In southwest Chicago, there is an honest-to-goodness hill that runs through the Dan Ryan Woods down into Beverly. (I’ve seen another one, too, in Pullman; in this city that’s like spotting a rare bird.) Descending it on 87th Street with the woods to the left, if you’re able to block out some powerful evidence to the contrary, you can almost think you’re coming into town off a mountain, and at the bottom of the hill you’ll find a bar where you should stop, apres-ski, for a drink.
Embrace a travel theme and go north or south. Horse Thief Hollow (10426 S. Western), a capacious family-friendly restaurant with a bar and a barbecue program, opened recently in Beverly. A mixed-‘cue plate is pretty good; better still are spicy chicken wings and “spent grain” pretzels, deeply flavorful little bar bits served with a goopy cheese-product-type sauce. When I tried it, Kitchen Sink Pale Ale tasted like it included the dishwater, too, but there are other beers, plus wine and a thoughtful cocktail list.
Other worthwhile south-side stops
The Cove Lounge Hyde Park
If the vintage marquee and “Welcome U of C Students!” banner don’t make you feel all warm and fuzzy, the Croatian grog might. Continue reading»
Del Toro Pilsen
On Halsted between Nightwood and the Skylark, there’s a little storefront without a sign. You should go in. Continue reading»
Jimmy’s Woodlawn Tap Hyde Park1172 E. 55th, 773-643-5516.
Quintessentially Hyde Park, and frequented by an eclectic mix of locals, students, and professors, Jimmy’s is a dive with a dim, cavernous interior and a quirky soul. Continue reading»
Martin’s Corner Bar & Grill Pilsen2058 W. 22nd Pl., 773-847-5515.
Remember “Bill Swerski’s Superfans” from Saturday Night Live? Those guys are real, and they hang out at Martin’s. Continue reading»
Norman’s Bistro Kenwood1001 E. 43rd, normansbistro.com.
The wine bar in the back of this Kenwood restaurant is classy and open—lots of exposed brick, artwork on the walls, and a picture window overlooking Ellis Avenue. Continue reading»
Simone’s Pilsen960 W. 18th, 312-666-8601, simonesbar.com.
This resto-pub is a poster child for repurposed materials—wood was reclaimed from Westinghouse High School—but the drinks and food transcend the spectacle. Continue reading»
Tac’s Lounge Washington Park5114 S. Prairie, 773-536-2500.
“Who you looking for?” I was asked upon stepping into this dimly lit Washington Park establishment, the first sign that it doesn’t attract too many outsiders. Continue reading»
