash. Libations range from 10-ounce martinis to an eclectic wine list with five whites and nine reds by the glass. Try the Envy Martini -- Absolut Citron, Midori and sour mix, or the Mandalay Martini -- Bacardi Limon, Midori and pineapple juice. Matilda is also into single malt scotches and bourbons and there are 12 beers on tap. For eats, dig into the flat bread pizza, shrimp diablo pasta, and walnut and apple quesadilla. READ MORE
2100 W. Irving Park Rd., North Center
The name is Irish, but you won't be deluged by Emerald Isle kitsch at this friendly neighborhood restaurant and pub. You may, however, find yourself enchanted by the tableside magic show. Located in North Center, O'Donovan's draws a good mix of late-twentysomething blue- and white-collar patrons with a full menu (options include everything from burgers to prime rib) and a healthy selection of microbrews. An expansive beer garden is covered and heated in inclement weather. Magicians perform tableside magic Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, in an homage to the bar's original owners who were magicians. READ MORE
5509 Park Place, Rosemont
This Irish pub is the first resident of enormous new Park at Rosemont, an entertainment hub that plans to house a bowling alley, Mexican restaurant, German beer hall, outpost of Zanies Comedy Club and other nightlife options. At Five Roses, expect Irish-inspired fare such as pot pies, fish 'n' chips and Irish stew alongside burgers, sandwiches and other pub fare. More than a dozen draft beer selections highlight the drink menu, which also features brews by the bottle, and wine by the glass and bottle. The pub also plans to host live music regularly.READ MORE
5759 N. Broadway, Edgewater
This Edgewater joint is one of those everything-under-the-sun fast food that serves a range of not-very-good-for-you delights like deep-fried seafood, hot dogs and barbecue. Pizza is sold by the slice and by the whole pie, with standard meat and veggie toppings available. Salads, sandwiches, burgers and chicken round out the menu, which also includes pastas, sold as individual entrees and—get this—by the bucket. Said buckets, filled with spaghetti or mostaccioli and meatballs or sausage, feed three to four people and come with garlic bread and (hey, why not?) cole slaw. READ MORE
1039 N. Western Ave., Ukrainian Village
This casual, modern American BYOB diner has a "come one, come all" vibe, catering to music fans heading to (or from) a show at its next-door neighbor, Empty Bottle, as well as neighbors from Ukrainian Village and Wicker Park. The place underwent a remodel in early 2011 to give it a cleaner look. Expect to find afternoon diners, hangover brunchers and everyone in between feasting on American comfort food. And there's always a twist, for instance, the banana walnut French toast with sea salt whipped cream or Dunbarton blue cheese agnolotti. Look for daily specials scrawled across the blackboard and with walls full of rotating pieces from local artists.READ MORE
