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Sip your way through Chicago's wine bars.

Sunday Nov 30, 2003.     By Jacqueline Ostrowski

Bars + Clubs Feed

Bin 36
Bin 36 is downtown's answer to wine bars. In typical River North fashion, the perennial hotspot does it up big in a cavernous, modern setting. The establishment—a bar, restaurant, shop, and wine academy in one—greets visitors with a well-stocked store, entices them with a menu of snack-size bistro dishes with a twist, and seals the deal with a lively wine list. Savoring the wine selection alone might take several visits, but patrons shouldn't overlook the acclaimed menu, either.

The upscale-casual “Tavern” maintains a no-reservation policy, adding to its drop-in-and-taste ambience. Tavern offerings include appetizers and light bites such as braised rabbit, garlic-tomato hummus, seafood platters, and an array of colorful salads. Each dish lists suggested wine pairings from Bin 36's fifty-bottle house selection. In Bin 36’s intimate dining room “The Cellar,” a full menu tempts lovers of bistro cuisine—try pan-seared scallops, rotisserie chicken, or Australian lamb chop. But the standout here is definitely the wine—from bubbly Spanish cavas to French Gewurtztraminers, the selection ranges from the familiar to the obscure. Order by the glass or by flight—try pre-created groupings like Exotic Whites. Servers are happy to answer questions, so novices should feel comfortable.

Webster's Wine Bar
A warm and cozy corner bar in West Lincoln Park, Webster's Wine Bar welcomes patrons with open arms. Dim lighting and deep, richly-hued walls invite everyone to stay a little longer and sample another bottle. Regular classes and monthly tastings keep patrons coming back. An extensive selection of wines—more than 30 by the glass and 400 by the bottle—will keep the indecisive occupied for a while.

Webster's recently-modified menu of small plates includes appetizers such as a Brie and pear quesadilla, pizzas, and salads. Staff can help customize a cheese platter to complement your bottle of choice.

These friendly, knowledgeable servers could probably teach a connoisseur a thing or two, but they're also able to talk vino sans condescension with complete novices. That attitude attracts a diverse crowd, from groups of friends who claim the loungey couch in front to yuppie area couples—and everything in between. What do they all share? A love of wine, of course—and at comfortable, cozy Webster's, that's what matters most.

Piattini

Located in the shadow of the el tracks, this quiet wine bar delivers romance, Italian-style, in a peaceful block that seems worlds away from the relative chaos of nearby DePaul. Piattini serves your favorite pastas in smaller, shareable portions that make it possible to try more before you fill up.

Choose from 250 bottles or 30 by-the-glass offerings, and complement your beverage of choice with a plethora of pasta dishes, steak in a red wine reduction, or a goat cheese-garnished salad.

D'Vine Wine Bar
The focus at D'Vine Wine Bar has shifted, and the establishment reflected this by recently revamping its food offerings. D'Vine pared down its hard-hitting menu of full-fledged dinner entrees to a selection of smaller, more manageable plates. Munch on the bruschetta platter, pan-seared shrimp, or a Caprese salad while you toast to a long workweek.

An impressive selection of bottles ranges from affordable California chardonnays to some pricier French cabernet sauvignons and Dom Perignon for visiting celeb royalty and their financially-able counterparts. If you're ready to spend you'll find plenty, but less indulgent types will be satisfied with a more reasonable bottle of Australian shiraz or Alsatian pinot gris. The metallic decor complements the trendy, young crowd. DJs spin hip-hop and urban music, adding to this mod spot's appeal.

Meritage
Play sommelier at this date-friendly Bucktown bar by building your own wine samplers. Romantic and sophisticated, the dining room attracts patrons eager to discover domestic offerings from an all-American wine list. Choose from Napa Valley favorites and other gems of the Northwest to complement your eclectic meal. Unique blends of spices and herbs make creative seafood dishes and game entrees sing.

Wine lovers will find plenty to imbibe here, but Meritage is the ultimate destination for a foodie who'll embrace its American contemporary cuisine with open mouth. Visit on Mondays and enjoy 25 percent off bottled wine.

The Tasting Room and Randolph Wine Cellars
Linger over your libation of choice in this chic yet comfortable West Loop lounge. More than 100 wines are available by the bottle. If that's not enough for you, visit the adjoining Randolph Wine Cellar, a wine store stocked with 1,400 bottles for sale. The Tasting Room strives to be attitude-free, and the plush chairs, brick walls, and hardwood floors create an ambience that's welcoming, not threatening. An upstairs lounge boasts incredible views of the city.

Kick back with friends before a night out at nearby hotspots like Red Light, Marche, or Transit. Or spend your entire evening at The Tasting Room—weekly tastings and frequent events make it easy to come up with another reason to spend a wine-soaked evening on Randolph Street.

Cru Cafe and Wine Bar
A contemporary wine bar infused with plenty of continental style, Cru caters to sophisticates that appreciate its sleek surroundings. More than 400 wines by the bottle—and 50 by the glass—tempt patrons, and the culinary offerings make Cru a must-visit for any Francophile.

Try Sunday brunch, a seafood platter on a weeknight, or creme brulee paired with a dessert wine for a romantic evening. The trappings are reinforced by chandeliers and very Euro patio seating. In winter, sip your merlot in front of a roaring fireplace indoors.

Maeve
Recently-opened Maeve, meaning “she who intoxicates,” is a bright surprise in the midst of sleepy residential blocks. Area professionals have made the smallish wine bar a weekend hot spot and a quieter, but still hip, weeknight destination. Maeve sometimes feels more like a typical Lincoln Park bar (overhead television sets assure that), but it’s still cozier and warmer than most local pubs.

It’s no Bin 36, but it doesn’t want—or need—to be as extravagant as a downtown wine bar. With twenty-two wines available by the glass, plus a full bar, Maeve is perfect for the neighborhood it moved into.