The Field Museum

The Field Museum has relics from the catacombs of Egypt, one of the largest dinosaur re-creations ever and, apparently, the best bathrooms in the country. This according to Cintas Corp. who honored the museum with the accolade in this year’s tenth annual “America’s Best Restroom Contest,” as voted on by online readers. The eco-friendly, first-floor facilities were chosen for their art-filled break rooms, automated water faucets and hourly cleanings. We can only imagine the celebratory souvenirs coming to the Field’s gift shop.

The Field Museum
1400 South Lake Shore
(312)922-9410
fieldmuseum.org

Best of Chicago 2011

M Lounge

The sounds are cool but the scene is cozy at M Lounge on South Wabash. For the past six years, this chic and intimate space has served as a midweek oasis for music-loving South Loopers. The club hosts solid local talent in a variety of flavors, from straight-ahead jazz to bossa nova, every Tuesday and Wednesday from 7pm to 10pm, with no cover charge and a two-drink minimum. It’s a bargain, made even sweeter by the comfy seating, well-stocked bar and civilized, attitude-free atmosphere, where newcomers quickly feel at home. Owner Reginald Marsh named the club in honor of his wife MaryAnn, who encouraged Marsh to quit his press-secretary gig and pursue his martini-mixing dream. “When we settled in the South Loop, there wasn’t a lot of entertainment infrastructure,” says Marsh. “I wanted something that was the opposite of every bar I hate–a place that takes care of customers and feels like a living room.” And so it is. On a recent evening, with the fine Chris Davis Jazztet playing to a clued-in and respectful crowd, the vibe was laid-back, upbeat and just right.

M Lounge
1520 South Wabash
(312)447-0201
mloungechicago.com

Best of Chicago 2011

Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2)

Of Chicago’s two comic conventions, C2E2 is the newest but it’s already the strongest. In the last few years, it has increased its scope from corporate publishers to self-made artists. Held at McCormick Place, booths and tables full of comic books and memorabilia are available for sale during the weekend festival. Movie screenings, video-game stages and more supplement the expo. Standouts include discussions with celebrity guests, panels comprised of comic book writers and artists and attendee costume contests.

Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo
April 13-15, 2012
North Building at McCormick Place
2301 South Lake Shore
(800)354-4003
C2E2.com

Best of Chicago 2011

House Of Sole

If you are a woman who has an eclectic addiction to shoes like alcoholics who only drink twenty-five-year-old single-malt scotch, this is the place for you.

House of Sole
1237 South Michigan
(312)834-0909
houseofsole.net

Audience choice:
Akira
122 South State, (312)346-3034
835 North Michigan, (312)280-4820
668 West Diversey, (773)327-1040
1849 West North, (773)342-8684
shopakira.com

Best of Chicago 2011

Yolk

With restaurants featuring Raspberry Oreo Flapjacks (Bongo Room), Sunny Side Duck Egg Hash (Longman & Eagle) and, of course, Frushi (that’s fruit sushi for the uninitiated, at Orange), there are certainly no shortages of destinations in Chicago for the gastro-brunch crowd. When you’re nursing a hangover though, good ol’ fashioned bacon and eggs might sound a little more palatable than, say, Lemon Ricotta pancakes. If that’s the case, might we suggest Yolk—they do all the basics to perfection, with just enough twists (Pot Roast Benedict, Cinnamon Roll French Toast, Nutella Crepes) to keep things a little more interesting than a trip to Golden Nugget. Oh, and keep the Metropolis coffee coming, would you please? It’s been a rough morning.

Yolk
1120 South Michigan
(312)789-9655
747 North Wells
(312)787-2277
355 East Ohio
(312)822-9655
yolk-online.com

Best of Chicago 2011

Village Eyecare

Lafont? Got ‘em. Lindberg? Got ‘em. Prodesign Denmark? Got ‘em. Tom Ford? Got ‘em. The collection that Village Eyecare carries (and the team/staff that helps select frames for you) is what makes people who don’t need to wear glasses, wear glasses. In an era where Nerd Chic is the new “it” in fashion, VEC keeps it funky. They un-nerd the nerd.

Village Eyecare
1243 South Wabash
(312)663-4250
1116 West Taylor
(312)829-6173
villageeyecare.net

Audience choice:
Eye Spy Optical
3350 North Lincoln
(773)477-2670
eyespyoptical.com

Best of Chicago 2011

“Cop ‘Em & Rock ‘Em” clothing line

A sneaker diva’s haute couture, sold exclusively at SuccezZ. For the Lola Bunny in Air Jordans pictured on a t-shirt alone.

SuccezZ
1329 South Michigan
(312)431-1900
succezzthestore.com

Best of Chicago 2011

The Albondigas Waffle at Waffles

Secret’s in the sauce. Anybody can make a waffle. It’s the toppings that put you on the short list. A side of au jus creatively replaces maple syrup alongside chef Jason Hilgers’ (Japonais; The Bristol) short-rib waffles at Waffles, the bustling South Loop hot spot he launched last summer with owner Alex Hernandez. Hilgers’ short-rib waffles get a sprinkling of chopped bright green scallions and bits of tangy cheddar cheese. They’re a treat, but the off-the-charts pleaser here, the best savory waffle in Chicago, is Hilgers’ Albondigas. Its waffles are covered in a spicy, tomato-based Mexican stew with lamb and pork meatballs topped with Chihuahua cheese and lively sprinkles of evergreen-colored mint. “The Albondigas reminds me of the Mexican soup my mother made for me as a kid,” owner Alex Hernandez recalls. Hernandez, a native of Burbank and Willowbrook, continues to manage River North eatery Japonais.

Waffles
1400 South Michigan
(312)854-8572
waffleschicago.com

Best of Chicago 2011

Fox & Obel

City Provisions deserves an honorable mention for its local and fresh-cured product offerings, but the one place we always go when we need to satisfy a group of jaded foodies over the holidays is Fox & Obel. From fat lobes of foie gras to glistening jamon iberico to spicy saucisson sec to rare caviar, they have the perfect edible gift for the hungry Gold Coast resident who has everything else. Also, this is one of the few non-online places you can score a single cut of dry-aged prime beef on quick notice if you want to cook up a steakhouse dinner.

401 East Illinois
(312)410-7301
fox-obel.com

Audience choice:

Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen
1141 South Jefferson
(312)939-2855
mannysdeli.com

Best of Chicago 2010

Stax Café

We’ve probably had as many pancakes as Wilt Chamberlain had ladies and to pick amongst them is a disservice of sorts. For the Walker Bros. Pancake House in Wheeling’s Dutch Baby is just as solid as the Butterfinger-larded Bongo Room flapjack. It’s really just a matter of mood. No matter our temperament though, the light ricotta pancakes slathered with tart-sweet rhubarb strawberry compote at Stax Café always seem to fit the bill.

1401 West Taylor
(312)733-9871

Audience choice:

Bongo Room, Orange, Original Pancake House (TIE)

Bongo Room
1470 North Milwaukee
(773)489-0690

1152 South Wabash
(312)291-0100
thebongoroom.com

Orange
738 North Clark
(312)202-0600

730 West Grand
(312)942-0300

2011 West Roscoe
(773)248-0999

2413 North Clark
(773)549-7833
orangerestaurantchicago.com

Original Pancake House
2020 North Lincoln Park West
(773)929-8130

22 East Bellevue
(312)642-7917

1517 East Hyde Park
(773)288-2322
originalpancakehouse.com

Best of Chicago 2010