Table Stakes: July 2015

To keep tabs on every Chicago restaurant and bar opening is folly. But to keep tabs on the most worthy? Yeoman’s work, and we’re proud to do it. Thus we present Table Stakes, a monthly rundown of the five (or so) must-know spots that have swung wide their doors in the past thirty (or so). Bon appétit.

We here at InsideHook love a good bar stool.

Because where there’s a bar stool, there is a bartender.

And where there’s a bartender, you’ll never dine alone.

Also: Faster table service. More elbow room. And, of course, the fact that another drink is never out of arm’s reach.

So for this month’s special edition of Table Stakes, we’ve compiled some of the best bar dining in the city with a little help from our friends at the Infatuation.

If you’ve spent any time in the caverns of the Interwebs, you know the Infatuation.

Probably via #EEEEEATS — a hashtag your correspondent never tires of exploring, if only he could remember how many Es are in it (five).

The Infatuation is something of an authority on the hallowed Chicago dining scene.

Informative. Smart. Real reviews.

All helmed by their intrepid Chicago editor and at-large good guy to know Sam Faye.

Sam, what ‘ya got for us this month?

“From our standpoint, Action At The Bar means more than the generic place around the corner. It’s the concept of real restaurants. Quality food. Plus, a lively scene full of energy. As summer winds down, we encourage you to get out there, which is why we picked places both old and new that are worth traveling to for great food and a fun night.”

Agreed. And to help you get in on that bar action, we’re giving away a $100 tab to five lucky winners to spend at any of the restaurants featured this month.

Enter here.

And dine on and drink well, fellas.

Enjoy the guide.

Nota bene: More? You want more? We recommend checking out the Infatuation’s 2015 Summer Guide, filled to the brim with choice grub to take you all the way through summer’s end.