Remember the 1940s? Well, we sure don't, but we have to imagine they looked something like this. The brown-and-tan checkerboard floors reflect the golden yellow hanging lamps perfectly, as if they've been washed every hour, on the hour, just so men and women bored with their dates can stare at them and make sure their hair still looks okay. Add on top of that the classy bar, well-dressed waiters and a vividly bright white tablecloths on every table and you've got a nice marriage of fine and casual dining in Water Tower Place, nestled in the back of the popular Foodlife food court.

The food, unfortunately, doesn't quite match the quality of either the decor or atmosphere. Some items hit the spot—particularly appetizers like the sesame chicken satay, the Mity Nice and Fritzy burgers ($8.95-$9.95) and sandwiches like the pretzel-crusted chicken and French dip—but the menu falls short in a few key areas (namely the too-expensive steaks, which range from $19-$31).

But Mity Nice makes up for it with incredibly friendly and helpful service. If, for some reason, you really don't like what you ordered (say, the chopped sirloin), the waiter and the owner are more than willing to scratch it off your check, and you don't even have to ask them to.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Benjamin Andrew Moore