Formally Modern Tuxedos

First United Methodist Church

The Tower Club / Civic Opera Building

Palmer House Hilton

Brownstone Tavern & Grill

In the former location of Benz bar and Benedicts Chicago, Brownstone has made its home in a completely different fashion than its predecessors. This North Center/Ravenswood spot pays homage to the classic imagery of the Chicago brownstone. The antique bronze fixtures, the large stain glass light fixtures, the black leather and the new, Victorian-like bar in the back are all emblematic, the owners say, of what you might have seen over a half-century ago in the classic Chicago home. But don't let the imagery fool you completely, this bar mixes in five new flat-screen televisions, a dance floor and a new sound system. Their lunch and dinner menus split up their fare nicely, with their entrées of Australian lamb chops, game and other eclectic, American contemporary cuisine items running at about $15-a-piece, and their collection of sandwiches running at a more modest $8-a-piece.

Café 28

'You're not going to find a basket of (tortilla) chips on your table,'' says Berta Navarro, owner of Cafe 28, which specializes in Mexican and Cuban cooking that is ''a little upscale.'' Instead you'll find grilled shrimp quesadillas, chipotle grilled chicken and green tamales in this intimate cafe. Navarro makes friends with her customers fast, and if she's got something she's proud of on the stove (like her arroz con pollo), she'll coax you back to see it. Most of the recipes are her own and she takes the same pride in the front of the house. Cafe-style exposed brick walls and marble-topped tables meet cantina-style salsa music on the soundtrack.

Cullen's Bar & Grill

Chicago has many "Irish" bars, but walking into Cullen's you might hear an actual Irish brogue from either an employee or a patron. Bartenders take care in the pouring of Guinness, filling a glass half way, letting the brew settle and then finishing the pull. Also on tap, Irish import Smithwick's. Cullen's couldn't be more convenient to the Mercury Theatre and the Music Box. The lunch and dinner menus feature homemade soups, sandwiches and traditional Irish dishes.

Twisted Lizard

One flight down from the busy intersection of Sheffield and Armitage lies the Twisted Lizard, a lively little Mexican restaurant that caters to the Lincoln Park crowd. Young professionals feast on Mexican foods prepared with "market-fresh" ingredients. The traditional menu features fajitas, enchiladas, chimichangas, burritos and "sincronizadas" (layered flour tortillas filled with re-fried black beans and choice of meat or vegetables). Appetizers include "queso fundido" (baked cheese) and quesadillas with a choice of eight fillings. The festive decor and cheery Mexican music lend a fiesta ambience to the surroundings -- however, the ever-flowing margaritas the bar pours are what really lift the crowd into the party spirit. There are eight types of margaritas served by the pitcher and more than 20 brands of tequila for building even more margaritas. (Ow, cheewowah!)

Elephant & Castle

Heart-warming British comfort food and a nice selection of draft import beers (count 'em: 16) and single-malt scotches make Elephant & Castle an appealing after-work haven. Dark wood rules, as you might expect, with plenty of booths, tables and a monster bar with seating for 25. A British phone booth outside entrance serves as a landmark, and English antiques, such as antique tap handles, decorate the walls. The result is a cozy, come-as-you-are feel. Located in the city's bustling Financial District, this British pub offers several dishes with a decidedly American twist, such as "Elephant" chicken wings and quesadillas. But perhaps more importantly, this joint busts out favorites, such as beer-battered fish and chips, shepherd's pie and Guinness Irish stew. Entrees top out at about $20. The kitchen offers a late-night menu from 10 p.m.-11 p.m.

Encore

Theatergoers looking for a post-show place to go can head to this splashy restaurant/lounge. Located next to the Cadillac Palace Theatre in the North Loop, the spot attracts a big lunch crowd and gets the post-work partiers, too. The room is anchored by a large, curvy bar where you can order martini specials such as the Smokey Joe, Chocolate Russian and our fave: The Ice Blue Moon Martini, made with vodka, Blue Curacao and pineapple juice.

Monk's Pub

This is definitely out of the way, but a good pub with great atmosphere. Warning to people with peanut allergies: Stay away from Monk's. The empty shells on the floor alone are enough to choke an elephant. The look here is a bizarre hodgepodge of Barvarian monastery meets Hollywood memorabilia convention. The evening crowd, however, isn't really the type to kvetch about interior design. A mix of blue collar, white collar and no collar, they're happy to contemplate the large beer selection and 15 varieties of burgers.

Whiskey Blue

Whiskey Blue is located inside The W Hotel. This good-looking bar inside the W Hotel-City Center is almost as handsome as its owner -- Cindy Crawford's husband, Rande Gerber. The richly-dressed room is done up in leather high-backed chairs, low lights and a chrome bar resembling Gerber's first local venture -- The Whiskey Bar & Grill in the Gold Coast. There are plenty of pretty people to gaze at here. And this is a prime place to take a date -- if you actually want to get to know him or her. Food from ristorante we, the hotel's Tuscan restaurant, can be ordered at the lobby bar.