Untitled - The Infatuation

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Introduction
Welcome to the first annual Infatuation Chicago Summer Guide. The goal here is
simple - to help you find the best outdoor eating and drinking that this city has
to offer. And we aren’t talking about the bar or restaurant around the corner with
a neglected table or two out front. We’re talking about legitimate patios and
outdoor areas where you’ll want to hang.
The additional caveat is that we want our Summer Guide to be useful, which
means you’ll hopefully find a few places you didn’t know were around. It also
means you won’t find any details about a certain giant fake boat on the North
Avenue beach. You don’t need us for that - just follow the regretted tattoos.
If this is your first introduction to The Infatuation, then welcome. Think of us like
your friend who tells you about all the hot restaurants, except we know what
we’re talking about and aren’t afraid to tell it like it is. Welcome to our world, and
get ready to have the best summer ever.
-Team Infatuation
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Table of Contents
Summer Eating: Restaurants
Summer Drinking: Bars
Homestead on the Roof
Bistro Campagne
Drum Bar
Summer House Santa Monica
Tanta
Kaiser Tiger
Piccolo Sogno
The Duck Inn
Homeslice
The Promontory
Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen
Frontier
Calumet Fisheries
Parson’s Chicken & Fish
Mott Street
90 Miles Cuban Cafe
Brown Bag Seafood
Bang Bang Pie and Biscuits
Big Star
Spacca Napoli
Fish Bar
Jack & Ginger’s
Village Tap
The Dock At Montrose
RM Champagne Salon
The J Parker
Sportsman’s Club
Reggie’s Bar
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Table of Contents
Summer Treats: Ice Cream
Bobtail
Black Dog Gelato
Original Rainbow Cone
Sugar Shack
Mario’s Italian Lemonade
Annette’s
Scooter’s Frozen Custard
Margies Candies
Paciugo Ice Cream
George’s Ice Cream
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Summer eating:
restaurants
Two small tables flailing around on the sidewalk don’t make a
great outdoor dining area. This isn’t amateur hour, and you
deserve only the best. These are the ultimate spots for backyard,
rooftop, patio, and garden dining in Chicago.
Homestead on the Roof
1924 W Chicago Ave
Homestead on the Roof is, not surprisingly, all about the roof. If you want to
pretend like there are trees and plants in this city, then this is the rooftop for
you because green stuff actually exists here. The farm to table restaurant is one
of the few places that legitimately feels like a farm to table kind of meal.
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Summer House Santa Monica
1954 N Halsted St
It feels like summer year-round at Summer House. The Lettuce Entertain You
team’s ode to California is laid back and friendly, which is quite the opposite
from most of their River North digs. The fresh, bright, and colorful ingredients
will make you want to dance around with candy canes and lollipops like a Katy
Perry video in no time.
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Piccolo Sogno
464 N Halsted St
Something about pasta and the outdoors is like sweet music to our ears. And even
though the corner of Grand and Milwaukee isn’t exactly the Tuscan hills, it’s the
closest you’re going to get around here. The back patio is at least an escape from
the bustling corner, and the Italian food is top notch. That should be expected
when it’s owned by two dudes named Tony Priolo and Ciro Longobardo.
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Homeslice
938 W Webster Ave
GETSOMEHOMIE might be the best Instagram handle of any restaurant we’ve
ever seen. Homeslice is business in the front and party in the back. The Lincoln
Park pizza joint looks unassuming, but then you hit up their back patio and are
struck with a giant sign that says BE AWESOME. No, YOU be awesome,
Homeslice, and keep serving us pizza and beers all summer long.
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Frontier
1072 N Milwaukee Ave
Whole smoked animals, that’s why you need to be going to Frontier this
summer. Get your friends together and commit to a night of ordering a whole
pig, whole goat, or whole alligator. If the whole animal sounds like too much,
then you can pop by for a meaty and gamey meal like it’s 1621 and you just
got back from a long hunt.
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Parson’s Chicken & Fish
2952 W Armitage Ave
Is Parson’s the best patio in the city? Many would say yes, and we agree it's
definitely in the running. It’s tough to beat eating fried chicken and drinking
Negroni slushies on a sunny day. The crowds are the only thing that might
keep you away.
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90 Miles Cuban Cafe
2540 W Armitage Ave
We feel like Cuban food has to be eaten outside. Ninety Miles has a small
patio in the front of the restaurant on Armitage, and while the crux of it in
the back is technically covered, it’s all open air. Add in the BYOB policy and
Cuban specialties, and you’ll understand why this place is worthy of a
Summer Guide note. It’s perfect for when you want to have a great time
without breaking the bank.
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Bang Bang Pie and Biscuits
2051 N California Ave
Bang Bang isn't the kind of place you want to drink, which you might think would
automatically disqualify a restaurant from our Summer Guide. But guess again,
because who needs alcohol when you can get spiritually drunk on delicious
breakfast biscuits and pie? There’s no better restaurant to spend a relaxing morning
or casual afternoon outside.
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Spacca Napoli
1769 W Sunnyside Ave
This city might be built on deep dish, but when it’s deathly hot and humid,
a big ass piece from Lou Mal’s might not sound so great. That’s why Spacca
Napoli is the way to go this summer. The patio in Ravenswood serves our
favorite thin crust in town, not to mention an awesome homemade burrata
special that inevitably runs out every week. You want to hang on this patio.
You need this pizza.
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Bistro Campagne
4518 N Lincoln Ave
If you’re looking to make an impression on the opposite sex, look no further
than Bistro Campagne. Make a serious night out of things with a serious French
meal on their lovely patio. If you can’t seal the deal after this dinner, it probably
wasn’t meant to be.
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Tanta
118 W Grand Ave
Although we may not have an ocean (no, North Ave. Beach doesn't count), that
doesn't mean you can't enjoy a few fruity drinks and citrusy seafood under the
Midwestern sun. Make your way to Tanta for a bangup Peruvian fusion meal
complete with ceviches and pisco sours on the rooftop. The food is incredible,
the music is bumpin', and the people are beautiful – you should probably come
dressed to impress.
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The Duck Inn
2701 S Eleanor St
The Duck Inn might singlehandedly put Bridgeport on the map as far as new
school dining goes. The food here is great, but the enclosed patio out back
might be even better. The picturesque fence looks like something your neighbor
put up last week, and when you pair that with what’s coming out of the kitchen,
it’s a summer spot you need to visit.
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The Promontory
5311 South Lake Park Avenue West
We told ourselves we are going to spend more time in Hyde Park this summer, and
you should do the same. The Promontory is a good start to helping all of us achieve
this goal. The ambience and outdoor patio is probably better than the food itself,
but on a nice day you won’t care. Make a trip here before or after a visit to the
Museum of Science and Industry, because nothing builds an appetite quite like
mustering up some kinetic energy to create an enclosed storm at the museum.
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Calumet Fisheries
3259 E 95th St
They don’t technically have a patio in the traditional sense of the word, but make
no mistake, a trip to Calumet Fisheries is one of the smartest things you can do
this summer. The tiny fish shack sits perched on a bridge over the Calumet River,
and their smoked salmon is one of our favorite things in the world to eat. Pull
your car to the side of the road, take a seat at one of the handful of tables, and
enjoy the fact you made it out of the city at least a little bit.
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Mott Street
1401 N Ashland Ave
Fusion is a term that’s casually thrown around, but the Asian fusion flavors here
are pretty unique. We’re guessing crunchy crab brain fried rice and kimchi and
oaxaca empanadas aren’t things you’ve eaten before. And when you eat it all on
Mott Street’s patio this summer, everything will taste even better.
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Brown Bag Seafood
340 E Randolph St
You need to be brown bagging it to the park with food from Brown Bag Seafood.
If there’s one thing Chicagoans don’t do well, it’s take advantage of the absurd
amount of park space near Lake Michigan. Roll to Brown Bag Seafood, grab a
fresh fish sandwich, and either kick it in their lounge chairs or take that food with
you to the lakefront or park.
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Big Star
1531 N Damen Ave
Big Star is to patio season as Patrick Kane is to the Chicago Blackhawks. Not sure
if one can continue to exist without the other. You could hate tacos, and Big Star
would still be one of the best places in the city to hang, drink infinity margaritas,
and have yourself a day. Bring your dog too, because Sparky is welcome and
should be allowed to get in on the fun.
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Fish Bar
2956 N Sheffield Ave
We realize this isn’t exactly the East Coast when it comes to clam shacks and
lobster rolls, but if that’s a craving you need to fill, then Fish Bar is the place
to do it. The small patio is quiet and refreshing, even if there’s nothing but
concrete, an L train, and a hospital nearby.
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Summer drinking:
bars
Summer weekends are all about enjoying the outdoors, with an
alcoholic beverage of course. Whether you’re looking for a
quaint back patio or a rooftop with great skyline views, here’s
where you should hang out and have a drink.
Drum Bar
201 E Delaware Pl
There are a lot of high rise buildings with bars and rooftops in River North,
Gold Coast, and Streeterville. But we definitely don’t want to hang out at a lot
of them. Drum Bar, on the other hand, is a good mix of great city views and
low-key fun. You won’t necessarily run into some crowds you might be trying
to avoid on this beautiful terrace inside the Rafaello Hotel.
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Kaiser Tiger
1415 W Randolph St
Are you into bocce ball? If so, you’ll be into Kaiser Tiger. But all you really need
to be into is meat and great beer. Located at the westernmost part of Randolph
where it intersects Ogden, Kaiser Tiger is the perfect spot for anything bacon
and a cold drink.
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Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen
4750 N Lincoln Ave
Gene’s is a place we feel particularly great about including in our inaugural
Summer Guide for two reasons. One, you need to spend more time in Lincoln
Square. And two, the place is awesome. It’s a full fledged Polish deli and
market on the inside, with a rooftop beer garden where they grill fresh
sausages and serve cold beers. Get up there.
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Jack & Ginger’s
2048 W Armitage Ave
Jack and Ginger’s is your average neighborhood sports bar with a not so
average patio to go with it. You might be bored with baseball being the
only sport on this summer, but it will at least be more enjoyable to watch
when you’re posted up at Jack & Ginger’s.
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Village Tap
2055 W Roscoe St
If you’re deep in the craft beer game, then Village Tap is your spot. They’ve
been serving interesting suds since before it was the cool thing to do. Their
beer garden is calm as far as outdoor drinking establishments go, and a
retractable roof will even keep you safe from any rain.
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The Dock At Montrose
200 W Montrose Harbor Dr
Yes, we’ve heard of Castaways. Skip it and head further north to Montrose
Beach for a much more pleasant time. Stick to the basic beers and expect
everyone to be on island time.
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RM Champagne salon
116 N Green St
Pinkies up, always remember that at RM Champagne. The space converges
with Nellcôte's and Green Street Smoked Meats' outdoor areas, meaning
this is bound to be a consistently hopping spot this summer. Whether your
knowledge of champagne goes beyond a $3.97 bottle of Andres Brut or
not, RM is a great outdoor area for drinks.
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The J Parker
13th floor, 1816 N Clark St
The J Parker has the best views over Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan, which
means a few things. One, it’s often crowded. Two, you’re probably not going
to spontaneously snag a table Saturday of the Air and Water Show. Three,
one and two don’t matter, because you still need to find a good time to
make it here during the day. The views are that good.
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Sportsman’s Club
948 N Western Ave
All of the typical things people want to say about hipsters? Yeah, that’s Sportsman’s
Club in a nutshell. But we are getting tired of using hipster as an adjective to describe
so many things. Let’s call Sportsman’s club what it is, which is a really cool bar with
a backyard that makes you feel like you could be sitting at a friends’ place. The cash
only policy isn’t exactly ideal, but we are willing to put up with it for an evening of
drinks and you should be too.
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Reggie’s Bar
2105 S State St
Sox fans, take note, because Reggie’s is your summer spot. Then again, if you’re
a Sox fan, that’s probably something you should know. They’ve got an excellent
rooftop only a short trip from U.S. Cell, so post up for some no frills beers, food,
pool, and all around good fun. There’s also live music inside for when the time
comes.
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Summer treats:
Ice Cream
If you’re not eating mass quantities of ice cream this summer
then we don’t know what you’re doing. From the South Side to
the edge of the North Shore, you need to hit all of these ice
cream shops.
Bobtail
2951 N Broadway St
Black Dog Gelato
859 N Damen Ave
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Original Rainbow Cone
9233 S Western Ave
Sugar Shack
630 W 26th St
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Mario’s Italian lemonade
1068 W Taylor St
Annette’s
924 W Armitage Ave
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Scooter’s Frozen Custard
1658 W Belmont Ave
Margies Candies
1960 N. Western Ave
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Paciugo Ice Cream
Multiple Locations
George’s Ice Cream
5306 N Clark St
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Credits
The folks behind The Infatuation.
Credits
Created and Written by Chris Stang, Andrew Steinthal, Sam Faye, Mike Mignano, Hillary Reinsberg, Claire Schlafly, and Jackie Widmann
Designed and Developed by Edith Levin
Produced by Sam Faye and Kate Shilling
Photography by Christina Slaton
christinaslaton.com
Contributing Photographers: Ashley Hutchinson (Pages 35-40)
Copyright 2015 The Infatuation Inc.
theinfatuation.com
@infatuation
#EEEEEATS
ISBN: 978-0-9894914-8-8
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