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Planning a move? Know who your neighbors are.

Monday Aug 01, 2005.     By Centerstage Chicago Staff

Food Feed

As more and more friends tell us they're selecting Uptown as their new home (newer condos, lower prices), we can't help but get excited, showering them with suggestions of places to wine and dine. But even if you're not Uptown bound, there's much more to discover than the Green Mill (though we strongly suggest you make the jazz legend a favorite). Here are a few spots to firmly plant on your radar.

Uptown Lounge
Upon walking into the Uptown Lounge, (or as I refer to it, "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Mood Lighting"), you'll find a lounge that gives off the impression that it's in the running for the "Most Chill Place on Earth" award. With the aforementioned mood lighting, the red decor (ahem, the color of passion) and the fact that every table has a flickering candle on it…Uptown Lounge, are you trying to seduce me?

In actuality, it's more low-key than love-crazed, an appropriate hangout to occupy the late hours after those hectic sessions at the Aragon Ballroom. DJs spin low-key trip-hop/techno concoctions, patrons lounge on U-shaped couches and plenty of space is left open for wandering. And the wanderlust will have plenty of time to make the rounds, as Uptown Lounge stays open until 4 a.m.

Beer runs $4, while drinks like rum and Coke are $5. The clientele tends to be young established couples and their merry friends, so plenty of martini-clutching occurs. Flat-screen televisions show the latest developments in sports and the bar counter has plenty of chairs where you can sit and watch them happen. In true late-night-bar-style, Uptown is none too crazy at 11 p.m., but more and more people file in as the night wears on. Even if it gets crowded though, the Uptown Lounge is a comfortable place to hang out.

Kinetic Playground
Though it's only open on weekends and has gone through a bit of re-adjustment in the area of getting its music license, the Kinetic Playground has a pretty decent chance of becoming a hot nightspot. The stage for the live bands is of a notable size, a crowd of 540 can assemble (large without losing all intimacy) and bar manager Joe Busch totes the strength of the Playground's sound system.

A psychedelic, kaleidoscopic logo introduces the club from the street, with swirling colors straight out of a Jefferson Airplane record. Drink prices, while not a '70s throwback, are reasonable by today's standards: Martinis run $8, domestics at $3, imports $4 and the beloved Jaeger bombs at a gimme-three-of-'em $5. The staff is incredibly friendly, to boot.

The Playground has had music events in the past (like Deadhead themed events), but then lost its music license. As it slowly gets back on its feet, the '60s jukebox playing, multi-color lights and the overall mellow vibe make it a worthwhile trip.

Thai Pastry & Restaurant
A plane ticket to Thailand would set you back a few thousand dollars, but if the food is what you're craving, step into Thai Pastry & Restaurant for a meal that will barely put a dent in your wallet.

Owner Aumphai Kusub describes her restaurant as being exactly what you'd find in Thailand. And while most of us have no idea what that exactly is, it becomes easy to imagine once you're surrounded by Thai paintings and figurines and a carpet that makes you feel like you're in a jungle. As the menu's nearly 100 options begin to rattle your brain, keep in mind good bets like the tom yom koong soup, red snapper with hot pepper or the seafood combination special, should you be in the mood to try something other than that age-old noodle dish.

As the name suggests, Thai Pastry has first-rate desserts. It's hard not to be tempted by the prominent pastry case, and the dainty collection of fruit-shaped marzipan and a sampling of Thai custard are worth grabbing as you're going out the door.

Tweet
You might not think to go to Uptown to dine in what could be the cutest, most delightful eatery in the city. Think again. The entire Tweet experience, from the friendliness of the wait staff to the playful menu options to the presentation of the food, can only be deemed remarkable. The bubbly personality and attentiveness of owner Michelle Fire has obviously worn off on everyone who works at Tweet; walking out with a smile is none too unusual after encountering such an amiable group.

Parts of Tweet's dinner menu change weekly, but the staples hold court week after week for good reason. Luscious flavors mingle in the herb-roasted New Zealand lamb chops with mint couscous, swiss chard, ceci and charmoula, resulting in a tasty and not-too-expensive ($21) delight. For dessert, indulge in the immensely popular red velvet cake with toasted pecan cream cheese frosting. A French flare influences a good chunk of the menu, and the produce and meats are nearly as fresh as possible (and organic) thanks to bi-weekly deliveries from local farms.

Tweet is best known for its brunch, served only on Saturday and Sunday. With oodles of options, you'll be able to find something as familiar as bacon and eggs or as exotic as aebleskiver, Danish beignets served with powdered sugar and maple syrup or honey (and cooked in Fire's grandmother's pan from Denmark). Regardless of what time you arrive or where you dine (a sidewalk cafe takes things alfresco), make an ATM stop on the way, as it's cash-only.

Alma Pita Restaurant
A sign on one of Alma Pita's walls reads "Drugs, Racism, Outside Food…these are things that we are strongly against." That's putting it very kindly. I, on the other hand, would have hung a sign up that said, "If you bring in outside food to a place like this, you should have the taste buds slapped right out of your mouth."

The highlights of the menu, which features Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine, include anything and everything that has falafel in it. If that is not your cup of Arabic coffee (also on the menu), then you try the kebobs. The shish kebob consists of marinated grilled beef served with rice, vegetable stew, salad and pita bread, while the chicken kebob is the exact same thing, but with, uh…chicken.

Vegetarians will want to take note of the fact the daily meat-free special, priced at less than five dollars. The special, however, has pretty much the same stuff that is in the kebobs, sans meat, of course. The Indian curries, however, are more for the meat-friendly set. In addition, Alma Pita has specialty burgers, which include more American items such as the cheeseburger and turkey burger. But seriously, do you want to be the guy who goes to a Middle Eastern restaurant and orders a friggin' cheeseburger? Methinks not.