Closest Dive bar to Chinatown

Looking for a dive bar to burn a couple hours this upcoming Thursday before the LTH dinner @ LTH.

I could always stay a little west of Chinatown and go to some spots I like in Bridgeport(my old stomping grounds), but a shorter drive to Chinatown after a few cocktails wouldnt be a bad thing either.

Looking for a shot and a beer type of place, working class, etc. I just dont recall seeing any nearby coming in from the west and would appreciate any help

Drink prices are great and the atmosphere is very laid back; clientele mixed:
Skylark
2149 S Halsted

thanks anna,

a little north and west of Catchers on 35th where I like to go.

Jim,

Paulie's Place, conveniently located at the bottom of the 18th Street freeway exit if coming from the North, is a straight up shot and beer joint. Dive bar, not by my standards, but I'm originally from Milwaukee.

The bar on the Northeast corner of 18th and Desplaines, whose name I can't remember, a few blocks East of Paulie's Place, is a hard drinking shot and beer joint and qualifies as a dive bar, though just barely. More welcoming than it seems at first, while Paulie's is probably less so. Crrush and Chris lived just a block away, it was their regular, and the owner, a mildly cranky woman in her late 50's, lit up when they walked in and treated them like family.

Simone's is a little more upscale, friendly comfortable vibe decent beer selection, cocktails and food. Skylark, which has been well documented on LTHForum, is a regular after Chinatown stop, good beer selection, fair priced shots and a diverse interesting clientele.

I just might meet you for one myself, see you Thursday at 'Little' Three Happiness.

Enjoy,
Gary

Paulie's Place
1750 S. Union Street.
Chicago, IL 60689
312-829-7724

? Bar (A womans name)
Northeast corner of 18th and Desplaines
(a few blocks East of Paulie's Place

Skylark
2149 South Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60608
312-948-5275

Simone's
960 W. 18th St.
Chicago, IL 60608
312-666-8601.

Gary,

thanks for the additional spots.

let me know if your able to meet up @ one of the ones mentioned. I will probably get down into Chicago around 5:30-6:00 and any mentioned are "on my way in".

There's a place called Ethyl's Party @ 26th & Wentworth as well:

http://www.chibarproject.com/Reviews/Et ... Party.html

chainey wrote:There's a place called Ethyl's Party @ 26th & Wentworth as well:

http://www.chibarproject.com/Reviews/Et ... Party.html

now thats really close, thanks.

funny thing, I was reading the Yelp reviews about Skylark, Yelp was useless as usual, but I did have to look up on the Urban Dictionary what a "hipster" is since that term was thrown about on the Skylark review a bit.

Bertucci's Corner isn't a "dive bar" (what I also refer to as "An Old Mans bar"),
in the true sense-
it is a cozy neighborhood joint for a well drink and whatever domestic beer (as in US of A- not "craft-made")
you may favor. And, some great neighborhood color.
Definitely- "Old School"- and only about two/"tree" blocks away from 3Happiness.


Bertucci's Corner
300 W 24TH St. (Princeton and 24th)
Chicago.
312. 225.2848.

jimswside wrote:funny thing, I was reading the Yelp reviews about Skylark, Yelp was useless as usual, but I did have to look up on the Urban Dictionary what a "hipster" is since that term was thrown about on the Skylark review a bit.

Yeah, I think of Skylark as a young hip urban North Side bar that somehow ended up on the South Side. It's a bit of an anatopism. (Sorry, I'm just happy to finally find use for that word.) That said, it's a great bar and has one of the best beer selections the South Side has to offer. The only better beer selection I could think of is the Pub at the University of Chicago.

thanks folks. got a few options it appears.

Ill just see where my truck takes me and if anyone who wants to meet up for a drink before dinner @ LTH on Thursday has a preference od one over any of the others.

If you haven't been to Bertucci's before, that's where I'd start. A classic Chicago tavern. Frozen in time Italian place smack in the middle of Chinatown. It's a GNR-type spot. Some of the homestyle Italian is outstanding (escarole and beans, for example), so have a snack at the bar.

Just a follow up, went to Bertucci's, not bad, decent neighborhood, corner bar. Pretty good minestrone as well. Kinda bad they ran out of Jim Beam though.