Chicagoans love to eat outside—whether sitting at a street-side group of tables next to a Western Avenue bus stop or overlooking downtown from the top of the MCA. Options abound for alfresco dining, but there's only one choice if you want to eat (or drink alcohol, legally) on North Avenue Beach: Castaways.

If you keep your eyes peeled for what appears to be a beached blue-and-white steamboat, you'll spot this sunbathers' sanctuary a half-mile away. And you'll hear it, too. Incredibly loud live bands play throughout the summer, including Elevation, a U2 cover band.

The Phil Stefani eatery serves up bar fare, but don't expect too much quality. Items like the grilled chicken Caesar wrap and various salads taste just okay, and cost around $7-$9. Stick to a basket of spicy fries paired with barbecue wings or skip eating altogether…Castaways' main goal isn't to wet your appetite (for food anyway).

Its seemingly sole purpose is to get you drunk among a MTV-Spring-Break-like crowd, with a sweeping view of the lake and downtown. Most of the bikini-clad hotties and hardbodies come for the pina coladas($6.50) or Island Iced Tea ($7.75). The standard domestic cans (MGD, Bud, etc.), in all their 16-ounce glory, cost $5, and it also offers a few 12-ounce imports. Don't look for a huge draft selection, but do try the sangria.

If you're lucky enough to pull up a beach chair on a beautiful weekday afternoon, you won't have problem finding a spot here. But know that the bar heats up and gets packed on weekends, so be prepared to lurk over people or come up with an excuse to share a table with that cute blonde.

Centerstage Reviewer: Bill Burman