Neighborhood: Loop

Beer and fried chicken, anyone? If this sounds like your cup of tea, you’re going to want to check out Stanley's Kitchen and Tap. The one I visited was located on Racine, right off 290, in the West Loop. A huge blue sign stands tall and calls out to your inner drunkard.

I have a friend who just happens to live a hop, skip and a jump away from this joint, so one Saturday night we headed there for a few drinks, planning to catch a nice buzz and then head somewhere else. But truth be told, we never left.

When you walk in, the place is split into two parts. There’s a quaint, cutely decorated dining area where you could ideally take your aunt Judy to lunch. Then, there’s the bar, a dimly lit, cozy, sexy area that is warmed up by a rustic (fake) fireplace. It sort of gives off the feeling of a secluded pub.

Me and my friend got a table. We weren’t surrounded by many people, although the night was still young. I ordered my favorite: a gin and grapefruit. My friend had beer.

I was surprised when the drinks arrived. My gin and juice came in a huge glass, as big as the mug of beer my friend got! I guess I was expecting to get shafted as usual. When I took a sip and the liquor proportion wasn’t to my liking, the super-cool waitress snuck behind the bar and dumped a whole crap-load more gin in my glass. Kick-awesome!

Needless to say, three more of these babies and I was pretty toasty. The conversation got lively. We ordered food. Me: a giant salad full of fresh, juicy chunks of cucumber and tomatoes. My friend: a huge, sloppy, greasy burger overflowing with cheese. I like salads and all, but I was mesmerized by this burger.

At some point, I think I fell out of my chair. But the waitress was still super great about everything! That’s what makes Stanley’s special. The staff really takes the time to get it just right.

And just at the point when I thought I was gonna be sick, the heroic waitress came by with a magical concoction of mashed potatoes and gravy and literally saved my life! There’s nothing like some carbs to bring you back to sobriety!

I hear Stanley’s has a great Sunday brunch, but I don’t know. We didn’t wake up the next day till it was already afternoon.

Elegance, sophistication, class and prestige: these are all the things you won’t find at Ronny’s! What you will find is a great place to sit down and grab a filling and satisfying meal with your coworkers, served on actual dinner ware, and won’t clean out your wallet. Just about everyone goes here at one time or another, many of whom are regulars, all chowing down on some good grub at great prices.

Ronny’s is a Chicago institution for decades that has been used and mentioned in numerous films. It is a frequent haunt of local celebrities and politicians, due to its proximity to the government buildings, train system hub and theatre and shopping districts. Of course, what keeps the place running is all the regular Joes and Janes that have come in over the years. It ain’t healthy, but it sure is good!

When you enter this cafeteria style restaurant, grab a tray and silverware and take a quick look at the overhead boards. Be forewarned most people already know what they want, so step aside for them! The 8oz T-Bone lunch special is what almost everyone goes for, seared on the grill to your liking, served with garlic bread, baked potato and salad. Tips and the super tender half barbecued chicken are also popular choices. Vegetarians who tag along may want to check out the giant slices of spinach and mushroom pizzas. Drinks are for a separate charge, which does include bottled beer and wine, though most look forward to their delicious fruit punch with watermelon wedges in the pitcher. Folks on a budget just bring their own.

What’s nice about this place is there is almost always a nice place to sit, with tall cushion backed chairs and booths, including an upstairs area with a giant TV. No one is in a rush to kick you out, and the bus boys make frequent sweeps to clear the table for you. Unlike most fast food joints, you are not expected to bus your own; when you leave, leave your plates and trays on the table. What a concept!

Now it’s been said by fine dining snobs that the steaks they hustle have a distinct possibility of being carved from Secretariat, but for $5.95, the price can’t be beat! The service is quick and attentive, the atmosphere is very cozy and casual, and you just might rub elbows with some of the city’s most important people. Including you!

What was once an almost completely hidden gem in the Loop, tucked away in the back of a jeweler’s mall, is now all the rave for those on the hunt for cheap lunch eats!

The current location is pretty dismal and gritty, but the food is so good that it makes you forget all about the horrible fluorescent lighting and tacky train station “artwork”, set up next door to that foul mouthed sailor’s cajun chicken joint. No, Oasis certainly doesn’t describe the surroundings, but one bite will make you rethink that first assumption.

If you have never had falafel, then make this your first experience! Try its fried, crunchy yet moist goodness in pita sandwich form; it will make you will lick your fingers after you polish off that last morsel! Or, go for the veggie combo plate, where you can get a taste of yummy stuffed grape leaves, hummus and a bit of salad with pita bread for dippin’. Other suggestions include the kabobs, be it in beef, lamb or chicken form, and the lentil soup is simply superb. It also happens to be one of the few places to locate an IBC root beer to wash down your meal, which I happen to be a huge fan of!

Since Middle Eastern food is traditionally communal, make sure everyone gets a little something different, so you can all pick off each others’ plates. This food mall has quite a bit of seating and is pretty loud, making it perfectly acceptable to be boisterous with your Mmmm’s! However, since the decor is less than inviting, I suggest getting your food to go, unless looks aren’t your number one priority when eating such a fabulous meal. Head over to Millennium Park when the weather is cooperating, or duck inside to the Cultural Center when it’s not. Of course, it’s always fun to bring something that awesome back to the office, so you guys can force your coworkers to bask in its intoxicating aroma while they relegate to their mushy sandwiches and stale chips.

It’s a pay day Friday and it’s 5pm. You and your coworkers need to shake the week off, and you need some joint nearby to knock back a few. Where to go? Hit that cool Olde Englishe Pubbe - Monk’s! (Yes, the extra “E’s” are tongue in cheek.) Okay I admit it - I’m a sucker for places that ooze that old world charm chalet regalia to them. It just feels so cozy! But there is a whole lot more to be had at this place than just its looks, because the food and drinks are so on time. And throwing peanut shells on the floor is just plain fun, okay?

When you open those gigantic wooden doors and walk inside this dark, charming pub, the steel city skyline and the roar of the overhead train can feel like it’s a million miles away. You crush peanut shells on the wooden floors as you scope out a spot and snatch up a bowl for yourselves. You may then notice the glass bottles in the walls, if your eyes have adjusted to the darkness. But if you haven’t, you have at least picked up on the smell of the burgers, and of the chatter and laughter from the other Loopers who are also looking to unwind for the weekend. That’s what this place is all about, and it does a good job of doing it.

Some folks tap this place during the week for their lunch breaks, but the service is rather mixed depending on how busy they get. However, you rarely wait more than fifteen minutes to get a seat, so if you have an hour break, it works out. Most people order the burgers here, be it beef, turkey or veggie - all of which are delicious! And curly fries are just plain awesome! If burgers aren’t not your thing, you can relax, as an extensive bar menu is available to accommodate all tastes. Try the portabella sandwich - it’s incredible!

If I need to point anything out about this place is that you can’t miss it, but no one else can, either. Therefore, it’s a good idea to nominate one guy from your group to leave the office early and scope out a spot for the rest of yas, because the happy hour crowd can really pack the place. And after that first encounter, you just might have to set up a rotation on that nomination, because it might end up being your group’s regular thang!

It seems that just about everyone is experimenting with a healthier lifestyle these days, even if it’s just sampling a few new menu ideas. The bets place downtown to do a little lunch time experimentation is at Kramer’s, where you can try a few new entrees and do a little shopping at the same time.

As you walk in, you’ll immediately pick up on the health nut vibe, from that distinctive vitamin and incense smell to the hippie and hipster types wandering around. So much to shop for and to check out! For the regulars, this place feels just so cozy and welcoming, but newcomers might already be feeling a little overwhelmed. For the latter, I suggest to head straight for the back and go up the stairs to the little café.

The overhead menu on the left shows off the vast concoction of fresh fruit and vegetable juices, and on the right are the lunch items. Go for a lentil soup or a lunch special, like the veggie burrito. If you’re not sure about liking vegetable juice, ask the guys behind the counter to exchange it for an apple juice instead - fresh squeezed apple juice is just so, so good and makes you feel like a kid again! Be sure to season your food at the counter before sitting, because there is absolutely none in it, but is fantastic after you put your personal touch to it! Just remember to pay downstairs when you leave.

Once you’ve finished, go back downstairs and explore. The staff is very helpful, and there is a wealth of information to be had. It’s a little more expensive than bigger stores that carry the same products, but when there’s a sale, it’s very worth it. And hey - students get a 10% discount! What’s also nice is there are many products at this store that are made locally and are otherwise hard to find. And what gal doesn’t love testing hand creams and smelling the shampoo bottles?

Also, across from the register is a prepackaged cooler that has some dangerously good “health food”. The Totally Vegan products are really good, especially the seitan barbecue and the “corned beef” sandwiches - almost identical to the real deal! Pick some of this stuff up and bring it back to the office for even more experimenting! It’s little wonder why all the hipster bike messengers congest this section! Just remember when you leave to grab a store flyer for your next visit, because you’ll definitely be coming back!

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.