The area around the
Grand Blue Line stop is eclectic to say the least. The six-corner intersection of Grand, Milwaukee and Halsted is home to an Irish pub, a dance club and a cheap pizzeria. But venture further west on Grand, and you'll find yourself in the heart of the Italian "old neighborhood." The mixture of towering condos and old world charm typifies the old-meets-new vibe found around here.
Best of the nightlife
Funky Buddha Lounge
This spot lives up to its credo—"celebrating diversity"—with a veritable car-crash of multicultural decorative motifs. Variety is also the essence of the clientele, a wide-ranging crowd with denizens splitting fairly equally between the black, white and Asian demographics. Depending on the DJ, music here can also skew all over the map, anywhere from danceable, mid-tempo hip-hop (think A Tribe Called Quest) to the latest in deep house and dancehall, with the occasional old-school slow jam thrown in for any stray couples hot to get their grind on.
Good for groups
Emmit's Irish Pub
This busy intersection is no stranger to wild times. The basement housed the Italian Trust & Savings during Prohibition, allegedly along with the valuable hordes of several Chicago gangsters. Two would-be robbers were shot, and dwarf-tossing exhibitions were outlawed. While gun-toting thieves and flying dwarves are no longer a concern, memorable evenings are standard. The pub has undergone many liquor-serving incarnations. Since 1996, Emmit’s has become the neighborhood’s unrivaled corner pub. True to its heritage, the dark wood and green bar’s decor runs the gamut from Irish items to police paraphernalia. In addition to a full bar (with microbrews on tap), Emmit's offers both Irish and bar food; sample the shepherd’s pie along with one of the many scotches.
Cheap eats
Salerno's Pizza
At first, Salerno's Pizza comes across as just another cutesy Italian restaurant, with scenes of the Italian countryside hand-painted on the walls, dim lighting and fruits cascading down the windowsills. What differentiates Salerno's from all the others is what comes out of the kitchen and onto your table, whether it be the handmade pizza, fresh pasta or escarole and bean soup. If you just want to take your food to go, the sandwiches (most $4.50-$6.50) are the certified "bomb."
Where to chill
Cafe Fresco
In a neighborhood known for its restaurants, not its nightlife, Cafe Fresco is one of a handful of places that stays open until 2 a.m. The clientele consists mostly of locals and after-dinner drinkers who aren't quite ready to go home. The menu is eclectic, with the typical bar offerings plus a few imaginative Italian entrees. A couple of tables are set up on the sidewalk in front of the building, but the outdoor wine garden in the back is the best thing about Cafe Fresco. It's a diamond in the rough: Plenty of plants and murals disguise the fact that you're actually sitting in an alley.
In-the-know spot
D'Amato's Bakery
The corner of Grand and May is home to the original D'Amato's Bakery, which has been holding court for more than 30 years. Most of D'Amato's customers are Chicago restaurants, who buy their bread here at wholesale. However, neighborhood residents stop by the corner shop to stock up on the best fresh bread in town. Get here early for the best selection; pick up a loaf of crusty bread or a slice of pizza. D'Amato's doesn't do much in the way of cakes, but the cannollis will more than satisfy your sweet tooth.
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