I said it when I was, err, 21, and I'll say it as an official too-old-for-college-bars ambassador: There's so much more to McGee's than DePaul students and $1 Bud and Miller bottles. (Though to be fair, the Thursday night special is one excellently priced incentive to haul down to this beneath-the-L-tracks bar). The crowd does contain a fair amount of co-eds, but for every baseball cap you'll find a spiffy dress shirt. Most of McGee's beer downers fall between the ages of 23 and 30, giving the place a reputation as a stomping ground for young professionals.

The front room's polished wood booths, plate glass windows, green-and-white tiled floors and brass detailing assigns a classic pub appearance to McGee's. The back houses a stage for live bands (look out for performances by local favorite Maggie Speaks) and two additional bars. McGee's proudly claims more than 60 TV screens for patrons to catch all the Bears, Cubs and Bulls action. During football season, Saturday and Sunday brunch from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. makes the bar the perfect meeting spot for groups to gather and watch games over bloody marys and eggs benedict.

Centerstage Reviewer: Jennifer Berg