Formerly: Streeterville gets a lot of attention for the MCA, Northwestern's downtown campus and the planned Chicago Spire, while one of its brightest gems flies under the radar. Cafe Shino, located on a rather unassuming block of Ontario Street between Fairbanks and McClurg, offers a taste of Tokyo right where you'd least expect it.

Opened in 1986 as Chicago's first traditional Japanese karaoke bar, Shino shines thanks to owners, Mr. and Mrs. Tamura, who previously operated Shino Restaurant, the first Chicago restaurant to serve Japanese food in a European setting. The Tamuras keep things traditional by imposing a strict semi-formal dress code (no T-shirts or jeans) and creating an ambiance that is authentically Japanese.

For a reasonable $15 cover and two-drink minimum, you can hear jazz piano by Chieko Yano or Yukari Nakamura Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 9:30 p.m., and unintelligible karaoke crooning by drunk businessmen just about any night of the week. The gracious hostess makes sure your cup of sake never nears empty, so before you know it you'll be up and crooning too.

Centerstage Reviewer: Amanda Nyren