North Side Cafe

North Damen, north of North Avenue, Chicago

Score: 91 in September, 1998

My favorite outdoor summer place in Chicago. A great place to go for lunch, dinner, late night, any day of the week. Sometimes you have to wait a while for a desirable table, but its usually not too long of a wait. The food itself is mostly good, with particularly good salads. The best meal I ever had here was the grilled amberjack special, and it was incredible. I'm not sure how often they have that on the menu though.

Service is generally friendly, though its not always particularly fast. Most people who come here aren't in a hurry, and I think if you told them you were in a hurry they would probably speed it up a little. The waitresses tend towards young and cute, with an occasional tendency towards tattoos and piercings.

Its pleasant, cheerful, friendly, and fun, and in a desirable location. The big outdoor patio is great, and it closes up tight enough to still be comfortable for the winter months.

Another great summer perk that not everyone knows about is that they have a really good selection of frozen drinks here. Perfect for those really hot days and nights.

The prices are fair and its a good value. You don't really pay much more to eat in a fun, lively place. It's not fine dining, but there's a good variety, and everything is good. Dinner for two is around 25.00.