Comments on: BYOB in Chicago

Question: BYOB in Chicago

wfrgms — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 11:02:43 -0800

Recommendations for good BYOB restaurants in Chicago?

Looking for a reasonably priced, but nice restaurant where we can take a bottle of wine. Preferably on the north-side - around Lincoln Park / Lakeview, etc. Hip and trendy is fine and any style food is great except for sushi... (I love it, she doesn't.) Thanks!

By: jacobm

jacobm — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 11:12:35 -0800

Ping Pong is nice.

By: penchant

penchant — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 11:15:10 -0800

We were just at Andalous (Moroccan) last night (at Clark and School), and it was very good.

By: rbs

rbs — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 11:21:44 -0800

Treat (North and Kedzie).

By: adrian_h

adrian_h — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 11:29:54 -0800

I'll second Ping Pong and also suggest Joy's, which is half a block south of Ping Pong, across the street.

By: FlamingBore

FlamingBore — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 11:36:15 -0800

This probably won't help for *right now*, but there is actually a guide on this available at Amazon.

By: rogue haggis landing

rogue haggis landing — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 11:36:49 -0800

If none of the suggestions here float your boat, you can use the Reader's Restaurant Finder and check off the little BYO button at the bottom.

By: JakeWalker

JakeWalker — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 12:02:22 -0800

Try State Restaurant on Webster. Website.

By: jennyb

jennyb — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 12:07:26 -0800

My husband and I recently went to Dorado on Foster and Western. Lovely atmosphere, reasonably priced, very tasty, highly recommended. They charge a corkage fee but they will actually bring you a bucket and poor your wine or put your beer in the fridge, etc.

By: jennyb

jennyb — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 12:10:37 -0800

Ooo Jin Ju, a DELICIOUS and reasonable Korean place on Clark St. in Andersonville is BYO wine. They charge a $10 corkage fee, though. (Yeouch.)

By: jennyb

jennyb — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 12:11:30 -0800

If it's not clear, the name of the place is "Jin Ju." The "Ooo" was my initial exclamation and happiness at remembering it.

By: Sloben

Sloben — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 12:17:55 -0800

Las Tablas and Tango Sur are fun in that area, especially if you're craving meat.

By: gramcracker

gramcracker — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 12:44:28 -0800

Ping Pong was what came to mind as well. It's owned by a friend of an ex, and they have a nice little wine seller right across the street with good selection.

By: j-dawg

j-dawg — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 12:57:00 -0800

I'm glad to see someone mention Tango Sur. But I can't say enough nice things about Pizza Rustica. Delicious, authentic Italian and super reasonably priced. Close to the Sheridan red line.

By: andshewas

andshewas — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 13:08:51 -0800

I haven't been there yet, but Schwa is the current high-end BYOB darling of Chicago.
Here's skillet doux's amazingly detailed post of his recent visit. It looks really, really good. But it may be pricier than you're asking for.

Some of my budget-conscious favorites are Sunshine Cafe - Japanese homestyle cooking (not sushi) in Andersonville, Los Nopales - Mexican in Lincoln Square, Caro Mio - Italian in Ravenswood, Rick's Cafe Casablanca - French/Italian near Wrigley Field, and I'll second Las Tablas and Tango Sur.

By: walla

walla — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 13:53:54 -0800

Just as a side note, the wine seller across the street from Ping Pong has converted into a very funky and worth-looking-into sushi place. Actually, last I looked, the sushi place was also BYOB. I can never remember what it's called, but it's on Broadway between Buckingham and Aldine, I think. There is also a great wine store called Kafka nearby on Buckingham and Halsted.

By: jacobm

jacobm — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 13:58:57 -0800

I can also recommend Kafka as a wine store. They're used to people coming in looking for bottles of wine to go with dinner at the local BYOB places, and on at least a couple of occasions they were able to steer me towards wines that went well with the food at the restaurant I was going to.

By: MeetMegan

MeetMegan — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 14:21:18 -0800

The 2006 Chicago Magazine Best of Chicago edition has a spread on BYOB restaurants, and compares restuarants on corkage fees, crowd, etc.

By: cushie

cushie — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 14:40:14 -0800

List of Chicago BYOBs.

By: wfrgms

wfrgms — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:51:40 -0800

Thanks for all the recommendations! Cheers!