Uptown Bar Named One Of Top Neighborhood Restaurants In Country

CHICAGO, IL — An Uptown bar was named among three of the best neighborhood restaurants in Chicago by Bon Appetit. The website's team of editors said they asked "80 of the most interesting people we know—chefs, novelists, activists, comedians, NBA players, and more," to tell them their favorite neighborhood eateries and bars. The panel chose Big Chicks at 5024 N. Sheridan Road as one of Chicago's top spots.

The report tells the story of how the Uptown joint went from being an "old-man bar" to a gay bar. Michelle Fire opened Big Chicks but refused to kick out the old guys, and instead cooked them free meals, according to the report.

"She served them drinks and slowly made renovations around them. Technically, these old guys were sitting in a gay bar now, but they didn’t know or didn’t care."

The report also named the popular D4 Irish Pub and Cafe in Streeterville and Harold's Chicken Shack, which has locations in Wicker Park, South Loop, West Loop, Bronzeville and Evanston.

The Bon Appetit report named more than 70 neighborhood restaurants around the country that "make no claim to be the 'newest' or the 'trendiest'" spots but are loved by locals.

Top image via Google Maps Streetview.