Photograph courtesy of Choose Chicago | Adam Alexander Photography
Discover Chicago like a local FED pro. Chicago bartenders answer the question, "What's your favorite thing tourists DON'T know about Chicago?"
CHEAP SHOTS
Photograph courtesy of Twisted Spoke
Twisted Spoke
"You can get half-priced whiskey here on Wednesdays."
FED Pro > Bartender Danny Shapiro of Scofflaw
501 North Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642
T: 312.666.1500
Photograph courtesy of Punch House
Punch House
"Each evening at midnight, we serve a complimentary shot of bourbon to folks seated at the bar while we feed the fish."
FED Pro > Bartender Will Duncan of Punch House
1227 W 18th Street, Chicago, IL 60608
T: 312.526.3851 | punchhousechicago.com
GO EARLY
Photographs courtesy of Mr. Brown's Lounge
Mr. Brown's Lounge
"This Jamaican bar goes nightclub after 10pm, but if you come here during dinner hours, especially on a Tuesday, you will thank me for introducing you to the wonder that is the $10 jerk chicken plate. It easily feeds two with leftovers for late night snacking. I insist you get a side of their mac and cheese. The richness quells the jerk spice and is essential to enjoying this strange and wonderful place."
FED Pro > Bartender Will Duncan
2301 W Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622
T: 773.278.4445 | www.mrbrownslounge.com
Ricobene's
"There's never a wait. Get the breaded steak sandwich. There is something about that sandwich that has you talking and contemplating more once you're done with it."
FED Pro > Bartender Dustin Drankiewicz of The Tack Room
252 W 26th Street, Chicago, IL 60616
T: 312.225.5555 | www.ricobenespizza.com
DON'T GO DEEP
"You don't need snowshoes in March. Also, no one eats Chicago pizza except tourists and Scotty Lobianco [bartender at Broken Shaker]."
FED Pro > Bartender Freddie Sarkis of Broken Shaker
"We don't all eat only deep dish pizza. Yes, its a nice option and I was raised on Lou Malnati's (still the best), but please try some Chicago-style thin crust. Pat's in Lincoln Park, Candlelite in Rogers Park, and Vito & Nick's in Ashburn are all superb. But if you're downtown, swing through Pizano's for a hot giardiniera and Italian sausage pie, and chase it with lots of Pepto-Bismol."
FED Pro > Bartender Graham Heubach of Sportsman Club
PAT'S PIZZA
2679 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614
T: 773.248.0168 | www.patspizza.info
VITO & NICK'S
8433 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60652
T: 773.735.2050 | vitoandnicks.com
CANDLELITE
7452 North Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60645
T: 773.465.0087 | www.candlelitechicago.com
PIZANO'S
Multiple Locations
www.pizanoschicago.com
LISTEN AND DRINK
Photograph courtesy of The Empty Bottle
The Empty Bottle
"Any given night of the week you can see great live music. Places like The Empty Bottle in the Ukrainian Village have been doing live music from 5 to 7 nights a week for over 20 years and you never know who you are gonna see."
FED Pro > Bartender Dustin Drankiewicz of the Tack Room
1035 N Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622
T: 773.276.3600 | emptybottle.com
BEYOND EATING AND DRINKING
Promontory Point
"The Promontory Point in the Hyde Park neighborhood carries so much history and some of the architecture and design that still lives from Daniel Burnham is still in play. It's cool to be in a quiet neighborhood with no tourist congestion and on top of the lake."
FED Pro > Bartender Dustin Drankiewicz of The Tack Room
5491 South Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60615
Chicago Cultural Center Dome | Photo Credit: City of Chicago
The Cultural Center
"Definitely check out the Cultural Center in the loop. It's always free of charge and they display cool art exhibits."
FED Pro > Bartender Dustin Drankiewicz of The Tack Room
78 East Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602
Myopic Books
"Get lost in Myopic Books in Wicker Park, it's crazy the nooks and crannies they built to accommodate all the literature. I've found some really interesting reads here."
FED Pro > Bartender Dustin Drankiewicz of The Tack Room
1564 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622
T: 773.862.4882 | www.myopicbookstore.com
THE PROS
Danny Shapiro
Head bartender at Scofflaw in Chicago.
Dustin Drankiewicz
Head bartender at the Tack Room in Chicago.
Freddie Sarkis
Head bartender at Broken Shaker in Chicago.
FED Midwest Feature Stories
