Monteverde is the best Italian restaurant in Chicago. Order lots of pasta.

Bárbaro is a taqueria in Humboldt Park with great cocktails and decent tacos.

Bokeh is a small cocktail bar in Albany Park with great drinks and bar snacks.

Little Victories is a bar in Wicker Park that’s great for an early-in-the-game date

Love Street is a cocktail bar in Lincoln Park that’s great for pre-dinner drinks or a nightcap.

Perilla is an upbeat Korean restaurant in the West Loop with great small plates.

D Cuisine is a Chinese restaurant in Lincoln Park that serves great dim sum all day.

Woodwind is a small plates restaurant on the 18th floor of a high rise in Streeterville.

Woodlawn Tap is a classic Hyde Park dive serving cheap beer and bar food.

Rose's is a cash-only dive bar in Lincoln Park full of dingy couches and character.

Ipsento 606 is a coffee shop with a full bar that's great for early in the game dates.

Qing Xiang Yuan is a restaurant in Chinatown that specializes in broth-filled dumplings.

Begyle, a dog-friendly taproom in Ravenswood, is a great place to drink beer and play skee-ball.

Pretty Cool is a charming ice cream shop in Logan Square serving creative and delicious popsicles.

Sze Chuan Cuisine is an upscale restaurant in Chinatown that has good hot pot.

Ken Kee is a casual restaurant in Chinatown that works well for a lot of occasions.