For the regular crowd, typically aged from 30s to 40s, McKellin's feels like a second home with a lot of really cool stuff. The jukebox perpetually pumps out Sinatra or Hair Rock tunes; you can play like a hustler at the pool table or electronic dartboard. With plenty of Guinness on tap, no one ever has to go on a beer run. Thanks to the friendly bartenders and stiff drinks, you may never want to go back to your real home.

A massive wall of windows at the front of this low-key establishment brings in light from Touhy Avenue, as well as plenty of passersby on the second Saturday of every month for karaoke. Folks looking to croon Journey tunes, however off-key, pack the place. These nights are guaranteed to be impromptu, irreverent and irresistible to any karaoke enthusiast who prefers to play American Idol in the intimate setting of a neighborhood bar.

McKellin's sees a lot of action around football season, sometimes even offering an all-you-can-eat deal on game food. The catch? You have to take it outside and grill it yourself. Hey, someone's gotta stay and man the bar, right?

Centerstage Reviewer: K. Tighe