There is no such thing as a chocolate martini.

September 22, 2006 2:42 PM

Chicago Filter: Where can I drink excellent, properly made classic cocktails? Save me from the caramel-corn-nipple-tini.

I'm looking for a bar where I can order, say, a sidecar, and I will not have to (a) tell the bartender what goes in it, or (b) hurriedly specify that I want it straight up before he or she can dump it over ice.

In my dreams, this bar would have more than one kind of brandy and would use fresh lemon and lime.

I used to like the Long Room a lot, but lately their drinks and service seem to be kind of meh. I was excited about the Tiny Lounge, but it seems to be closed. Where do I go?

posted by zadermatermorts to Food & Drink (15 answers total)

jilly's in the gold coast. the bar at the Drake (coq d'or)used to be very good at this sort of thing, but it's been years since i've been there.
posted by crush-onastick at 3:00 PM on September 22, 2006

actually, i say "jilly's in the gold coast" but it's more like "jilly's at the edge of the rush street meat market" but it's never been part of that old-men-and-fake-boobs crowd when i've been in it.
posted by crush-onastick at 3:02 PM on September 22, 2006

The bar at Gibson's (on Rush) and 'The Bar' at the Peninsula.
posted by ericb at 3:08 PM on September 22, 2006

Also -- Le Bar at the Sofitel.
posted by ericb at 3:13 PM on September 22, 2006

The Gold Star on Division is divey but their bartenders have always been on point, at least for me. You might want to check out the California Clipper on California, as well.
posted by jtron at 3:41 PM on September 22, 2006

Coq D'Or at the Drake, definitely. Still good.
posted by cushie at 5:00 PM on September 22, 2006

Gene & Georgetti. It's at Franklin & Illinois in River North. Enjoy!
posted by Not in my backyard at 5:45 PM on September 22, 2006

Tavern on Rush isn't bad.
posted by Smedleyman at 8:34 PM on September 22, 2006

/also - Green Dolphin Street
posted by Smedleyman at 8:39 PM on September 22, 2006

The Green Mill has been pouring incredible sidecars, manhattans and martinis since 1907. Al Jolson used to sing there, "Machinegun" Jack McGurn, one of Al Capone's henchmen used to part-own it. This is *the* classic nightclub of Chicago. It's also the best jazz room in the city. I guarantee they have several brands of brandy. And if you order a chocolate martini, they'll laugh in your face and motion for the bouncer.
posted by centerweight at 8:57 PM on September 23, 2006

Oh, and I almost forgot -- the Matchbox pours a mean cocktail too.
posted by centerweight at 8:58 PM on September 23, 2006

Another vote for Matchbox. And Iggy's once was the ideal for this sort of thing, but I haven't been there since they moved to Wicker Park.

You can more than one kind of brandy at Danny's in Bucktown, but I can't vouch for the availability of fresh lemon or lime.
posted by me3dia at 6:23 PM on September 26, 2006

the bartending at Iggy's in Wicker Park is substantially the same as it was on Milwaukee, but the whole experience is so very much noncomparable (dogs! baby carriages! upstairs deck! baseball caps! it's night and day!)
posted by crush-onastick at 10:15 AM on September 28, 2006

The best Sidecars I've had in Chicago were at Matchbox (Chicago/Milwaukee/Ogden) and the Signature Room (96th floor of the Hancock). They both win big points for ambience on completely opposite ends of the spectrum, as well.
posted by atomly at 10:43 AM on September 28, 2006

I once enjoyed a really good martini or seven at Fulton Lounge. They also make the silly kind though too.

How about the Pump Room? Classic bar, Chicago institution.
posted by clairezulkey at 2:22 PM on October 12, 2006