Chicago, IL

Blu47 Restaurant
DESCRIPTION: Located on a corner of what was once was Bronzeville’s prime entertainment district, Daryl Petty’s upscale  restaurant is a must visit; inventive menu choices include grilled chicken lollipops and seafood fondue (scallops, shrimp crab and spinach in a white-wine Monterey jack cheese sauce)though each entree ranges from very good to outstanding, perhaps the best reason to visit is the warm soulful vibe of the staff and patrons and the modern elegant interior is easy on the eyes too; Thursday night jazz

CUISINE: Creole-Soul; try the crabs or catfish prepared with fancy Creole sauces whose names you can’t remember but your palate will
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: no
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Wed 5p-12p, Thu-Sat 5p-1a
ADDRESS: 4655 South Martin Luther King Drive,
 2nd Floor  MAP
PARKING: on street

PHONE: 773-536-6000
WEBSITE: http://www.blu47restaurant.com

Jokes & Notes
DESCRIPTION: Mary Lindsey opened this chic 225-seat club with a state-of-the-art lounge in 2006; guests relax and enjoy a beverage in the lounge prior to show time and sometimes during performances, since TV monitors of the stage are large and plentiful in the lounge; a team of house MC’s that include Tony Sculfield, Damon Williams, George Willborn and Leon Rogers and T.K. Kirkland get the laugh party started; Wild Card Night open mic is hosted by a local comedian each Wednesday; the spoken word, comedy and singers is hosted on Thursday; top comedians, including national acts, on Fridays and Saturdays; live Jazz by local performers on Sunday evenings

CUISINE: mostly liquid
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: yes
SHOW TIMES: 7:30p & 10p
ADDRESS: 4641 South Martin Luther King Drive  MAP
PARKING: on street

PHONE: 773-373-3390
WEBSITE: http://www.jokesandnotes.com

Negro League Café
DESCRIPTION: Upscale restaurant that celebrates Negro Leagues Baseball history; Since Negro League teams played in Cuba, Mexico and the Dominican Republic during the winter months, it makes sense to incorporate Caribbean cuisine with Soul Food on the menu;  the venue features artwork by father-and-son artists John D. Wolfe and John A. Wolfe evokes the rich history of the Negro Leagues, formed in the early 1900s by black players not allowed to play in the major leagues; the Wall of Fame honors legendary players such as Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, Pop Lloyd, Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe; learn about teams such as the Chicago American Giants, the New York Black Yankees, Kansas City Monarchs and the Homestead Grays

CUISINE: Caribbean-Soul Food; specialties include catfish with lime rice, jerk-seasoned rib eye steak with plantains, chili roasted Cornish hen with orange red pepper salsa and house collard greens
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: no
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Thu 11a-11p, Fri-Sat 11a-2a, Sun 1p-8p 
ADDRESS: 301 East 43rd Street  MAP

PARKING: on street
PHONE: 773-536-7000
WEBSITE: http://www.thenegroleaguecafe.info

Buddy Guy's Legends
DESCRIPTION: Legendary Blues club owned by guitarist Buddy Guy; attracts the best in live Blues in a very popular setting; check the calendar for Blues artists

CUISINE: Light Fare
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: yes
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Thu 5p-2a, Fri 4p-2a, Sat 5p-3a, Sun 6p-2a 
ADDRESS: 754 South Wabash Ave (but moving to a new location)  MAP
PARKING: garages nearby and on street

PHONE: 312-427-0333
WEBSITE: http://buddyguys.com

One Sixty Blue
DESCRIPTION: The mix of cobalt blue and Carolina light blue motif introduce you to Michael Jordan’s latest classy restaurant; the Spago like cuisine emphasizes presentation, but taste varies widely depending on the dish you choose; portions could be larger; its good for business dinner meetings, special occasions and VIP room retreats; valet parking available
CUISINE: Contemporary American
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: no
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Thu 5:30p-10p, Fri-Sat 5:30p-11p 
ADDRESS: 1400 West Randolph Street  MAP

PARKING: on premises and on street
PHONE:
 312-850-0303
WEBSITE: http://www.onesixtyblue.com

Pearl’s Place
DESCRIPTION: opened in 1993, buffet restaurant serving lunch and dinner; buffets three times a day except Sunday
CUISINE: Soul Food; all the grits and greens you’ve come to love for breakfast
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: no
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 7a-8p, Sun 7a-6p
ADDRESS: 3901 South Michigan Ave  MAP
PARKING: on street

PHONE:
 773-285-1700
WEBSITE: coming

Sweet Maple Café
DESCRIPTION: a breakfast and lunch cafe opened by Laureen Henson, there are often lines to enter this cozy cafe; one reason for their popularity is the large portions made from scratch by family recipes; popular dishes include Holiday French Toast, Biscuits & Gravy, Catfish & Grits, Pancakes, Omelets, Pork Chops & Biscuits, and French Toast; gets mixed reviews on quality of service -- nice but at times understaffed
CUISINE: Soul Food/American
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: no
DAYS & HOURS: daily 7a-2p
ADDRESS: 1339 West Taylor Street  MAP
PARKING: on street

PHONE:
 312-243-8908
WEBSITE: coming

MacArthur's Restaurant
DESCRIPTION: family-owned restaurant with reasonable prices and portions -- grandma must be working the kitchen; everything is homemade and the menu is changed daily
CUISINE: Soul Food, arguably Chicago's best
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: no 
DAYS & HOURS: daily 11a-9p
ADDRESS: 5412 West Madison Street  MAP
PARKING: on premises and on street

PHONE:
 773-261-2316
WEBSITE: http://www.macarthursrestaurant.com

Heaven on Seven
DESCRIPTION: restaurant; got its name by being located on the 7th floor on an office building; lines form each around lunch, the food & prices must be good; a second location is nearby
CUISINE: Creole
CREDIT CARDS: no
COVER CHARGE: no 
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 8:30a-5p, Sat 10a-3p
ADDRESS: 111 North Wabash Ave, 7th floor  MAP
PARKING: garages nearby

PHONE: 312-263-6443
WEBSITE: http://www.heavenonseven.com

Jazz Showcase
DESCRIPTION: The best live Jazz shows in the Windy City for over 50 years; you name a Jazz Heavyweight, chances are they’ve jammed at Joel’s place; non-smoking;  Sunday Matinee shows are discounted for students, musicians and seniors; children under 12 enter free

CUISINE: Mostly liquid
DAYS & HOURS: Shows on Tue-Thu 8p & 10p, Fri & Sat 9p & 11p, Sun 8p & 10p
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: yes
DAYS & HOURS:
ADDRESS: 9 West Grand Ave  MAP
PARKING: lot nearby and on street

PHONE: 312-670-2473
WEBSITE: http://www.jazzshowcase.com

Joe's Be-Bop Café
DESCRIPTION: live jazz cafe; most meals cost under $14 Jazz plays nightly at 6 p.m. outdoor dining overlooking the lake during the summer
CUISINE: Southern; slow-cooked hickory-smoked beef, pork, chicken, and brisket as specialties; you can also get quality seafood and steaks
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: yes
DAYS & HOURS: Mon–Thu 11a-10p Fri–Sat 11a-11p; Sun 11a-10p
ADDRESS: 700 East Grand Ave  MAP
PARKING: garage on premises

PHONE: 312-595-5299
WEBSITE: http://www.joesbebop.com

Shadow Bar
DESCRIPTION: High energy Warehouse District club features a huge dance floor, plasma TVs, and explosive sound and light systems; Hip Hop, House Music, Reggae, and Neo-Soul played by DJ; a Cosmo crowd
CUISINE: are really that hungry?
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: yes
DAYS & HOURS: Sun-Fri 9p-2a, Sat 9p-3a
ADDRESS: 811 West Lake Street  MAP
PARKING: on street

PHONE: 312-491-9600
WEBSITE:

50 Yard Line
DESCRIPTION: combo sports bar, lounge and Steppers club; always crowded on weekends with good people, good music and good dancers on the weekend; scarce parking forces you into the neighborhood; proper attire are required for entry

CUISINE: Mostly liquid; a barbeue joint is down the street
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: Saturday night cover charge only
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Fri 6p-2a, Sat Noon-3a, Sun 11a-1a
ADDRESS: 69 East 75th Street  MAP
PARKING: on street

PHONE: 773-846-0005
WEBSITE: coming

Soul Vegetarian
DESCRIPTION: This anchor of the Vegetarian dining chain was founded by Prince Asiel Ben-Israel; enjoy all the high protein, non-fat, low-cal, low sodium dishes you can imagine with a soulful twist; the veggie smoothies will surely please
CUISINE: Veggie
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: no 
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Thu 7a-10p, Fri 7a-11p, Sat 8a-11p, Sun 8a-9p
ADDRESS: 205 East 75th Street  MAP
PARKING: on street

PHONE: 773-224-0104
WEBSITE: http://www.soulvegetarian.com

Lem's Bar-B-Q
DESCRIPTION: original sauce and slow cooked beef make for finger lickin' ribs at the original BBQ joint for his growing Chicago franchise; strictly take-out; popular for its  light night service

CUISINE: Barbeque
CREDIT CARDS: no
COVER CHARGE: no
DAYS & HOURS: Sun-Mon & Wed-Thu 2p-2a and Fri-Sat 2p-4a
ADDRESS: 311 East 75th Street  MAP
PARKING: on street

PHONE: 773-994-2428
WEBSITE:

New Apartment Lounge
DESCRIPTION: Well rounded club featuring live Jazz on Tuesday night 10:30p, R&B, Comedy and Steppers music on other nights
CUISINE: Soul Food light fare
CREDIT CARDS: no
COVER CHARGE: Friday & Saturday night starting 11p, refunded on the first drink
DAYS & HOURS: daily 2p-4a
ADDRESS: 504 East 75th Street  MAP
PARKING: on street

PHONE: 773-483-7728
WEBSITE:

Izola’s
DESCRIPTION: Home style diner by owner-chef Izola White; a landmark as much as it is a restaurant; open 24 hours daily except Wednesday
CUISINE: Soul Food
CREDIT CARDS: no
COVER CHARGE: no
DAYS & HOURS: Thu-Tue 24/7; closed Wed
ADDRESS: 755 East 79th Street  MAP
PARKING: on street

PHONE: 773-846-1484
WEBSITE: coming

Lee’s Unleaded Blues
DESCRIPTION: Live Blues club with a relaxing setting for locals and tourists; Wednesday night Jazz and Thursday night R&B

CUISINE: Light Fare
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: yes on special events
DAYS & HOURS: Sun-Fri Noon-2a, Sat 9p-3a
ADDRESS: 7401 South Chicago Ave  MAP
PARKING: on street

PHONE: 773-493-3477
WEBSITE:

The Swinger's Lounge
DESCRIPTION: Dance club for the mature set; dance floor is usually packed with folk dancing to R&B music; on quieter moments, Jazz sets the vibe
CUISINE: Soul Food light fare
CREDIT CARDS: no
COVER CHARGE: no
DAYS & HOURS: daily Noon-2a
ADDRESS: 1221 East 87th Street  MAP
PARKING: on street

PHONE: 773-221-1213
WEBSITE:

Artis Lounge
DESCRIPTION: R&B and Blues lounge for the 35+ crowd; jukebox music when the DJ is not around; live Blues Sunday and Monday
CUISINE: Soul Food light fare
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: no
DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-2a
ADDRESS: 1249 East 87th Street  MAP
PARKING: on premises and on street

PHONE: 773-734-0491
WEBSITE:

New Dating Game
DESCRIPTION: Get your groove on to R&B and Hip-Hop music played by DJ; another place for Steppers age 25+
CUISINE: Soul Food light fare
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: no, except special events
DAYS & HOURS: Sun-Fri 5p-2a, Sat 5p-3a
ADDRESS: 8924 South Stoney Island Ave  MAP
PARKING: on premises and on street

PHONE: 773-374-8883
WEBSITE:

Vee-Vee’s
DESCRIPTION: restaurant and cocktail lounge by Nigerian owner-chef
CUISINE: Nigerian & Caribbean; specialties include curried goat and jerk chicken are comfortable neighbors with jolof rice and egusi soup
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: no
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat Noon-11p, Sun Noon-9p
ADDRESS: 6243 North Broadway  MAP
PARKING: garage nearby and on street

PHONE: 773-465-2424
WEBSITE:

Funky Buddha
DESCRIPTION: Hip-Hop dance club heaven, both live and recorded
CUISINE: Liquid
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: yes
DAYS & HOURS: Thu-Tue 9p-2a
ADDRESS: 728 West Grand Ave  MAP
PARKING: on street

PHONE: 312-666-1695
WEBSITE: http://www.funkybuddha.com

Edna’s Restaurant
DESCRIPTION: where demanding Soul Food critics dine; it gets crowded with the after Sunday church, plenty of free parking
CUISINE: Soul Food; practically everything on the menu is good to great
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: no
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sun 6a-7p
ADDRESS: 3175 West Madison Street  MAP
PARKING: lot nearby and on street

PHONE: 773-638-7079
WEBSITE:

Blue Chicago
DESCRIPTION: Blues club in the Near North district of downtown; national blues artists perform here regularly, thus, a two drink minimum on the weekends; roomy booths and interesting posters of yesteryear concerts complete the vibe; another locations at 536 North Clark
CUISINE: Light fare
CREDIT CARDS: yes
COVER CHARGE: yes
DAYS & HOURS:
ADDRESS: 736 North Clark Street  MAP
PARKING: garages nearby and on street

PHONE: 312-642-6261
WEBSITE: http://www.bluechicago.com