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More fun stuff in Lincoln Square.

Thursday Nov 13, 2008.     By Centerstage Chicago Staff

Travel + Tourism Feed

Lincoln Square's coolness factor seems to grow exponentially by the day, as quaint eateries, hip dinner spots and boutique shops find themselves in better and better company with each passing month. It's hard to nail down favorites, so instead we'll share a few standards along with newer-to-the-neighborhood haunts that are worth your attention.

Best of the nightlife
Oakwood 83
A seafood and steakhouse by day and one of the only 4 a.m. bars in the area by night, after 2 a.m. (3 a.m. on Saturdays) the Oakwood 83 offers as many chills as thrills. Getting past the overtly creepy decor, which includes airbrushed-looking paintings of women and large cats and enough elaborate woodwork to erect a hollow horse, is the first hurdle. The second is trying to circumvent the gaggle of middle-aged women that regularly commandeer the jukebox on the way to the bar. "Ring My Bell," seems to be their flagship jam, and the women (who were there on more than the odd visit) twirl and stomp their feet all around the machine, hungry for dance partners.

Because there aren’t many trendy bars in the area, the clientele are mostly older, career drinkers. It takes a few rounds for the staff and patrons to warm up, but the service is always swift, and the likelihood of any real friction is low.

Good for groups
Lincoln Karaoke
With fluorescent lighting, gray carpet and a long hallway of closed doors, the decor here defies categorization; one wonders if they've accidentally stumbled into a simple hotel, an apartment building or maybe even a massage parlor. But once you hear the off-key, drunken rendition of "Don't Stop Believin'," you've found Lincoln Karaoke.

This isn't your average karaoke night at some dive trying to get a few more bodies inside. Entirely devoted to those flashes of self-delusion wherein you imagine having the pipes of Celine Dion or the leather-clad cool of Joey Ramone, this place adds a twist to the experience: You can rent a private room for $25 an hour. Each room features couches, a plasma TV, gigantic remote controls and a selection of American, Korean and Chinese tunes. If you have a group of friends that you want to keep near, far or wherever you are, serenade them until they wanna be sedated; you don't have to share your talent with the rest of the bar.

No karaoke bar would be complete without reserves of liquid courage. It offers no brews on tap, but most standard American bottles cost $3. The bar itself is basically behind a desk in the center of the place; it's nowhere you'll want to hang out, but the servers will happily bring you drinks late into the night while they endure your power ballad.

Cheap eats
Opart Thai House
In a city that has a Thai joint very few feet, there has to be a clincher to make you stand out and Opart Thai (now that it has a new redesign) has the feel of an authentic Thai house (not just a hole-in-the-wall with haphazardly slung tables and fake flowers everywhere). With a beautiful slate floor, three big, bright rooms with dark wood splashes and a friendly Asian staff, Opart is a welcoming reprieve from the starkly lit, sticky floor offerings that most Thai places provide. The clincher for me isn't the clean, welcoming vibe, though; it's the fresh, delicious food. Not that the food has a stop-me-in-my-tracks type of flavor, but the easy simplicity of the Tofu Pad Thai and the Tofu Fried Rice always makes my heart pound 'til I get back in there and order up a few helpings.

The Tofu Pad Thai has perfect little nuggets of tofu, lightly fried and scattered over thin, glassy noodles (unlike some Thai kitchens, I feel like the chef's break up the noodles before cooking them which makes them just the right size for chopstick showmanship). Peppered with tiny slivers of scallions, crunchy bean threads and big patches of eggs (my favorite part, please don't touch the egg), it's adorned with sides of freshly grated carrot and cabbage and with a squeeze of fresh lime (and a bit of peanut sauce).

Where to chill
Cafe Descartes
A favorite latte-stop for college students (there are three locations on the UIC campus alone), Cafe Descartes has recently brought its beans and oatmeal to Lincoln Square. Such ingredients are essential for the coffee shop's signature drink: the Oatmeal Latte. The perfect-for-breakfast concoction blends a shot of freshly-roasted espresso (all of Descartes beans are roasted daily in the cafe's Roger Park facility) with oatmeal, raisins, walnuts, almonds, cinnamon, honey, milk and blueberries.

If the oatmeal drink sounds a little lumpy, smooth things out with a cafe au lait or a plain ol' shot of espresso. Typical coffeehouse fare like bagels, muffins and bottled fruit juices stock the cooler, and a case of gelato provides an unexpectedly chill treat. The cafe channels rustic warmth with a dash of European bistro: golden-tinged red canvasses the walls, heavy tables of dark wood sit closely together and rich velvet fabric sweeps over an alcove in back. The long, curvilinear bar comes stocked with plenty of stools for espresso-machine side seating. For those who just can't fathom $4 cups of joe, be warned that prices at Descartes are comparable to those at Starbucks.

In-the-know spot
The Chopping Block
With two Chicago locations and at least one vegetarian-specific class per month, chances are you'll find what you're looking for at The Chopping Block. Depending upon your price range and taste for adventure, you can choose from demo-only and hands-on classes, either on-site or at your home, on topics ranging from Vegetarian 101 to "The Five White Grapes You Should Know" to Cooking for your Baby to how to prepare a meal of buttermilk fried chicken, new potato salad, homemade mayo and apple pie.

Drop by for Sunday brunch at the Lincoln Square location. For a mere $20 you can get in on one of three seatings (10 a.m., 11:30a.m. and 1 p.m.) during which time a three-to-four course meal will be prepared before your very eyes and served with coffee or tea. Not all brunches are vegetarian, but if you make arrangements for your group ahead of time your dietary needs will be deliciously accommodated. Don't forget to take notes!