Bar Louie-Kirkwood

Is Bar Louie a swank cocktail lounge or a neighborhood bar and grill? Depends on when you show up. The Chicago-based chain occupies a massive space in the Central West End, and when it's filled with the young and the beautiful on a weekend night, it's got spark. Stop by for lunch or an early dinner, though, and you may feel lonely. Stick with the basics: sandwiches, burgers and fish tacos. Chase your meal with a beer or martini and watch the pretty people play.