Uptown often gets a bad rap, but this neighborhood is undergoing major changes while continuing to embrace community, variety and economy. For a truly eclectic experience that won't leave you penniless, step off this Red Line stop into a world of singular, Chicago-style establishments.
Best of the nightlife
Max's Place
Dust off your Cubs hat before you head to this neighborhood bar: it's Cubby territory with "northside pride" inside. Max's Place has been in the same location for more than 50 years, offering Old Style on tap, as well as bottled domestics and a few German imports. The hard liquors are what you'd expect to find in any simple establishment, and you can get chips with your drinks if you ask. With a dark, smoky interior, it's the perfect spot to hang with friends or toss a few back late at night. A jukebox, dartboard and video game machine provide fun ways to lose track of time.
Good for groups
Driftwood
Driftwood brings all the luxuries of a souped-up basement to a street-level establishment. The chill Montrose Avenue bar allows patrons to get the game going with darts, Golden Tee, a bar-top arcade game and a ripe-for-competition pool table. The bar's decor is comfortably frill-free, but the light-blue walls, few pieces of mounted driftwood and home-style liquor cabinet will make you feel right at home. To celebrate your virtual-golf-game victory, grab a $3 domestic draft and score a seat at one of several high-top tables that cozy up to floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Montrose action. Or head to the U-shaped bar and claim a spot among the Uptown crowd.
Cheap Eats
Uptown Pizza & BBQ
For anyone with late-night chili dog cravings or mid-day hankerings for BBQ wings, this tiny establishment provides all your favorite "naughty" foods at an oh-so-nice price. Secure a seat in one of the three booths across from the counter or carry out (it delivers, too). Dinners include a 21-piece shrimp basket, meatloaf and catfish, plus pasta, tacos, gyros and burgers. Barbecue ribs come in full and half slabs, as well as tips, and both chicken and wings come fried or barbecue-style. For the health-conscious, there are large salads, and those not bound to Atkins can enjoy thin crust, deep dish or stuffed pizzas. Specialty cakes include oreo and chocolate fudge, and milkshakes pair well with fried mushrooms or mozzarella sticks.
Where to chill
Magnolia Cafe
Tasty cuisine, soft yellow lighting and a cozy, elegant dining room make the Magnolia an ideal choice for a date, whether it's your first time out together or your 50th wedding anniversary. The food covers the spectrum from delicate to rich-beyond-belief. Many of the starters, like the popular crab cakes, are large enough to share with the table, or to order as an entree. Anyone who adores artichokes or hearts-of-palm will fall in love with the salad options; anyone who doesn't care for those particular vegetables should concentrate on the main dishes, which will please any palate. The Amish chicken and the seared duck are especially worthy of consideration.
In-the-know spot
Mr. Salsa
Your dirty laundry can wait another week; take that pocket change over to this cash-only joint instead. Offering all the expected staples from burritos and tacos to fajitas and quesadillas, Mr. Salsa takes the taqueria to another level with its made-to-order guacamole. And they don't skimp on the chips and salsa, either. Unlike many complimentary baskets of fried tortilla crisps, these things are just as fresh and crunchy as they should be. But don't fill up on the free stuff too quickly; you'll want to save room for one of Mr. Salsa's giant burritos, stuffed with all the fixins and your choice of meat. You can save even more money (or spend more of it on the cheap tasty tacos) by bringing your own beer, but most of the restaurant's frequent flyers hightail it once they've got their food in tow. That might have something to do with Mr. Salsa's small, stark interior, but it's no secret that the best food often comes from the dingiest places.
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