One look at this corner tavern's facade – its marquee running the length of the building on each side backlit in sassy red, and a centerpiece sign of a champagne glass above the entrance – and you'd think that this would be a classy cocktail bar.

Walk through that door and you'll find that Redwood Lounge is really just another neighborhood joint, albeit one that takes things back to the days of the Go-Go White Sox. Redwood paneling and strings of Christmas lights surround the customers, some of whom may have been alive to remember the World Series-winning Sox teams of both 1917 and 2005. Don't think about starting a conversation with any of them, though; Redwood Lounge regulars tend to keep to themselves.

But you will be glad to see them all the same, since that means the place is open for business; Redwood's owners don't keep regular business hours, so getting in is always a crapshoot. On the upside, the flexibility in scheduling keeps the costs of a drink down. Beers cost $2.50, and if one of the bartenders charges you more than $5 for a cocktail, chances are you've done something wrong (like wear a Cubs hat).

Centerstage Reviewer: Chuck Sudo