It's the most pleasant antithesis of the expected neighborhood bar. Try as you might, you'll have no luck in finding a dark, dank corner in this chill Logan Square bar. Located on a block so residential you'll almost miss it, Small Bar is a welcome haven for locales looking for a good brew. Reasonably priced drinks abound (as do nightly drink specials), and the domestic and imported beer menu is a hearty one: Expect plenty of Goose Island on draft, plus Lindeman's Framboise, Dinkel Acker, Maudite, Two Brother's and more...at last count there were about 70 options.

Pony up to the best seat in the house—the bar—and get a good look at woodwork so exceptional it makes you wonder how the metallic sheen of fresh-on-the-scene bars could ever be considered cool.

You'll have no problem chatting with the friendly bartenders here. While you're at it, put in a food order: Small Bar's solid menu runs the gamut from blackened catfish sandwiches to a hummus, pita and vegetable plate to hand-dipped cheese curds. Mmm. Dollar burgers are in high demand on Tuesdays, and with good reason.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Kate Schwartz