Bucktown/Wicker Park eats...

Bucktown's best bites

By Chad Schlegel

The Bucktown/Wicker Park area is packed with great restaurants. Though the "restaurantification" of this formerly down-at-the-heels 'hood now extends all the way to Division Street (Innjoy and Fortunato) and Ashland Avenue (Green Dolphin Street), we've chosen to focus on these spots located at the center of the action near the intersection of North, Damen and Milwaukee Avenues.
Blue Fin. We like this newish sushi spot located off the same alley as D'Vine and Cafe Absinthe. The interior is stylish (though a little cramped) and the menu has fancier options if that's what you're after; or just grab a cheap sushi combo to go.

Cafe Absinthe. Definitely a sceney spot, this chic eatery serves upscale contemporary American cuisine with Mediterranean flair.

Club Lucky. Sicilian and other Italian specialties are served in a swank, 1940s-style supper club and cocktail lounge. The bar is known for its killer martinis -- shaken, not stirred, with hand-stuffed olives.

Spring. Chef Shawn McClain snared 4 stars at Trio, his previous gig. His new spot, which features edgy American cuisine with an strong Japanese influence, is already on its way to achieving similar success.

Ezuli. Try the appetizer of crostini spread with peanut butter and topped with a slice of mango, carmelized onions and crumbled blue cheese. Like many of the other dishes here, it sounds strange, but tastes great.

Le Bouchon. Burgundy native Jean Claude Poilevey serves simple and flavorful French country dishes in what Tribune restaurant critic Phil Vettel considers one of the city's best bistros. Unsure of what to order? Ask one of the well-informed servers for suggestions.

Meritage Cafe & Wine Bar. The menu at this contemporary American restaurant/wine bar combines cooking styles and ingredients from the Pacific Northwest and Asia. A covered outdoor seating area is open year-round.

MOD. The vibrant, multi-hued interior, which looks like a set from "Buck Rogers," is a feast for the eyes. But it's not just about appearances here -- when it comes to cuisine, this place is very down to earth, making use of top-notch organic produce and meat and poultry culled from "boutique farms."

Pontiac Cafe & Bar. The menu offers a large selection of salads and sandwiches served on panini. The large outdoor dining area, just south of the intersection, provides a front-row seat for some pretty serious people-watching.

Soju. This chic eatery serves Korean favorites such as calamari tui gim (squid with a spicy bean sauce) and Soju Chicken, boneless, deep-fried chicken covered with a sauce made of hot bean paste and Soju, a rice-based liquor.

Souk. Stylish and exotic, Souk offers Middle Eastern food with an Egyptian emphasis. The ultra-cool interior features leather-topped tables and some of the coolest bathrooms in the city. There's bellydancing on Wednesday nights.

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