There's a new bar/restaurant that just opened on Milwaukee in WP called Bar Bar Black Sheep. It's a little off the beaten path, it's basically right at the intersection of Wood and Mil, but it's very, very good. Great bar food, very good beer list and the feel of the place is very chill. Very good place for a date.

Two negatives:
1) the name of the place. Cringeworthy bad imo.
2) Music selection. Equally as bad.

What type of music do they play?

Brownian,

Yeah, if you drink neat spirits, you've got to be pretty selective to be sure to get something bitter/etc so as to avoid something too sweet.

As far as mingling, yeah, I would say that a bar that doesn't allow you in the door unless there is a chair for you, and doesn't allow you to stand at the bar, is a poor choice. But that's just not the type of place it is, it's designed to go with the people you want to hang out with, not go meet new people.

I'd urge you, if you want to give it another shot, to go with one other person, sit at the bar, and say "I usually drink vodka/whiskey/cognac straight, and last time I was here I had xyz and thought they were too sweet, what do you recommend or can make for me?" Understandable if it's not your scene, though. I'd probably recommend waiting til after the summer, when a) it's more fun to be in a dark indoors bar, and b) when the menu will trend back toward whiskey and the like instead of what'll probably be a lot of gin/rum/tequila fruit/sweet/sour-forward summer drinks.

Went to Fork, at Wilson and Lincoln, last night. Bills itself as a gastropub.

As a table, we split: Candied bacon ($2.50 for 2 pieces of bacon) and a large order of steamed belgian mussels ($15 or something?). Food was very nice, honestly. Nothing special honestly, but tasty.

I got an open faced brisket sandwich on texas toast, with sauce, and fries. Was very good too, and well priced (don't remember, something like $12?). We didn't give the parts of the menu that are supposed to be the reputation winners a test at all: charcutrie/cheese offerings, lots of non-bar-food stuff. Other people nearby seemed to enjoy some of it, though.

Great beer list with multiple size options for everything, and flights. There were something like 16-20 beers on tap, all quality (had Allagash Black and Allagash Tripel, a Belgian Quadruple, two Tyraniuses, and obviously a mess of others). Wine list seemed OK too, with flights as well.

Downsides: only two tvs, both in front room. Both were tuned in to the cubs game when they were losing in the 7th, neither had the NBA game on. Service was friendly, but amazingly slow. I was standing at the bar with money visibly in my hand for >20 minutes before being able to actually get more than a "I'll be right with you" from a bartender (something like 20 seats at bar, and they're also pouring for the whole restaurant). Took 15 minutes to bring us candied bacon and a plate of pickles, took another 15 after we finished that for mussels to show up, and a similar wait after those for our burgers and sandwiches. Might have just been slammed, might be new restaurant syndrome, but really felt like they needed to double the staff. Oh, and on top of that, I tried to check in when I arrived first having believed my friend had called ahead, and she said that his name wasn't on the list. When I looked over from the bar over her shoulder, I could see his name on the screen.

Entertaining a guest tomorrow. Need a good recommendation for vegetarian-friendly restaurant in the Loop/surrounding area. Doesn't need to be veggie-focused, just not a burger joint, etc.

Mana food bar (vegetarian place at Division & Paulina) is v. v. good.

Guns N Roses followed by oldies followed by weird elevator-type music. It was all over the map the whole time.

Hey guys,

Wanting to watch the finals game with the parents in town on the 31st... Any good suggestions for a not super expensive restaurant and bar to watch it in? Near Harrison and Wells? I checked out Blackies near there and it was close to what I would be looking for but would like a couple good screens to watch it on. Thanks guys

Jimmy Greens is a pretty good place to watch a game, it's a few blocks south east from Blackie's. Very good food too imo, would definitely recommend checking it out.

Is this the same Blackie's that went bankrupt because the owner was evading taxes and then got caught trying to sneak back to Greece via Canada?

No, that's Boston Blackie's. This one is unaffiliated.

don't know if anyone else did craft beer week, but i hit up a variety of places. Some have been mentioned here before, some haven't. I'm just gonna give quick impressions of the places:

Revolution (logan sq)- I've talked about this a lot previously. I'm sure many already know my thoughts. Extremely good beer and quality food with a great atmosphere

Quenchers (logan sq/bucktown)- cash only. Great beer selection with a laid back vibe. Always seems a bit dead though

Owen+Engine (logan sq/bucktown)- laid back with a perfect menu for what they're trying to do. I think I mentioned here before and enjoyed it again. Good beer selection that is focused on british beers (obv)

Map Room (bucktown)- beer geek destination. Cash only with tons of killer beers and with some attitude to go with it from some of the bartenders.

Jack&Gingers (bucktown)-seemed like a solid bar to watch a game. Didn't try any of the food as this was part of a crawl. Solid beer selection, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it

Bangers+Lace (wicker park)- the draft beer selection is sick. Not cheap but you get what you pay for. The hipster version of a british pub, so a bit sparse on the inside

Cleo's (ukie vilage)- Fun bar. Good beer selection and cool bartenders. Didn't get to any of the food and its hard to judge on the atmosphere as it was a sunday afternoon.

High Dive (ukie village)- mostly the same thoughts as cleo's. Bigger beer selection than cleo's and more space. With both of Cleo's and High Dive I'd hit these places up if I lived around there, but there are smiliar places more north

Haymarket (west loop)- still like it. Its been mentioned before. The beer selection is geared more towards hoppy beers, so if that's not your style then you may be limited a bit. Extremely good food and the brat has improved since my last try a few months back

Paddy Long's (Lakeview)-I liked the vibe here. Laid back even though its very close to wrigleyville. Very good beer selection though not very deep.

Sheffield's (lakeview)- think its been talked about here before. Right across the street from a friend so I'm here enough as is. Really enjoyable place that gets a good crowd but isn't a typical wrigleyville-type place. Great selection with real good food

Village Tap (roscoe village)- very good beer list. Solid vibe but a real nice beer garden to sit in in the back

Hamburger Mary's (edgewater)- good food, solid brews of their own. Not really my scene as the women are usually thinking the same thing as me. Nice and friendly service and worth popping in for a beer+lunch/quick dinner

Edgewater Lounge (edgewater)-don't let the crappy sign in front fool you, this is a chill place. Kinda old school vibe inside but really good servers and bartenders with a quality beer list. They even have some cask beers on tap as well

It's nothing like a British pub at all, and imo is far too snazzy to be hipster.

I'm finally going to check out Revolution Brewing Co. tonight for some beers and food. Anyone been and have rec's on what to get?

Get the bacon fat popcorn, avoid the chorizo pizza. I think I got a chicken sandwich there too once which was pretty good. The friends I ate with said the burgers were really good too.

thanks. I'm planning on getting the bacon fat popcorn. may also get the blue cheese mussel's which I've heard are also good.

Hey guys,

Just got in town. Checked out Jimmy Green's, pretty spot on atmosphere for me and the girlfriend and the parents when we wanted some beer but also not too crazy.

Any suggestions for a place for me and the girlfriend to watch the game tonight? Don't mind if it's a bar or whatever, just looking to get some good not-too-expensive beer and probably want to sit down at some point(been painting all damn day).

Love the city so far

Schwallie what sort of neighbourhood are you in? Would you want food?

I'll +2 the bacon fat popcorn. Its really good and I'd also throw in the polenta fries. If you get their fish n chips be sure to split it as its a lot of fish and fries. If they still have the saison on tap definitely get that. Hell, just get yourself a bunch of 2oz pours of everything they have and decide for yourself

South Loop/Printer's row.


Actually might check out Kasey's, anyone been there?

It's a couple of miles away but if you want dinner you could try Market Bar & Grill and then go to Aviary (great date place) afterwards.

If you do go to Kasey's let us know how it was please, that's pretty much the only bar I haven't been to yet around this area.

Kasey's Tavern on Dearborn?
Me and my friends all met there last Friday and had a few before walking a few blocks to the Icon theater on Roosevelt (assigned seating ftw) to see hangover 2.
It was 8pm on a Friday and the place wasn't busy...good service but unless I'm in that area for some reason I usually don't go there. 2nd time for me though so it was good enough to return.
(I'm on the W. Side and rarely head to the S. Loop).

Went to Kasey's, was alright. Lots of good different beers, all $5 a pint. Miller Lite is $4 a pint tho. Seems to be a bar with a lot of regulars, a neighborhood type bar. Was fun, lots of TVs, and definitely a good place to catch the game with good service

Finally made it in to Girl and the Goat for dinner, thought the meal was unbelievable, be sure to order the green beans, beef tongue, and pig face. All nine dishes we ordered were incredible though, you can't go wrong...