Filini Bar & Restaurant (Chicago)

Filini Bar and Restaurant, 221 North Columbus Drive, Chicago, USA  Ph# 312-477-0234  www.filinichicago.com.  Located in the beautiful Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago, which is 18 stories of hotel then the rest to the top which is 82 stories are private residences.  The restaurant is on the floor above the bar and is an Italian restaurant.  I am only dealing with the bar.  It is a very modern looking bar, with these angle shopped booths that are quite big. The tables in the booths have glass tops with little electric candles underneath the glass, looks cool.  The sit up bar can easily seat 20 and is quite long with the cooks area to one end.  You may have not noticed, but I didn't say sat comfortably.  That is because at the bar and the two long tables have these bar stools that kinda look like chunks of dinosaur eggs.  These have to be the worst seats I have ever sat in, and I am not alone making that comment.  Everyone that I was with who were in this bar said the same thing. When you sit in them you start sliding forward and down and if not careful right out of the chair on to the floor.  All that and you haven't had a drink yet.  We had to move out of these chairs and sit at one of the round tables with normal chairs.  Crazy stools I say!  Filini has a couple of flat screens tv's at one end.  We found the food in the bar sub-par.  The Capri salad, with Buffalo milk mozzarella cheest, marinated tomatoes, the tomatoes in it that weren't ripe.  The waitress even commented on it at the end of our meal.  We also had the brushetta, and it was just OK.  The prices for what you got were high as well. They had 2 or 3 different types of beer on tap. There you go.

Pippin's Tavern (Chicago)

Pippin's Tavern, at Rush and Division, Chicago USA.  This is a small bar that really packs a punch! It's capacity is 62, and I bet all 62 were there when we were.  They have a rounded rectangle bar in the center. This sit up bar probably seats 30, and when you get a seat you keep it! Seating is at a premium and lots of the University crowd was here as well as a more mature set, LOL!  They have, get this 29 different beer on tap, and the bartender said it is always changing! This place looks like it has been around for quite a while, the bare wood floors are worn by time.  They have a sidewalk patio but not in use when we were there as it was cool out.  There are stool situated around the outside walls and windows of the bar.  A cool feature is you can play the juke box using your smart phone.  What will they think of next....sliced bread?  They had all sorts of music playing spanning all generations.....OK not all generations but 1960's to the present.  There was a guy having a beer reading a book with everything going on, I don't know how he did it.  If it was me, I would have to read the book again after I left, A really cool little bar.  Well worth going to!!

The Kerryman (Chicago)

The Kerryman, at the corner of  West Kinzie Street and North Clark Street, Chicago USA.  An Irish bar and at first I was not sure, but it grew on me. It is a two level bar with a situp bar on the main floor seats about 10 and the bigger more party bar up on the second floor seats 15.  The stairs going up had the name The Kerryman light up on each step as is was fairly dark in there, this was a nice touch.  The bar is done in nice dark wood through out.  They have 10 different beer on tap.  The second level wraps around so you can look down at the main bar.  The food was OK.. I had the three crab cakes and they were just OK.  My wife had the chili and found it rather salty.  It was very dark where we sat making it very difficult to see.  I asked for a flashlight and the waitress brought some crappy little fake candle that if it was any dimmer it wouldn't give off any light! All in all the decor was very nice and it had a good feel to it.

Harry Caray's Bar (Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse) (Chicago)

Harry Caray's Bar in the Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse, 33 West Kinzie Street, Chicago USA.  Now this place is beautiful and full of history.   Harry was the famous Chicago Cubs broadcaster, who passed away a few years ago.  Upon the 4th floor, Frank NITTI lived.  NITTI was the enforcer for Al CAPONE, his in laws owned the building.  In 1998 during renovations the discovered secret tunnels, safe and room used by NITTI and CAPONE.  You can go down stairs and see if for free.  Back to the bar....the situp bar is long and seats about 20 people.  There are 10 tables along the window and they each sit 4 people per table.  There are all  kinds of sports and celebrity memorabilia through out the bar and steakhouse.  This place is beautiful, I just can't say enough about it!  We got to sit and watch the Chicago Cubs vs San Francisco Giants there as well.  For lunch I had the grilled corned beef sandwich which was about 2 inches thick, topped off with coleslaw and cheese.  It came with home made french fries.  My wife had the chicken pesto sandwich with Swiss cheese and fresh spinach and that was also very good.  I must say that was one of the best corned beef sandwiches ever!!  They also serve every one deep fried potato slices.  They have 14 different types of beer on tap.  Great place, I give it 2 thumbs up and highly recommend it if you are in Chicago!!

Captain Morgan Club (Wrigley Field)

Captain Morgan Club, Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.  This is a great place to go.  It is attached to Wrigley Field, so on game day it is open, and you don't need a ticket to the game to go to it.  But once in side it you need a ticket to go in to Wrigley field.  It was a cool day when I was there for the Chicago Cubs vs the San Francisco Giants (Cubs lost 7-6).  40 degrees F at 120 pm game time with drizzle and a slight breeze.   So going to the Captain Morgan Club was great!  They had a DJ pumping out tunes.  The girls were working hard keeping everyone happy!  A bunch of tv's in side.  There is a much larger outside patio area, but on this day inside was just great.  You can get a very healthy drink (Whiskey, rum vodka etc.) in a plastic mug (that you can keep) for $12.00. As for food, there are so many places near by and in the ball park.....fooget about it!  There is a giant statue of Capotain Morgan in the patio area with his classic foot up pose.  I can only imagine what this place is like on a nice sunny day or a nice warm evening!  I enjoyed it here and to top it off going to the Cubs game at Wrigley Field, WOW!

Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery (Chicago)

Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery, 17 North Wabash, 2nd floor, Chicago, USA. Ph#312-269-5580.  Located on the Jewelery Row and on the second floor.  Yes there is an escalator and elevator to get you up there.  They have a large rectangular bar that sits 40 people easily!  There are a lot of TV's all over and a huge projection screen to boot.  This is a very large place and no shortage of places to sit.  Now as for the waitresses, they are dressed in very mini kilts, tiny crop top blouses undone in the front with a built in plaid bra look, and a sporran to top it off.  Way better than Hooters for sure!  They have 15 different types of beer on tap.  The food is the standard pub fare, burgers, pizza, salad etc.  I never ate there so can't tell you about the food.  They have specials and various events going on.   Lots of waitresses and good service!  The window seats look out at Wabash Street and you look directly at the "L" which is the elevated train system.

M-Bar (Chicago)

M-Bar located in the Pedaway (underground walking tunnel system) near the Millennium Station.  Doesn't look like much from the out side as it is all glass, but very nice on the inside. Beautiful curved bar, with pennies inlaid in it and sits 25 comfortably.  They have 12 flat screen tv's, with sports on all of them.  As for beer on tap, they have 8 different types.  I didn't eat here, but others were and they were telling the bartender how good the food was.  Numerous people sitting and waiting for a train.  You can catch a train to South Bend, Indiana.  I went as far as Gary Indiana.....not a place I recommend you go.  That is a different story in its self.  They also have 12 tables seating from 2 to 4 and 3 of the tables are bar height.  The Bartender said that they are really busy when the Chicago Cubs are playing.  Pretty handy bar and nice too!!