Fans of this Boystown eye-candy joint like the LBC because it feels like a friend's apartment...only it's that very rich friend, the one whose slick style and taste in the finer things you can only hope to emulate.

The hip metropolitan vibe runs thick: The staff wears uniforms designed by Fall Out Boy's bassist-turned-fashion-mogul Pete Wentz, and whimsical food offerings ($3-$12) like taffy apple salad and PB & J maki are cute enough to be part accessory, part meal. Models lounge, listen to music and play Connect Four in a glass booth, lending a bit of L.A.-style voyeurism to the scene. Hip-hop tunes from the DJ booth in the back keep the crowd grooving, and smokers are directed to an enclosed patio to keep the air smelling sweet.

Owners Stephen Westman (Hard Rock Hotel) and Paul Blair (Celebrity) welcome a diverse crowd "from the fashionistas to the nerds," an open-door policy evident in their friendly energy and in the bar menu itself, which lists 40s alongside designer martinis. Private party hosting and bottle service are popular tricks if you want to beat the crowd.

Centerstage Reviewer: Julia Steinberger