Midtown Kitchen + Bar is what you get when a college bar grows up; it does everything that your favorite college spot did but with a sophisticated twist. The bi-level space is part sports bar (flat-screen TVs broadcast sports on mute), part lounge and part nightclub, with hip-hop and pop music playing over the speakers. Located smack dab in the middle of the Loop, the bar finds cocktail-sipping young professionals in place of shot-taking frat boys.

Midtown's food and drinks, like its patrons, have grown up, too. Grab 'n' go morning eats start the work day right with muffins, pastries, salads and sandwiches. The full bar includes draft and bottled beer, but there's also a variety of wine, martinis and cosmos. The menu features refined grub like sweet and spicy tempura shrimp, chopped salad, a grilled turkey and brie sandwich with cranberry apple dressing and pork chop Milanese, all of which are listed alongside familiar bar favorites like burgers and quesadillas. With grown up tastes come grown up prices; entrees run $10-$25.

Average cost: $21-$30

Centerstage Reviewer: Albrey Nuss