Chicago, in step with much of this nation, is going green. Its efforts have trickled down to Bluebird, a Euro-style spot in Wicker Park from the owner of Webster's Wine Bar.

A casually dressed and knowledgeable bartender greets guests from behind a Douglas fir bar made from recycled wine vats. One-hundred-year-old stage lights from a Philadelphia convention center hang above the bar, providing the minimal lighting necessary for groups to share mix-and-match portions of porchetta pork, cantimpalo chorizo and bufala mozzarella.

The extensive drink list offers an international list of wines and beers, suitable for both the money-conscious and flamboyant. Wines start at $6 per glass and $20 per bottle, while beers like Alpha King will run you $6. You'll also find daily drink specials on the chalkboard adjacent to the dining tables.

Take your drink across the reused oak floor to the smaller back dining room, where you can enjoy entrees like the ambrio braised rabbit and bacon loin chop ($10-$14), or sit in the main bar and choose from a selection of fresh oysters and other offerings.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Nola Akiwowo