If the Wrigleyville Yak-Zies is a little too packed with Cubs fans for your taste, mosey on over to the original location, a Lakeview mainstay since 1966. Yak-Zies on Diversey, an underground establishment, had been closed for two years, but now it's back and prepared to fill you up on camaraderie and hot wings while you watch the Cubs game a safe distance from Wrigley.

Named after the way the owner's son incorrectly pronounced the Polish phrasing for "hello, how are you," Yak-Zies seems immediately as welcoming as its mispronounced namesake. Sit down and grab a brew – Leinie's, Guinness, Harp, Sam Adams seasonal and the other usual suspects on draft, with Miller, Bud, Corona, etc., in bottles. From there, you'll need something to snack on, and Yak-Zies' "World's Best" wings are a solid bet (maybe not world's best, but probably in the top tier) – choose between mild, hot, "tang-z-q," and a flavor simply called "Oh my gosh!"

There's a fine selection of burgers, sandwiches and salads, but the most unique option is the pub's "tang" pizza, made with a tangy sauce and topped with grilled chicken. It's kind of like eating hot wings, except in pizza form.

There's also a story behind the Yak-Zies logo, which features a sun with blood-shot eyes, peering over an invisible ledge, an ice pack resting on its face as it mends its wounds (wouldn't the sun incinerate that ice pack within seconds?). That image encapsulates the experience of leaving the basement saloon at 5 a.m., as the sun glorious rises from above the stairs and over Lake Michigan. It's a feeling that's awe-inspiring, as long as if you're not thinking about the hangover you'll be battling by 2 p.m.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Andy Seifert