The bar at Fly Me to the Moon is small but inviting. Barstools are typically available, even during the dinner rush (and even on weekends, when diners waiting for tables crowd the tiny bar). Soft piano music and jazz provides a lulling soundtrack to a classy evening, where diners enjoy Italian dishes like farfalle al pollo, fettuccini alfredo, and filet mignon. The dimly lit atmosphere creates the perfect setting for romance and intimate conversation. Have a martini or a cognac while you wait for a table, but don't expect the music to remain a background to the evening; a variety of musicians perform nightly, and tables are shifted later in the evening to make room for dancing.

Whatever the time, patrons can maneuver through the entryway dining room (decked out with a puffy metallic moon and kaleidoscopic images projected on one wall), pull up a barstool, and order one of the city's best Cosmopolitans. The cocktails are truly a treat, although a bit pricey (anything in a martini glass will run you about $7-8). Like the cocktails, this bar is a perfect blend of sweet elegance, nestled just where you'd least expect it in the sports bar district of Wrigleyville. With the piano music twinkling in the background and low lighting setting the room atmosphere, Fly Me to the Moon will give you your romance fix in just a glass or two.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Erin Brereton