Every neighborhood needs a friendly, retro gathering place. Daily Bar & Grill is it for up-and-coming Lincoln Square. The '50s-meet-'90s diner is filled with intergenerational regulars, mostly homey friends catching up en route to the Old Town School of Folk Music and yuppies settling in for some comfort bar food and a refreshing beer or two. Swinging singles are nowhere to be found, so don't expect to pick up/get picked up around here.

The mirrored bar is decorated with a warm seasonal touch; less warm is the vodka gimlet's $10 price tag. Still, the waitstaff is friendly and the seating is diverse: pick from the bar, high tables, a plethora of booths or a funky, high triangle island centered in the room.

The menu won't bring many surprises, but try the chicken caesar salad or the Santa Fe chicken salad if you like a spicy kick. The bathrooms are roomy and clean, an anomaly in this town. If you're really sharp, you'll pick up on the fact that they're begging for private parties upstairs.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Mara Sands