Fruit of the vineWine bars
The Bluebird1749 N. Damen | 773-486-2473
Outfitted with fancy chandeliers, cozy fireplaces, and lots of dark, pretty wood, Debra Sharpe’s reincarnated Cru Cafe & Wine Bar exudes all the elegance and luxury you’d expect of the Gold Coast—and at a commensurate price. Not surprisingly, the wine list is the centerpiece, with more than 50 wines, ports, brandies, grappas, and sakes available by the glass or in flights of three, plus 30 half-bottle options and another 400-odd bottles in the cellar. The menu offers a range of well-executed nibbles, from charcuterie and cheese plates to some substantial sandwiches and entrees, including a “Cru club” of Maine lobster, beef tenderloin, and avocado with chipotle mayo. Taken as a whole the scene at this space (next door to Sharpe’s gourmet take-out shop the Goddess and Grocer) screams class, and it passes a critical test with flying colors: the warm hospitality the smooth staff showed this couple of scuzzy-looking journalists was downright gratifying. —Martha Bayne
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
$$Bar/Lounge, Small Plates | Lunch: friday-Sunday; Dinner: seven days | Open late: Friday & Saturday till 1, Monday-Thursday till midnight
In Fine Spirits5420 N. Clark | 773-334-9463
This multipurpose place in west Lincoln Park has a classic dark wood bar with a fireplace, a big-screen TV, and a lively neighborhood clientele. Beyond that is a billiards room, followed by an intimate wine bar with deep mulberry walls, dark oak wainscoting, and two more fireplaces. There are two menus, both available in either room. Jack’s features ambitious American comfort food—a potpie studded with chicken and vegetables and an ample pork chop dinner with creamy mashed potatoes, sauteed fresh spinach, and a mustard cream sauce—plus basics like sandwiches, burgers, and pizzas. The abbreviated wine bar menu has a few upscale appetizers like caramelized baked Brie with roasted almonds and artichoke cheese dip, more gourmet pizzas, seasonal cheese flights, and desserts from nearby Bittersweet Bakery. —Laura Levy Shatkin
