Neighborhood: Bucktown

Now this place has nowhere near the best pizza in Chicago or Italian cuisine for that matter, but for the cost and ambiance, it sure is a great place to take a date! You almost literally walk through a time capsule here, where every aspect of this restaurant is very late 60s / early 70s mobster scene. One has to wonder if ole boy Quentin had scoped this place out when he was looking for a place to film the bar scenes in Pulp Fiction! In fact, I believe the juke box even has some Marvin on the play list!

The food is pretty decent, but again, nothing to write home about; it’s certainly not egg noodles and ketchup like Henry Hill complained about in Goodfellas! They do a pretty good job with the steaks, and the mozzarella sticks are huge and pretty tasty. And if you’re looking for a classic drink concoction, that’s what they do best around here, so feel free to go with the flow and go totally retro - good and strong! If you want something more on the modern side of things, the bar staff are very accommodating and will take their time to make sure they mix your drink to your specifications.

What diners go for is the very charming, laid back and dim atmosphere, where the service is by far superior than just about any other Italian place in the city. Each patron is made to feel like an old friend that has been coming here for years, offering up just the right amount of service. And those big, round booths in the bar area serve as the perfect spots for getting in some PDA time!

If you decide to keep it at home for the night, this place does a great job with their delivery service. The prices are pretty reasonable, the portions very large, and the drivers are pretty fast. An added bonus is their drivers will stop and pick up beer and cigarettes for you, so if the weather is pretty lousy or you don’t want to lose the moment by having to get up and hit the liquor store, that bit of info is a gem within itself. Also, keep this place in mind for parties, since Congress sells a Stadium Pizza that’s bigger than two large ones for a really low price!

Looking for an original vinyl of the Scorpions “In Trance” album? How about that killer CD by The Pixies? Well grab up that list and head down to Reckless Records! It’s a store that remembers what it’s like to actually collect music on mediums other than iPods owned by independent owners. It’s also where all the cool kids still go, even if some of those kids happen to be pushing the envelope on their AARP memberships!

This trio of record stores located in some of the hippest neighborhoods around town have a major cult following by a vast amount of folks who still like to buy their music in person. On top of the latest releases by underground and cult favorites, Reckless Records carries a fantastic collection of used CDs, and they even have cassettes and vinyl as well! How cool is that? While the prevalent genres stocked are rock and alternative, quite a few other styles are also available, making this the perfect spot to scope out those hard to find tracks. A small selection of vintage posters, t shirts and video games are also available for die hard collectors.

Of course, since they carry a good deal of used stuff, they obviously need to get it from somewhere. Folks in the know frequently unload their used items here in confidence, knowing they are going to fetch a good price for them. These guys are very good about keeping track of where everything comes from, so shoppers can also feel good about knowing nothing here is “hot”, making all three of these indie shops great places to support.

The fun, helpful and extremely knowledgeable staff really earn their chops, and they genuinely love what they do, many in underground bands themselves, so chat it up with a local celebrity or two! No music trivia question goes unanswered, so those looking for the extremely hard to find can begin their quests here.

The Double Door gets its name from the two entrances it has (the main on Damen, the other on Milwaukee) and By far, this is probably the best place to catch a small show in Chicago! They feature promising up and comers all the way up to the likes of the Rolling Stones, and therefore is undoubtedly a highly sought after venue by local acts and traveling musicians alike.

Due to its direct proximity to the Blue Line train and tons of great hangouts just steps away, folks tend to pack this intimate venue on Friday and Saturday nights no matter who's on the bill. The stage is decently elevated, allowing just about everyone to catch a good view of the bands no matter where they happen to hang out, and the long bar allows for the drinks to pour without missing a beat. Even on extremely crowded nights, folks can find an escape by hitting the smaller bar downstairs below the stage, and is where the bands tend to congregate after their gigs.

What's nice about The Double Door is the large variety of acts they book, offering up an eclectic mix of music that attracts folks from all corners, be it Alternative or Metal, Hip Hop or Funk, and just about anything else folks could want to hear. The scene is dark and gritty, which most people find to be the perfect element for concert going, leaving the pompous arenas to eat their dust.

Concert goes should take note that parking in the vicinity can be pretty hard to come by at night, especially on the weekends. Also the traffic in that immediate area can get really tight, due to folks bar hopping and darting in and out of traffic. So do like the locals do and either hoof it a few blocks or take advantage of the all night train running overhead! Folks driving in just need to be wary of the permit only parking on many of the side streets to avoid getting ticketed or towed.

Looking to take in a night of classic Italian food and follow it up with the best mixed drinks in town? Want it all wrapped up in a swanky supper club lounge that The Chairman would approve of? Then head to Club Lucky - serving up the absolute best martinis in town, right alongside some wonderful food at gastronomical portions!

Located off the area's main streets, this former speak easy embraces its heyday by keeping it real, mixing up fantastic concoctions like their Killer Martinis, garnished with either bleu cheese or anchovy stuffed olives made right there at home. This noisy, dimly lit 50's era establishment would make Tony Soprano proud, and is just as welcoming to the eclectic locals and politicians alike. While the upbeat scene may make some folks wary of pushy, in and out service, they can be rest assured knowing that taking their time to enjoy their drinks with pleasant company is perfectly fine.

For those deciding to go ahead and order up some food, the Sicilian menu is sure to please. The grilled calamari always needs to be boxed up due to its large servings, but comes in at a close second to their pasta, steaks and chops. The d?cor begs folks to enjoy twirling that enormous plate of spaghetti they offer, complimented of course with a nice Chianti as the likes of Sinatra croon through the air. And yes, heavenly tiramisu is featured on their dessert menu and is always a favorite!

So yes, Club Lucky is a must do, perhaps before taking in a show at the nearby Double Door or while on the hunt for a late night bar!

If you and your date have a panging sweet tooth and are looking to stop someplace special, Margie's Candies is the place for you! Jump into Mr. Peabody's Wayback Machine and set the dial to 1921 to watch this icon get built. Then, fast forward to witness the Beatles' licking their lips there after their first Chicago performance at Comisky Park (that's Sox Park to you newbies!) and notice how little things have changed. Then return back home and still notice how nothing has really changed, except that the owners' kids and grandkids are now the owners, and that Perry Como won't play from the booth's juke boxes anymore.

People travel from all over the world to partake in Margie's delicious frozen dairy treats and mouth watering chocolates. With a half gallon home made specialty sundae touted as the World's Largest and another housed in a vase tall enough for dozens of long stem roses (aptly named the Eiffel Tower) and over fifty (50!) other varies to choose from, it is little wonder why! It is also little wonder why folks are willing to wait up to five times longer for an ice cream at Margie's than they ever would at a 31 Flavors, because quite frankly, it is just plain worth it. Those get topped off with just about every confectionary imaginable, so the sugar fiends can really get a taste of that old school charm.

For those who really want to set their nostalgia meter off the charts, ordering up a root beer float, shake or even a nearly forgotten chocolate phosphate is a great way to stir memories. Of course, the name signifies candy, and the owners sure do make some great ones, making this candy shop the perfect place for picking up a box of chocolates for sweethearts.

The inside and outside d?cor is very dated, but in a good way. Yellowing newspaper clippings and photos adorn the walls, along with dolls and teddy bears, with the minimal seating covered in kitschy vinyl. The place could stand some sprucing up, but just like repairing an antique piece of furniture, sometimes value becomes lost during restoration. Some folks also tend to become stricken with their laid back service, but good things come to those who wait.

Bicycle enthusiasts have a place to call home in Chicago, and it is located just a minute ride west of the Doubledoor. Handlebar's extends free plates of fries and drink specials to bike messengers on Monday nights and are hotspots for bike rider organizations like the monthly Critical Mass. While not entirely vegetarian, veggie folks also frequently patronize Handlebar's , due to their wide variety of vegan and vegetarian selections, as well as their "no farm, no fowl" menu policy. A few fish selections however are present.

For veggie novices, choosing items featuring seitan verses tofu is probably a safer bet, as that wheat meat tends to take on more of a familiar flavor than its soy based counterpart. The Barbecued Seitan sandwich is an easy choice, and the Apple Celery Slaw it’s paired with is especially unique and delicious. Add on a plate of home made Fries or their awesome Garlic Mashed Potatoes, along with a good pint for the perfect, guilt free and peddle powering meal.

While they are now serving breakfast, the menu is somewhat lacking. However, its location and the somewhat easy parking in the area allows those without bikes to make it over and possibly convert. The patio out back is a nice brunch spot in summer, too.

The overall "come as you are" vibe present really knocks the wind out of any first night jitters, making Handlebar's a great place to just hang when the bike's on the rack. The ambiance is anything short of whimsical, fusing old bike parts for the furniture. Take it all in and chill out with one of their interesting beer and wine selections or try one of the micro soda brews available. Intelligentsia coffee and a nice selection of teas are also available, which is a nice touch.

The only real issue at Handlebar's is the overall inconsistency. Sometimes the service can be outstanding, and at other times it can be a little too casual. Therefore, those who expect this place to have hired the wait staff from a pricey joint downtown are seriously out of luck. Roll with it and just chill!

What can be said about Jane's Restaurant that hasn’t been already? Is it the charming, country exterior? How about the beautiful White Room inside? Or, can it simply be the wide selection of fresh, healthy entrees? Answer: it’s all the above, and then some!

Even from Jane’s unassuming exterior, something nudges you to go on in and give it a try. More than anything else, it resonates a bygone era, more akin to Grandma’s house out in the country than a restaurant in the pulsating Buck town / Wicker Park neighborhood. As you walk in, you again are sent traveling back in time, this time to a Victorian-era bakery or ice cream parlor. The glue that binds the two together is the use of white and cream tones, covering just about every inch of the establishment. What would normally seem to be a bit institutional or even sanitary actually works in Jane’s favor, creating a gentle calm and peace, allowing you to just be.

The wait staff is prompt but not quick or hurried, intuitively knowing just when you’re ready to begin ordering. The selections they go over with you have that American contemporary theme, but seem to touch upon a nice hodge podge of everything perfectly, from the Pepper Encrusted New York Strip streak to the Creole Blackened Grouper and right on down to the Mustard Glazed Chicken breast. A nice selection of domestic and international wines are kept cool in their cellar, complimenting their wonderful, home style dishes. Also, vegetarians seem to have found a new haunt in town, as almost half of their choices cater to them.

What has truly made Jane’s stand out though is their wonderful breakfasts. The eggs Benedict are simply superb and the pancakes include apples or apricots sprinkled with powdered sugar and complimented with warm syrup. Even the coffee is a couple grades higher: Intelligentsia roasts replace the standard food service beans other restaurants push off on their patrons. Plenty of other choices are also available, each prepared tastefully yet just like you’d expect at Grandma’s. And yes, go for their Sunday brunch! While brunch has become the new standard for most restaurants these days, Jane’s has taken this notion to a whole new level, adding just a touch of Grandma’s love to every item.

So when you find yourselves in Bucktown, be sure to give Jane’s a try, morning, noon or night! She’s saving a table just for you.