A friendly hole-in-the-wall bar to the core, Ricky G's retro '70s-feeling blue-and-white sign lets you know from the get-go that this place harbors zero pretention.

Highlights include a beer patio, free pool and cheap beer – under $10 buckets of domestics on Wednesday and Saturday. Average beers will run you about $3. We get the even divier feeling from the wooden square that's nailed onto the front door's window, and the blinds that you'll notice if you happen to stroll by around midday. And let's not forget the light-up beer signs, plethora of dart boards and hardy Chicago sports team flavor.

But it's all part of this bar's charm, especially when you're in good company with the already friendly clientele. The noteworthy bottled beer selection includes 13 domestics and nine imports, with zero drafts. Hang out and sip beer until you start chatting it up with members of the Windy City Dart League, who really like to hang at Ricky's with a cold beer in hand.

Centerstage Reviewer: Alicia Eler